Tag: reading

Heart of Chambers

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I am at peace.

A most beautiful afternoon comes to an end(indeed, a beautiful day!!). I write this from my apartment in Houston, just having woken up from a lovely ten minute nap so pardon me if my words are slightly sleepy sounding. But I simply must chronicle today so that I always remember the goodness of my God to me. This morning, worshiped God at church with my fellow brothers and sisters, reveling in the revelation of our Lord we have been granted! “Holy holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty”…our voices rose up to heaven in praise, accompanied by the skillfully played organ. Let us never forget the majesty and undeniable beauty and mercy and might that belong to the God of the universe, this God we serve. Singing these words of praise..oh how I long for the days to come when we in heaven will join the chorus of every created thing! O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!!

And how do I follow that up? Well, I cannot, surely. Yet I enjoyed a delightful afternoon with Julie at the sports bar watching the Euro final, Portugal v France. Sadly, despite our great hope(and Julie’s cheering in French!!), Portugal grabbed the 1-0 victory and title of 2016 Euro Champions. Despite my disappointment, it was fun to see them all happy and dancing as they celebrated!! And of course, during the ever-more-nervous-making game watching, Julie and I had some lovely talking time – as always!!

Then, made my way to the store and then home…And I brewed some coffee, put some classic Beach House on the record player, and then enjoyed some luscious minutes reading Owen on the satisfactory death of Christ, and what it means for us. Christ died to save sinners. I read those five words and I am blown away. What stunning mercy. What beautiful love. And so now I sit, at peace and and at rest. Peace, my friends. I love you all ever so much.

Now, I will make my turkey burgers for dinner, and also am planning to read some more Owen. I will finish his Volume II tonight, I think. Only eight pages to go. It’s only taken me a year!!! But first. Dinnertime.

Peace and love.

Despite All the Tears

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Good morning, friends!! I have but a few minutes before work begins this fine Wednesday morning, but thought I’d write here nonetheless. This has been a pretty quiet week so far and I have no big plans(Chase might be coming over tonight, and I get to see Earnie tomorrow night!) and I must say, I’ve much enjoyed the last few weeks of relative quietude and rest – God has been so good to me in giving me some restful, relaxing times with Him! I read a few more words in Owen’s Communion with God this morning on the deity of the Holy Spirit – I’m currently on the section on the vindication of the Trinity. Truly wondrous reading. Every time I read a few more pages, I’m stunned anew by the glory and beauty of God. So wonderful and marvelous and high above all else is our God! I’m only forty pages from the end of this volume, at which point I think it’s time I switch it up a bit and begin Iain Murray’s biography on Martyn-Lloyd Jones. Much excited for that!! Ok, enough about my reading, as I probably enjoy writing about it much more than you care to listen. Have a most lovely day, my friends. Peace!

The District Sleeps

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Hey friends!!  It is Thursday afternoon and I am enjoying my post workout yogurt…as I read a bit of Owen’s Communion With God.  Oh so encouraging.  How wonderful it is to relax and enjoy this spiritual consolation God has given me as I think and ponder on the great love and grace of Christ!!  In a few minutes, I will shower and start dinner up(turkey burgers, green beans and a baked potato – what can be better!?), but for now, going to read…just a few more minutes…

Postscript

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All the consolations of the Holy Ghost consist in his acquainting us with, and communicating unto us, the love of the Father and the grace of the Son; nor is there any thing in the one or the other but he makes it a matter of consolation to us: so that, indeed, we have our communion with the Father in his love, and the Son in his grace, by the operation of the Holy Ghost.
John Owen, Communion With God

Communion

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What a lovely lovely day. And shall I waste it adding words to the ever growing clouds of data spinning through this world? May it not be so! So briefly….

A day of rest, a day of joy. Finally home with my Bethel church family, loving each other and loving God, lifting our voices in worship sweet and listening to the Word expounded. And lunch with friends(chicken curry is always a quality meal, more so when eaten over good chat and sweet communion with my dear friends). Back at my flat and poring over the Word for community group(Colossians 3:15-17…)…And then vacuuming and a quick workout and then out into glorious brilliant afternoon sunshine reading The Silver Chair by the side of the pool…And back inside and now potato is in the oven and I will soon enjoy it hot and freshly buttered along with some plump turkey burgers and green beans but now I sit on this couch and read a bit of Owen’s Communion With God and while I could say that there is nothing more to be said, suffice it to be said that my heart is full this day. Afternoon sweetly passing by, eyes brighten, lips part, heart sigh. A touch of honey on the bread, one last morsel achingly read, truly nothing more to be said.

