A Sort of

A Blog

By Mary Stephens
(formerly Van Nattan)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 39:3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned:
then spake I with my tongue, 4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the
measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou
hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing
before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Whereas I have occasional thoughts that are too small to work up into an article, and as I already have a notebook half full of articles I've written or outlined which I can't seem to get typed in, and because I would still like to pass on those aforementioned thoughts to the readers of the Home Maker's Corner; therefore, I have decided to venture forth into that nebulous world of blogging and cast my lot among those known in e-space as bloggers. Hum. Whether this is a useful idea or not, only time will tell. Hopefully, it will be updated fairly often. :-)

By and large, the focus of this blog will be Bible related observations on various subjects, thoughts from my Bible reading or study, and musings on various aspects of life. I may also include some thoughts from my friends from time to time. Then too, items may not always be very short, and sometimes may be more like teaching; hence "A Sort of A Blog," not a traditional one.

I do not expect everyone to agree with my opinions. Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:5 ...Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things
which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

 

 

 

End of 2005

2006

2007

2008

Also see my Book Blog

Honor to whom honor is due.

Give Him the Glory

It was down at the feet of Jesus,
O the happy, happy day!
That my soul found peace in believing,
And my sins were washed away.

It was down at the feet of Jesus,
Where I brought my guilt and sin,
That He canceled all my transgressions,
And salvation entered in.

Let me tell the old, old story,
Of His grace so full and free;
For I feel like giving Him the glory
For His wondrous love for me.

Elisha Hoffman

 

 




 

 

 

December 13, 2008

Adopted

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Some weeks ago we heard a choir sing at a church meeting. The particular song they sang was about how we are adopted by God. The next day or so I was searching for some photos online and "happened" on a web page that chronicled the adoption of a baby from Kazakhstan by an American couple.

It made all made me think about the wonder of our adoption into God's family.

The couple who adopted the baby from Kazakhstan wrote a diary online about their experiences. For some time before they were allowed to take her, they could only visit with the little girl in the orphanage. They were only permitted to spend a few hours with her daily, and during those times she was usually in a good humor and enjoyed the games and things they brought to play with.

Once they had full possession of her, though, things changed. They were then responsible for all of her care. They found out that she needed to sleep a lot, and that she was not always happy. Feeding, washing, changing of diapers and so forth were now their responsibility and she was no longer just a "fun" child to spend a little time with each day.

Now, they knew that this would happen since they had adopted a baby girl from this same orphanage some years ago. (In fact, she was with them at the time.) So, they had had previous experience with this and it was not a totally strange event.

One might stop and think about all the possible problems that could occur after adopting a baby like this. There could possible diseases (genetic of otherwise), personality issues, disabilities, and more that can crop up later.

In thinking about that, though, consider the beauty of our adoption into God's family. He knows before He ever saves us exactly how we will "turn out." He knows if we will be a "problem child" or not. He know if there will be "personality issues", illness, disabilities, and everything else there is to know about us. And yet, the wonder is that He gladly adopts us into His family through faith in Jesus Christ!

When we come into God's family, we are "accepted in the beloved" regardless of later problems. And, the Lord, in His foreknowledge, even knows all those things before hand, unlike human parents adopting a baby! What a wonderful blessing! How very kind and merciful our heavenly Father is!

And, for us there is no fear of bondage again. We are the children of God through the adoption which we received.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

We are no longer orphans. We are joint heirs with Christ! This is almost too amazing to comprehend!

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

For one reason or another some human parents may be sorry later that they adopted a certain child. But, with God there is no such thing. He not only foreknew us before He chose us to eternal life, He also has the power and the conform us to the image of His Son and the justify us and make us what He wants us to be!

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

 

 

Nov. 26, 2008

Willing to Give Thanks

Leviticus 22:29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.

I read this verse recently in my Bible reading and it stood out to me since Thanksgiving was approaching here in the U.S. There is a tendency now these days to refer to Thanksgiving as "Turkey Day". This shows an attitude of the heart in the people who do so, and I hope that it is a tendency only in the unbelieving. They are not willing to thank God Almighty for His goodness, mercy and grace to all, so they do not want to call the holiday by it's intended name. (Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.)

The very name 'Thanksgiving" implies an action - the giving of thanks. As the children of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, we should be willing and eager to offer thanksgiving unto our God. As New Testament saints, we should have the will to offer the sacrifice of praise.

Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

This Thanksgiving, may we offer at our own will the sacrifice of praise unto the Lord, "the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto his name"!

 

 background, graphics & most photography by mary vannattan