After yesterday's post, I thought it might be helpful to provide some practical questions to assess your heart for bitterness. They are hard ones, at least for me. I don't always like to ask them of myself, but they almost always produce fruit and conviction, which is necessary for change. Here they are:
The Antidote for Bitterness
You never saw it coming. A hurt feeling, an unmet expectation, or a dashed dream and suddenly your entire emotional being is controlled by this sneaky feeling. It doesn’t happen overnight, but you notice it the most when that person or moment is brought to mind. It makes you angry. It makes you frustrated. And before you know it, you realize that it actually makes you bitter.
Friday is for Fotos
A couple of weeks ago, Daniel had a trade show for work at Mt. Magazine (the tallest peak in Arkansas). They have a beautiful lodge that we were able to stay at. Even though Daniel had to work, it was a very relaxing, much needed time away for us. We loved it! We went for a walk on one of the trails and for a non-outdoorsy person, like myself, it was still an enjoyable experience. Who knew?!
Thank You for the Trial
After our miscarriage a friend of mine (who had also experienced a miscarriage) relayed a conversation she had with another friend who, after reflecting back on her own pregnancy loss and infertility, was able to thank God for the suffering and the pain because of what it did in her own life. As we talked about our own trials we both commented that while it would be good and helpful to get to that realization in our own life, it was hard to see that far ahead in our own season of loss.
Theology Matters
When I went to seminary I had one goal in view. I wanted to be equipped to teach women the Bible. I wanted to grow in my understanding of God’s word and gain a solid theological foundation because I firmly believe that women (like all of us) need a deep and unshakable foundation in the God of the Bible. I enjoy studying and learning. I’ve seen fruit in my own life from studying. And I believe that God can do the same in the lives of many women.
Death is Swallowed Up in Victory
This morning my husband said that if Christ has not been raised than what we are doing (gathering on a Sunday morning for worship) is a big waste of our time. If Christ didn't rise from the dead we should all just go home and enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon, rather than rise early to be with God's people in worship. But as our other pastor so helpfully reminded us this morning, Christ did rise from the dead. He did exactly what he said he would do on that third day in the tomb. He got up, effectively conquering death once and for all.
By His Wounds We Are Healed
The Loss of Family Togetherness
Treat Her Like Your Sister
“Treat older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”—1 Timothy 5:2
This verse has been sort of a theme in my class this semester. Whatever it might pertain to, whether it’s impurity, disrespect, flirtation, or leading them on, the question always is there: would you do that to your sister? So because this is a verse written to a man, and a pastor at that, you might be wondering how this has any bearing on your own life, as a woman (I’m assuming the bulk of my readership is female). But I assure you, it does.
Spurgeon on Unanswered Prayers
I have been reading through Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening and it has been a very helpful and edifying experience for me. Over the years I have heard so many people quote Spurgeon in sermons and realized that while I'm always helped by their quoting of him, I have very rarely read anything by him. When we moved last year we found a copy in a box of books and I'm so glad we kept it. Here is what Mr. Spurgeon has to say about our (seemingly) unanswered prayers. I hope it encourages you this morning like it did me.