Author and Editor

Created Twice: Once with His Breath and Once with His Death

Posted by desiringvirtue on Apr 17, 2012 in Editor's Corner, Theology | 1 comment

Oh what power and what love are expressed through our God’s creative works!

Can you imagine that he simply breathed out all of creation? From the stars in the heavens to the butterflies that flutter across flower laden fields; every mountain, tree, animal, and human being were spoken into existence as though requiring no effort whatsoever, just words, just the desire to create from an infinitely powerful God.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26 ESV)

 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 ESV)

Each of us have been effortlessly woven together within or mother’s wombs by our God, each an expression of his creativity and power.

For by him [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:6 ESV)

Then there is our second birth, our recreation. This creation of a new, redeemed nature required an infinite price. Unlike the effortless words that brought man from the dust, blood dripping death was required of our God for this task. A sacrifice was made by the God of the Universe to renew his creation, to create in his people a new heart, a heart that longed after him.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19 ESV)

God the Father gave up his only Son to death, crushing him for our iniquities. His Son willingly walked the path of suffering and humiliation in order to wipe our sin away and make us clean again. His glorious love for us was displayed in his horrific death which brings about new life in each of his elect.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

Sisters, marvel with me at our God, who effortlessly spoke us into existence and yet gave his life, his very life to recreate what sin had destroyed. 

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Joy. Unending Joy.

Posted by desiringvirtue on Apr 9, 2012 in Editor's Corner, Hutto Family News Updates, Miscarriage, The Christian Life, Theology | 2 comments

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 ESV)

Easter is a time of celebration, a time of remembering and exalting in the most wonderful of truths. It is a time to honor and praise our Lord Jesus for the miraculous work of salvation, for his sacrificial, brutal, horrific death and for his glorious and triumphant resurrection. It is a time for joy–at least it has always been before. This year, mixed in with the usual joyous celebration was a secret time of sorrow for my husband and I. While we reveled in the incredible grace shown to us through the cross and that empty grave, there was a very real sense of pain and awareness of the loss we experienced months ago when our little girl was taken from us.

You see, we were “supposed” to have an Easter baby. If everything had gone “according to plan,” our little girl would have arrived by now, possibly even on Easter day. Our little boys would have gazed down in wonder at a bundle of joy wrapped in pink blankets held by an adoring mother. But this was not meant to be, this was not the Lord’s good and gracious will. Instead, the past week has been a reminder of the dark days of trial when we buried our tiny little girl in the earth and drew near to our Heavenly Father, begging him to wash us with his gracious presence. It was a time of sweet grief for the daughter we will never raise and a time of remembering our loving God’s faithfulness to be our all in all.

It is fitting that the one we named Resurrection, was due to be born on Easter. Our little Anastasia is a constant reminder to us of the life that is yet to come. There is indeed something more substantial and more glorious just over the horizon of this life. There is a coming kingdom that our finite minds can hardly grasp here on this decaying planet. Our bodies which are quickly wasting away, growing older with each passing minute, march steadily to an eternity with the loveliest of Saviors. How our hearts grown for the day when we will stand in the presence of our God, bathed in the righteousness of Christ, fully undeserving and yet, because of Christ, deserving of the full manifestation of the love of God! How rich will our inheritance be when we live unhindered by sin and in perfect communion with our Savior! There will be no more suffering, no more loss, no more sorrow, only joy. Unending joy.

In a way, the tragic death of our little girl has made Easter all the more poignant, all the more imperative. For, if there is no resurrection, we my friends are to be pitied. If Christ did not raise from the grave, then we are lost, and disgustingly obsessed with a false prophet. But what glorious hope we have in our Risen Savior. There is one who has conquered death. There is one who, by the power of his own might, rose from the grave forever making impotent the power of sin. This Christ, this marvelous Christ, has promised to not only free us from the shackles of sin, but to release us from the penalty our sins deserve. Our Death-Crushing Savior has promised to present us to his Father pure and blameless, marvelously fit for an eternity of glory.

