December 2022
This week, I told my husband I had a huge pile of things swirling around in my head. Not things to do, but things I’ve been thinking about…God’s glory & how it affects my daily life, my need for holiness, Romans 12 and how God wants each of us to use the gifts He’s given us, and how the command to “let our light shine” can lead to the world hating believers as it hated our Savior, etc.
Do you know what all these things have in common?
The intake of God’s Word.
Whether in my personal reading of God’s Word, listening to sermons with my church family, studying the Bible with other ladies, memorizing a passage with a friend, or just in casual conversations with other believers, God’s Word has been doing the work it always does: sharply and accurately piercing my heart, convicting me of my sin and reminding me of Christ’s righteousness.
But do you know what? This month, I’ve also fought against being in God’s Word. There are a lot of things I’d like to do that don’t look like sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary did. Instead, I can often whirl around like Martha, busy with a million tasks that have immediate impact (or I can just choose to stay in bed and scroll on my phone). While I know and experience the benefits of God’s Word, I sometimes avoid it.
Do you know the cure for avoiding God’s Word? It’s getting back into it, bringing my hardened heart to God, and asking him to give me a renewed love for His Word—just like the Psalmist expressed when he declared it was sweeter than honey and better than gold.
The cure for avoiding God’s Word?
Get back into it.
My friend, I wonder what your relationship with God’s Word is like right now? What does your intake of Scripture look like? Are you regularly feasting on it? Meditating on and memorizing it? If you find that your heart has been avoiding it—finding more glory in completing tasks, sleeping in, scrolling social media, or shopping for the best deals—then take this avoidance to the Father who already knows, the Son who died to set you free, and the Spirit who is at work to bring repentance and change in your life.
May we regularly bring our hearts and minds before the mirror of God’s Word, and find that He is able to make us both hearers and doers so we will be more like Him.
Read Think Learn Resources
My church has been going through a sermon series on God’s attributes, and this past Sunday’s sermon was my favorite one: God is Glorious. You can watch it here.
“When we disappoint others, we can start with the encouragement that somehow, in God’s kingdom, being not enough is good news because Jesus honors, welcomes, and helps us no matter what our limitations are.” Read the full article: God’s Ministry to the Disappointing
Last month, I told you I was trying my hand at making sourdough bread. Most of my attempts were pretty terrible looking, but tasted okay. I almost threw in the towel, thinking sourdough bread making was not for me and I had come to peace with this decision. But this month, ladies and gentlemen, I finally had sourdough bread success. Multiple times in a row, so I know it wasn’t a fluke! And I’m enjoying it so much that when my husband asked me for Christmas gift suggestions, I asked for a lame. I will let you know if Santa delivers. (Here’s the sourdough recipe I’ve been using with a 100% success rate.)
This month, I read The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. Multiple things convicted me, but here are a couple of quotes:
“We become so accustomed to our sins we sometimes lapse into a state of peaceful coexistence with them, but God never ceases to hate them.”“God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.”
“Too often, we say we are defeated by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated. We are simply disobedient. […] When I say I am defeated by some sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibility. […] But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may in fact be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey.”
Now do you see why I was convicted? This is one of those books that I think could be helpful to re-read every year or two.I have been loving this new-ish podcast, Confronting Christianity, especially this episode about deconstructing Christianity. I appreciate the careful way they work to answer hard questions in a way that’s faithful to Scripture and kind to listeners.
Another culinary adventure I’ve embarked on is making greek yogurt in my instant pot. Dare I say it’s easy? Yes, I dare. I use this recipe in the 8-quart instant pot. (I don’t add sweetener to mine and I haven’t dabbled around in flavors too much. I mostly use it in smoothies, oatmeal (for added protein), or as a sour cream substitute.)
Ten Words to Live By (written by Jen Wilkin) is a book all about the 10 commandments. I read it this month and really appreciate the way Wilkin elevates the commandments as something we should love since we love the One who gave them to us. Some favorite quotes:
”Satan has succeeded in convincing believers that lust is just something to be managed instead of something to be slain.”
"We should love the law because we love Jesus, and because Jesus loved the law. Contrary to common belief, the Pharisees were not lovers of the law; they were lovers of self."
“Because we are accepted in the beloved, we will not be content to simply be not-murderers, or not-contemptuous, or not-angry. We will not merely refrain from taking life—we will run toward giving it.”On the eve before Thanksgiving, my family and I tried out a new thing: making homemade soft pretzels. Were you aware that you need to boil soft pretzels in baking soda water before baking? Such a fun and interesting process! I also made this cheese sauce to go along with it. Spectacularly delicious.
This month, my family completed our second year of giving post-it note thanks. I love this tradition so much because all 6 of us can participate, it requires almost no preparation, it instills thankfulness into our hearts, and it provides fantastic reading material for any and all guests who come to our home. (Here’s picture evidence from 2021.)
My Prayer for You
My prayer for you this month is that you would be committed to God’s Word. Just imagine with me if you closed out the last month of 2022 in this way—not just saying you believe the Bible, but showing it by the way you read, obey, desire, talk about it, and live it out.
How would your life change if you lived like this?
How might the lives of those around you change if you lived like this?
I’m praying for you.
Christa