Come visit Dogfur and Dandelions with me!

I'm happy to be guest posting over at Dogfur and Dandelions today. I've been blessed to get to know Elizabeth a bit via her blog, a few emails, and some Facebook conversations -- isn't technology grand!

I hope you'll pop over today and see what I'm sharing about our new ministry... and browse around her site a bit while you're there. I know you'll be encouraged!

Reflections on A Mother's Prayer | Kristyn Getty

I'm happy to have a very special guest on the blog today as Kristyn Getty shares her perspective on dealing with the joys and fears of becoming a mother. And Kristyn has graciously provided a couple of surprises at the end of this post -- happy Mother's Day!

In the spring of 2008 I first prayed for a baby, and in the spring of 2011 God answered that prayer with the birth of our beautiful daughter.  My joy was full but so were the fears I wrestled.  In some ways I felt like a baby Christian again, caught in a whirlwind of emotions, learning and applying what I have known and trusted into a completely new life - I know I'm definitely not the first to feel that!  

Friends of ours had given us a card when their first son was born; it was full of prayer requests for his little life, a prayer for every day of the month. My prayers were not quite as coherent as those, especially at first, but the urgency of the moment drove me to my knees.  “Help her, help me” baby prayers at 3am; prayers as I heard the baby monitor light up in the morning; prayers when I thought of her safety, her soul, her future; prayers  with my husband; prayers while Eliza listened in.

When people found out that I was pregnant one of the most frequent comments I received was how my creativity would discover a whole new vista of inspiration as I became a mother.  So, when Eliza came I was anticipating a fresh flow of profound poetic thought, but instead I was swept up in the constant flow of changes and feedings and “Old MacDonald had a farm!” I was expecting full sentences, but I was blubbering looking at my beautiful girl! I actually wondered if I'd ever be able to write again.  I just about tucked some thoughts away to ponder later when my brain would start to fit itself back together again (still nowhere near a completed process!). As I continued to learn the wonderful balancing act and privilege of mothering, homemaking, writing, traveling and singing, Keith and I began to write a song for Eliza choosing this theme of praying for her, and the end result was “A Mother's Prayer.”

My parents have faithfully prayed for me my whole life, and I remember when I was younger my mum met with other mums to pray for all their children – a “Moms in Touch” group in Belfast. Even just the knowledge of that helped me, and I want Eliza to know we are praying for her and trying to guide her in this context that reaches to the call and purpose of her whole life and an understanding of the Lord's grace and faithfulness. We're now in the toddler stage and some of the prayer needs are shifting.  We wanted the song to reflect the different seasons - ones we had discovered and then those still to come.  We also wrote it to remind us of our promise to pray for her through all the years we're given.  We hope this song for her – and even more our praying for her – might catch her ear and help guide her heart as she grows up.

Here's the video for A Mother's Prayer:

If you enjoyed this song and would like to share it, use the link below to send it as a special Mother's Day card. Your recipient will receive your special e-card, the video and the lyrics. And to thank you for sharing, you'll receive 15% off any order from Getty Music.

Send a free Mother's Day e-card

  

Book Review: John Newton (Bitesize Biographies)

{A Heart Enlarged by Gospel Grace}

I was excited to receive a copy of John Newton (Bitesize Biographies) by John Crotts to review. I'd heard a bit about the book in the making (the author is a friend), and after finishing Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce in February, I was ready to know more about Newton.

This book is the latest in a series of Bitesize Biographies published by Evangelical Press. At least for this book, bitesize seems to refer more to the size of the book than the quantity or quality of information provided. I learned about so many aspects of Newton's life as I read this book.

Three things most impressed me about Newton as I read:

First, he was constantly aware of God's graciousness in saving him from the wretchedness of his sin. This led him to be abundantly gracious to others -- his wife in her illness, young people wrestling with issues of life and faith, dissenting clergymen, and orphaned relatives are among those on the receiving end of Newton's patient and gracious service.

Second, Newton's pastoral heart recognized the opportunity and value of using music to teach doctrinal truth. I'm amazed at the sheer volume of theologically sound hymns he wrote in addition to meeting his normal duties as pastor, husband, and father. Learning more about just a few of these hymns made me want to find even more of them... and made me long for more of them to be sung in today's churches.