Turn of the Wheel

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Happy Friday, friends!!! I’m sitting here at my desk at work, about ready to begin another day and end another week in fine style – it’s been a bit of a slow work week here, but no complaints, just been steadily working away. Also been recovering my sleep all week after an awesome weekend in Canada with Robbie, Ryan and friends! I wish I had more time to describe the vacation, but alas, I do not. Anyways, a relaxing night was had last night – ate my dinner(fish, chips and peas!) and watched an episode of Angel. Also read a little more of Communion with God by Owen. I always forget how good and encouraging that book is. At some point, I’ll try to post another excerpt, but right now read about how deeply important the Holy Spirit is to our lives as Christians – and how we should seek the comfort and encouragement and sanctification and gifts that He brings – do not understate the importance of the Spirit in our everyday lives as we seek to glorify God in all that we do. And wow, that was said so much more poorly than Owen stated it. Still hopefully you get the idea!

Now, I’m off. Going to continue drinking my yummy peppermint mocha and dominate this work day and then…drive up to Dallas for a weekend with Mikaela. Y’know. A good weekend is at hand – but first, going to enjoy the Lord in His work this day! Peace, my friends. Peace and love.

Melchizedek

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I forgot how much I love reading Hebrews. I really did mean to post a proper entry today as I sip on my extra-chocolatey mocha, but alas, my time has run out and I need to start on work momentarily. And so I’ll just post a small portion of what encouraged me today…

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former
commandment because of its weakness and uselessness(for
the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a
bringing in of a much better hope, through which we draw near to God.
And inasmuch as it was not without an oath(for they indeed
became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the
One who said to Him,
“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a Priest forever'”);
so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a
better covenant.
The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater
numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,
but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever,
holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to
save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He
always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy,
innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the
heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to
offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the sins of
the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up
Himself.

For the Law appoints men as high priests who are
weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law,
appoints a Son, made perfect forever. – Hebrews 7:18-28

Peace and love, my friends – have a most wonderful Monday!

Land’s End

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Hello friends!! Here at Starbucks just finishing up my coffee and about to head out again pretty soon…needed some internet time(really, mostly just to update my phone apps and write some messages to people that I haven’t talked to in far too long!). Also got some reading time done(Colossians commentary by MacArthur to prepare for next Tuesday community group!) so a most productive coffee place time indeed. I’m feeling a bit weary just now…woke up nice and late(7:30!!) and then went for a run along Buffalo Bayou…didn’t want to run too long since it was getting hot but I got six miles in! I’m going to be feeling it tomorrow though, since I haven’t run in almost two months. Hm. I really need to get back into a routine, but part of the problem is that I prefer to run on Saturday mornings and I’ve unfortunately(or fortunately, depending on your perspective!) been finding myself out of town for many of the past weekends.

Anyways, the rest of today is going to consist of cleaning my place and then cooking a proper dinner(homemade tomato sauce with spicy Italian sausage and peppers and onions, hello!) and having a restful evening. And most possibly reading a good book as well – after an extended break, think it’s high time I get back to reading Owen’s Communion with God. I’m pretty excited. Yes, I’m odd, I realise that! But truly, a relaxing weekend is most needed and I am very grateful that God has given me this time to rest! And some solid time to seek after God and worship Him and enjoy His presence in my life. Truly, to know Christ Jesus my Lord and to understand and immerse myself in His love for me – is there anything greater in this life?? So tonight I mean to meditate on the wonders and glories of Christ my Lord. It shall be beautiful.

Now my friends, I am off into this wondrously bright Houston afternoon. Be well. Peace and love!