I couldn’t help but cry as we sang songs to our God this Sunday morning. Not because I was overcome by sadness, but because the pain of this world is real and horrible at times and the truth of the future coming of our King is a glorious and incomprehensible thing. He is coming back again–what marvelous hope! He will return for us in all his splendor and usher us into an eternity of joy. Unending joy.

Our victorious King lives… and so shall we.

Related Post: “When God Asks You for Your Isaac”

This post is linked up with A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Grace Laced, Raising Homemakers

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

Book Review: Parenting in the Pew

Posted by desiringvirtue on Mar 26, 2012 in Book Reviews, Books, Editor's Corner, Motherhood, Parenting, Recommended | 6 comments

“Joy is the last word many parents would choose to describe what it’s like to sit in the pew with their children. Resentment and frustration are not uncommon feelings for people who “before we had kids” experienced an hour of peace and calm in the pew. Parenting in the pew can be a hassle. Or it can be holy. It depends on who we are and how we see ourselves. Do we sit with our children “in church” or “in worship”?

Too many adults who learned how to be quiet in church are still doing just that. And many of them are passing this along to their children. A family can learn to sit still very well, but be unmoved by the holy presence of God.”

If I had to sum up the purpose of Robbie Castleman’s book Parenting in the Pew everything I said would flow from these couple sentences found in chapter two. Mrs. Castleman urges parents to make sure that they are purposeful in how they interact with their children at church–to view the time they have in the pew as a continuation of their parental responsibility to lead their children to the throne of Christ, not a respite of that responsibility.

In a very loving and friendly way, Castleman brings you along as she journeys through various personal accounts of how she set out to parent her own children in the pew. As the wife of a pastor, Castleman carried the brunt of instructing her children during worship services as her husband was often busy leading and teaching. In a very real sense, she operated as a single parent on Sunday mornings as most pastor’s wives do. As she set about intentionally training her children during worship to engage in the various aspects of the service, other families followed her lead and were able to encourage one another in their pursuit of parenting in the pew.

Perhaps one of the greatest assets Castleman brings to her writing is the firsthand, personal experience of raising two godly men. The stories of difficulty and perseverance are backed up by the joy and honor of having children who have literally risen up and called her blessed–children who have become her “friends before the throne of grace.” Toward the end of the book Castleman explains that “in the presence of our Father, my sons have become my brothers. There is no greater joy for any parent in the pew.”

If you are looking for magical tricks or tips to help your children be quiet and still during church, this book will sadly disappoint. Rather, Castleman stresses the importance of encouraging your children to develop a genuine desire to worship the Lord alongside their parents. She discourages bringing toys, or coloring books, or snacks into service as the purpose of doing these things is often to “occupy” your children, rather than bringing them alongside you in your passion to worship the Lord.

I appreciated her emphasis on our motive and heart as parents bringing our children to church. Are we bringing them to church to sit and behave well, or are we bringing them to church so that they can experience the life changing power of God? Often our actions (how we practically manage our children) betray our desires (what we hope to accomplish by bringing our children with us). Castleman gives many practical tips on how to encourage your children to actively take part in the worship service during both the early toddler years and the later teen years. Throughout this book it is evident that she is interested teaching you to reach the hearts of your children rather than being content with raising children who are really good at sitting still.

It is good to be aware that Castleman writes from a Presbyterian perspective. While this fact obviously influences her book, she is careful to give practical advice and alternative views when dealing with topics that may be impacted by different denominational practices (such as infant vs. believer’s baptism). One particularly odd moment in the book was one such occasion when Castleman addressed those churches of a charismatic nature. She speaks of those teenagers within the charismatic community who may “begin to embrace expressions of faith that are evident in their parents and congregations, like speaking in tongues and the laying on of hands.” As one who views many of these “expressions of faith” as misinterpreted within the charismatic community, I found this small section a little unsettling. This would not keep me, however, from recommending this book to those who, like myself and the author, are not a part of the charismatic church. One other, smaller critique would be to suggest that the book be updated as some of the subjects and language are obviously dated being that this book was originally written in 1992. Within the twenty years that this book was first published (!!!) much has changed in terms of technology and contemporary music artists. Updating these things would do a great deal in the way of keeping the ever relevant information within the book… relevant to today’s parents.