Third, Newton was a prolific letter writer, taking the time to answer questions and encourage others through the written word. This Bitesize Biography could provide only a glimpse at a few of these letters, which was enough to make me interested in reading more. Thankfully, John Crotts provides a list of recommendations for further reading.

I expected to learn more about John Newton through this book, but this Bitesize Biography gave me more than I expected. Crotts seamlessly wove application for today's Christian throughout Newton's story. Truths that applied to Newton in his time are equally applicable to me today, and I appreciate the nudge toward moving from observer to participant as I read.

Cross Focused Reviews provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review; however, the views stated here are my own. This review has also been posted on Amazon.com and Goodreads.

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February Reading Report

In February, I managed to complete some books for my reading challenge, as well as slip in a couple of extras. As in January, several new books found their way into our home last month... how could I just ignore them? That would not have been very hospitable!



 I completed Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ by John MacArthur. This was another book I started in 2012, and I was glad to get back into it. I won't say a lot about it in this post because I wrote about it in a previous post; I'll just say this: read it.





Our family has always loved Beverly Cleary's books, and my daughter was afraid I had missed this gem. So she borrowed Emily's Runaway Imagination from the library and made me read it. Turns out I had actually read it before, but I enjoyed it again. This is a bit different from many of Cleary's other books because it is set around 1920, and it's a fun way to get a feel for life around that time.





I needed a light read during a days-long bout with kidney stones, so I pulled  Spider's Web from our Agatha Christie collection. This novel was adapted from a play (and feels like it), which made it an easier read because both the characters and setting were limited. It's full of twists and turns with a bit of fun.





When John Piper spoke at Southern Seminary recently, the campus Lifeway offered a number of his books at a discount. I had enjoyed watching Amazing Grace, the movie about William Wilberforce and his role in the abolition of slavery in England, and I wanted to know more about the man. Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce gives a look at Wilberforce's conversion and devotion to a God-honoring life. I enjoyed it, and it's a great addition to our homeschool library.

Currently reading: 



Feminine Appeal (Redesign): Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney will be a reread for me, but it's one that can (and should) be reread annually.

If you'd like to keep up with my reading, come follow me on Goodreads. I've posted these books along with some memorable (to me) quotes from the Piper and MacArthur books.




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What's new: a ministry update!

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Have you heard our news?

This past fall my husband, Jeff, met the director of a new mission organization called 20schemes. At the time, Jeff was pastoring a small church with the understanding that he would be bivocational to supplement his church salary. After several meetings over the next couple of months, he was asked to help 20schemes build their network of partnerships in support of this new work. By the end of January, this had morphed into a full-time position (which was all in God's providence, as Jeff was transitioning out of the pastoral position). 

Early in February, Jeff was able to travel overseas to see the work of 20schemes firsthand. I'd like to introduce you to this ministry and the work we'll be doing with 20schemes as full-time missionaries!

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “unreached people group”?  If you’re like most people, you might think of a remote and primitive tribe of people living in the depths of the jungle, or perhaps some nomads in the far reaches of Africa. But what if I told you that the unreached people group I’m referring to actually looks very much like you and me, lives in modern housing, and speaks English? What if I told you that this people group lives in great poverty in the midst of high unemployment and rampant crime, drug use, and prostitution?

The people of the schemes of Scotland – which are similar to the government housing projects of the U.S. -- have a tremendous need for the gospel of Christ, yet there is no doctrinally sound church, no gospel witness within most of these schemes. 20schemes was launched this past fall with a goal of strategically planting or revitalizing biblical churches within twenty schemes over the next ten years.

Mez McConnell understands the hopelessness of living in the schemes. In his memoir, he writes,

My stomach hurts. I can’t tell whether it’s from the hunger or from the hopelessness of it all. There’s no one out there. Who are we kidding? There is no God. We’re on our own. Nobody see us or understand us. The world is living in denial. We’re all alone.

Then, through the witness of the Word and the patience of believers and the working of the Holy Spirit, Mez encountered the saving power of Jesus. Not long afterward, he says,

I realized today that, for the first time in years, I don’t feel black inside anymore. I actually feel quite hopeful, purposeful even. For the first time in my life I actually feel at peace with the world.

