A Few Good Reads

Some very good thoughts in  both of these posts!  (excerpt from each below its link)

Discipling your kids is more than just family devotions  (Derek Brown, 2.26.14)

The problem here lies not in the regular practice of family devotional time. Rather, it's found in relying on such formal instruction to fulfill our responsibility to train our children in the fear of the Lord. Is it wise to set aside time each day for family worship, prayer, and Bible reading? Absolutely. But we should apply the same diligence we expend to find the best devotional literature to seeking unexpected opportunities for teaching all day long. The call God places on me to disciple my son is far more comprehensive than what a few minutes of family worship can afford. Scripture portrays an all-inclusive approach to discipleship that resists compartmentalization.

Meeting with God (Pat Sczebel, 3.9.14)

We should be blown away that our great God is already waiting for us to gather. He will speak to us through his word, and remind us of his faithfulness in spite of our faithlessness, and encourage and strengthen our hearts, and continue to reveal more of his glory. This fresh glimpse of Jesus will fuel our passion to live in such a way that gladly reflects back to him the radiance of his worth.

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Leanna's New Favorite Song

This song has been steadily repeated in my mind for the past few weeks after hearing it at our church for the first time awhile back.  It is so rich and comforting, no matter what you are walking through.  It has brought me back to resting upon God and His sovereignty multiple times when big questions regarding Karis come up in my mind.


Whate’er my God Ordains Is Right
By: Samuel Rodigast (an old, dead German man)

1. Whate’er my God ordains is right,
Holy His will abideth.
I will be still whate’er He does,
And follow where He guideth.
He is my God,
Though dark my road.
He holds me that I shall not fall
Wherefore to Him I leave it all

2. Whate’er my God ordains is right,
He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path,
I know He will not leave me
I take, content,
What He hath sent
His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day

3. Whate’er my God ordains is right,
Though now this cup in drinking
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it all unshrinking
My God is true,
Each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart

4. Whate’er my God ordains is right,
Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken
My Father’s care
Is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all

I think it may be based off of this passage {or so says Wikipedia anyway}:

“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he."  (Deut. 32:4)

Here's the way we sing it at church {though this guy isn't actually related to our church at all}:

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How important is the church in your spiritual life?

This video was in a Desiring God blog over the weekend, and I really appreciated the insights that David Powlison (from the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) gives in it.  He explains in detail the role of the church in personal sanctification (growing in holiness).   Whether you currently attend a church regularly, for special occasions only, or not at all, if you profess to be a Christian, I'd encourage you to watch this.  He doesn't only give his opinions, rather he heavily leans on what the Scriptures have to say, and in my opinion, he gives great reasons about why we should all be in community with a local body of Christ.




Thanks to the Desiring God team for creating this video and to Justin Taylor for following it up with helpful links here.

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