Parenting in the Pew will be an encouragement to any parent who desires to better engage their children during church in an effort to bring glory to God and bring their children to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I highly recommend this little book as a helpful resource to Christian parents.

This post is linked up with A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

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When the Dream of Motherhood Becomes a Reality

Posted by desiringvirtue on Mar 15, 2012 in Babies, Editor's Corner, Motherhood | 9 comments

Our youngest, suffering from Hand-Foot-Mouth

I can distinctly remember the first time I felt a genuine desire to be a mother. I was in my teens and babysitting my mentor’s children. She and my youth pastor had three beautiful little girls at the time, the youngest being around one year old. After putting all of them down to sleep and feeling very accomplished I settled down on the couch to watch a movie (I may or may not have been watching their wedding tape…). Suddenly I heard a shriek from upstairs. I bolted up to the nursery room and found the littlest girl crying hysterically in her crib. I swept her up in my arms and sat down in the rocker, gently patting her back and humming in her ear. Between singing little lullabies and the natural “sh sh sh” that seems to be built into all women, this precious little child slowly drifted back into blissful sleep. Whatever terrifying dream that had awoken her seemed to have vanished like a wisp of smoke as she laid heavily in my arms leaving only the remnant of drying tears on my shoulder. I stayed in that rocker for longer than was probably necessary, but I couldn’t help but soak up this wonderful moment. The sweet smell of a baby mixed with the quiet, heavy breathing of deep sleep filled my heart with joy and the hope of one day getting to experience such blessings on a regular basis–to be the Mommy who makes everything better.

My perception of motherhood has always been centered around moments like the story I just shared–the beautiful, happy moments (moments typically seen in movies). Before actually having children of my own I naively believed that the pictures in the Babies ‘R Us magazine were an accurate representation of what motherhood would look like. Then the reality of breastfeeding, projectile vomit, sleepless nights, fevers that drive you to the emergency room, and little to no “alone” time rushed in with the blessing of our first child. I quickly realized that motherhood was less about being a part of a “perfect moment” and more about being perfected in every moment.

My husband and I have often mused that couples should have the opportunity to take “Preparental Counseling” during the nine months they have to prepare for their first baby. Much like marriage, parenthood can benefit from preparation and a heavy dose of reality. While there is no limit to the amount of pithy statements people will offer you with “the best of intentions” as they notice your growing belly (“You will never sleep again!” or “Say goodbye to your figure!”) it is rarer to receive real, Christ-exalting, practical advice.

You see, the moment your baby arrives you are suddenly catapulted out of your magical, dream-like fantasy of what motherhood is all about and dropped into a mandatory life of sacrifice. Even the worst of mothers must, inevitably sacrifice her own desires for the wellbeing of her children to some degree. Those of us who, by God’s grace, desire to tenderly care for these little ones find that we are quickly confronted with our own selfishness as the needs of our children present themselves all. the. time. It quickly becomes apparent that one of the primary blessings of caring for children is the sanctification that Christ provides through them.

There are indeed many beautiful and perfect moments that mothers are blessed to experience. There are times when I think my heart will burst with all of the love and joy I feel when I am with my children. Every day I am given the incredible privilege of being the “Mommy who can make everything better,” and yet, every day I am confronted with my own self-centered, self-serving, just plain selfish self! Every day is an opportunity, through the abundant grace of God, to give up more of my own rights, more of my own desires for two precious souls who are utterly dependent upon me. Every day is an opportunity to give myself over to the sacrificial life that Christ calls all of his disciples to live. Every day is an opportunity to be conformed to the image of my Savior. Every day is filled with gracious blessings.