Today, Mez pastors Niddrie Community Church, located in the most deprived scheme in Edinburgh. Late in 2012, this church joined arms with two small churches in Bardstown, Kentucky, in the planting and revitalization of gospel-centered churches in some of Scotland’s poorest housing schemes. The new organization is 20schemes, and their website states their vision clearly:

We believe that the biggest need, most urgent crisis, and most crippling poverty in the schemes is spiritual. Most living in Scotland’s schemes are spiritually dead, trapped, lost, unreached and unengaged by the church. The gospel alone changes lives. The response of the church to the devastating reality of much of life in Scotland’s schemes has to be more than support groups and charity. Our response must be for the church to move into the schemes, to see new, healthy, vibrant, gospel preaching churches established in the Schemes and for the schemes.

Our family is very much on the front end of this endeavor, and we are so excited to be a part of the ministry of 20schemes. Our role is to share this vision with individuals, churches, and organizations, primarily within the United States. Three small, not wealthy, congregations joined together for the initial launch; many more partners are needed. We look forward to this opportunity to partner with others through prayer, giving, encouraging, and working.

Would you consider joining with us? We currently need help on several levels: 

1. Pray for our family and the ministry of 20schemes as we work in these early months to lay a critical foundation. We love to pray for our partners, too, so please let us know how we can pray for you. 

2. Jeff and I are not salaried, but are dependent upon the gracious and faithful gifts of believers to support our ministry with 20schemes. Would you consider providing monthly support or a one-time gift for our family as we share the vision of 20schemes?  

3. The ultimate goal of 20schemes is to “see churches in Scotland’s poorest communities being led by men and women who have come from those communities.”(source) We need churches and individuals willing to partner with specific schemes to prayerfully and financially support the evangelism, discipleship, and training of future indigenous leadership. 20schemes is currently seeking one hundred churches/individuals to commit to support the work of this ministry on a monthly basis. Will you be one of the one hundred?

4. 20schemes needs workers, both church planting families and female gospel workers, to live in the schemes and minister among the community.

If you’d like more information on becoming a 20schemes ministry partner, please let me know. Also, if you know of an individual or church who might be interested in partnering with us, we'd love for you to share this information with them.

I know I'll have more to share with you throughout this ministry adventure, so be sure to check back for updates! (Better yet, subscribe to my blog via email via the gadget on the right -- or you may use your RSS feed or Bloglovin.)

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True liberty... as a slave

I recently finished reading Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ by John MacArthur.

For me, this was a really unique book on the believer's identity in Christ. Other writers have stated that we move from sinner to saint at salvation; Dr. MacArthur lays out a biblical case for our being slaves -- first slaves to sin, then slaves of Christ.

While he shares the biblical, historical, and cultural basis for this case, don't think this book is dry or academic. It's also quite challenging and devotional. Dr. MacArthur intersperses personal anecdotes and illustrations from many who have dealt with this very issue. In fact, the book includes an appendix, Voices from History, that made for interesting reading, as well.

I found many noteworthy quotes throughout the book -- both from Dr. MacArthur and others he cited -- but I think this is my favorite.

It harkens me back to Psalm 37:4...

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV)

Remarkably, it was under Dr. MacArthur's ministry that I began to understand the true meaning of this verse. Somehow, I had a vague understanding that if I was happy in the Lord, He would give me what I wanted -- yet I knew that didn't sound right. It wasn't until about 15 years ago, while sitting under the teaching of Grace Community Church, that I learned that when I delight myself in the Lord -- find my every source of joy in Him and through Him -- that my desires will change to be in alignment with His will. So elementary, yet so revolutionary for me.

This book is just that revolutionary. It makes clear that when Jesus is truly our Savior, He is also our Lord and our Master; we are His slaves, bought with a price.




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While BOTH cats are away...

So I'm out on a date with my husband this afternoon and evening, which consists of hanging out at the seminary bookstore (I'm doing homework, he's studying) and then grabbing a bite to eat. And I get this text message and picture from my children...

"What some teenagers do when their parents leave the house..."

Followed by this message and picture...

"What we do."

  

Yes, we're homeschoolers.