A Man on the Wall

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Hey friends!! Just writing a few words, I promise! Mainly because I’m at John’s place right now, one of the few opportunities I have with Internet, so thought I’d better take advantage of it. Had a sweet morning today…oh I can’t complain!! Got up around 8(sweet sleep!!) and had a great coffee and reading time before going to pick up some breakfast tacos from Las Locas and heading over to John’s. Obviously the first order of business was eating said tacos(with very much delicious green sauce)…and then we finished building a shelf that we’d started the other night. Victorious in that endeavor(a couple of technical wizards, that’s us!), he made some tea and I’ve just been catching up on online stuff since. He’s reading Spiritual Depression by Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the other couch…possibly a better use of time? Well…I’ll read when I’m home and *don’t* have internet! He just read a statement from it about our enduring…and our chastening that we receive from God. And that although we often feel it doesn’t have a point, God knows what we need. And this chastening we receive in this life is. For. Our. Good. Remember that, let’s?

Now I’m off – want to get to HEB quick and pick up some groceries…because I’ve decided I really want to make some homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs for tonight!! Peace, my friends – have a most glorious day in our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been crucified for us and who has risen from the dead with power…for us. Peace and love.

For Emma

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Hello friends!! I am at Starbucks in Houston…and really wanted to write something good and proper on this second day of the year 2016. But I can’t think of what to say. Tragedy of tragedies. And so just to fill this space, will post the track list for my most recent mix CD(one I gave to Maryanne and Laura for Christmas! Oh, and to John too. And Julie). And we’ll see if it stands the test of time, but I am very pleased with it and think it may be my most favourite mix yet. Thus, I present:

the tragic fall and most surprising Redemption of anakin skywalker

1. Thus Always to Tyrants – The Oh Hellos
2. Pressing Flowers – The Civil Wars
3. Poison and Wine – The Civil Wars
4. Tip of My Tongue – The Civil Wars
5. Flume – Bon Iver
6. Master of None – Beach House
7. Danse Macabre – The Oh Hellos
8. Auburn and Ivory – Beach House
9. Re: Stacks – Bon Iver
10. Seven Swans – Sufjan Stevens
11. Paths – Seryn
12. I Was Wrong – The Oh Hellos
13. Hold On – Seryn
14. To The Desert – The Branches
15. Going Home – The Branches
16. Lay Me Down – The Oh Hellos
17. At the Table – Josh Garrels
18. The Sower’s Song – Andrew Peterson
19. Revelator – Josh Garrels
20. Trees – The Oh Hellos

And you may notice quite a bit of repetition..but I just couldn’t help it. This list very much reflects my new favourite artists and albums of 2015 – you’ll see Beach House, Bon Iver, Sufjan, Branches, Josh Garrels, Andrew Peterson, etc…and what I’m saying is my very favourite of this past year – The Oh Hellos(many many thanks to John for introducing me to them and persuading me to go to a most awesome concert of theirs in Austin!!! I am most grateful). This mix is also very much thematically arranged. My sisters and Caisson had much fun trying to figure out how this mix mapped to Anakin’s journey…and while that somewhat works, this mix is most of all designed to show the journey of a lonely broken person from darkness into light…from the great sickness of the soul(complete with pride and sorrow and supreme self love…) to the realisation that we cannot save ourselves and that we are totally broken and lost…and there is only One who can save. And that is the story and metaphor of this mix. Although it’s not perfect, I do love it and it also happily matches my current music tastes as well. What can I say?

And that was a bit longer than I even thought I could write today!! Now it’s already far too late in the afternoon and I am off to Trader Joe’s to do some food shopping(thinking sausage and mash tonight for dinner!) and then back to my place to enjoy a relaxing Saturday afternoon. Will most likely read some more of my George Whitefield bio…it’s so so good. I can now un-categorically state that it is my favourite ever biography(sorry Edwards!!) and I am very sad that I am already almost halfway through Volume 2. So good and so encouraging. Oh that I could be blessed by God in such manner as Whitefield! Oh that I could serve my God in so wholehearted a fashion and with such pure and passionate love! And I then muse upon my current state and realise how very blessed I am. I am known by God. I am loved by God. This I know and in this I rejoice. And now I pray – in this knowledge and joy may I live my life and walk day by day. May my heart’s song ever be raised up to my Lord and my God. Forever and always I sing,
Oh for a thousand tongues to sing – my great Redeemer’s praise!