As mothers, we have a choice to either believe the world and view the daily difficulties of motherhood as an unfair burden or to believe the Word of God and view them as divine gifts meant to draw us closer to our precious Savior. The fruit of believing the world’s lies is anger, bitterness, discouragement, and dissatisfaction, but the fruit born from the Spirit as we trust in the eternal Word of God is joy, peace, perseverance, and sanctification.

For this reason, I would submit to you that your children are not just blessings when they are clean, obedient, joyful, and sleeping peacefully all through the night. No, children are a blessing in every way, even when they demand all that you have and seem to suck the life right out of you, because it is then when they have indeed sucked all of your selfish propensities and self-centered desires from you, that you reflect your Savior the most. It is then that you must cling ever so close to the cross and allow his sanctifying blood to drip over you and create in you a new person–a mother who delights in sacrifice.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good (even middle of the night breast-feeding), for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV, Parenthesis added by me)

Related Reading: Perfect Moments

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife, Raising Homemakers, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, and Our Simple Country Life.

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

An End to Your “Work Day”

Posted by desiringvirtue on Mar 12, 2012 in Editor's Corner, Housekeeping, Motherhood, The Home | 15 comments

A mother’s job is never done. But can a housekeeper’s, a school teacher’s, a baker’s, an accountant’s or a blogger’s job end at 5 o’clock with the rest of the world? Of course it can! As homemakers, we wear many different hats and some of those need to be taken off both mentally and physically at some point in time or your day will simply turn into one overstressed, unproductive mush. Having a cut off time for certain household duties is beneficial in many ways.

First, it gives you incentive to work hard up until that designated point in time. It is much easier to put your nose to the grindstone when you have a light at the end of the tunnel to keep you going. When you feel like giving up or surfing the web, you can remind yourself that you have time for that on your “off” hours. Alternatively, deluding yourself with the prospect of a never ending work day can result in procrastination and frustration.

Shutting down shop around 5pm also gives you the ability to refocus and recharge before your husband gets home from work. Let your husband come home to a peaceful, quiet home and a peaceful, quiet wife while you are at it!

Another benefit to segregating some of your daily duties to a set “work day” is your ability to focus on family time at night. It is difficult to give your whole heart and mind to your husband and children when  you still have the day’s cares hovering above you like a black cloud. This small amount of time you have with your family every night is precious and should not be taken lightly. It is especially precious to your husband, who spends much of his day outside the home and looks forward to your company when he returns. Some of the most important family activities happen in the evening, from dinner to family worship to bath time to romantic rendezvous. Let your heart, body and mind be all there during these precious times.

One last benefit to cutting off some duties when your husband gets home is that he will not feel as though he needs to help you in those activities. He has been working hard all day and envisions this as his time to relax and rejuvenate, but he can’t truly do this unless you are as well. Watching you fold laundry while he relaxes will only make him feel guilty and you feel bitter in the process!

Now, I am not proposing that you put aside your duties as wife and mother. Dinner still has to be prepared and served, babies still need to be nursed, bathed, and put to bed, and much much more. However, there are specific duties that you can designate to your “work day” and others that you can designate to your “off time.” In order to achieve this reality there are certain disciplines that need to be cultivated every day, here are a few:

Have a plan for your day.
It doesn’t have to be a minute by minute guide, but having a general plan laid out will help you know what you need to accomplish before the “whistle blows” for the end of your work day. Ideally this should be done before your time off so that you don’t have tomorrow’s to-do list hanging over your head while you are trying to relax. Give yourself 10-15 minutes at the end of every work day to plan the next day’s duties. (You may find some of these free Planner Printables helpful)

Get to work on the hard things first.
We all have those specific tasks that we dread doing every day. Whether it is vacuuming or cleaning the tub, getting it done first thing will aid your desire to be productive and spur you on throughout the rest of the day.

Do the most important things on your list next.
With the painful, but necessary tasks out of the way, move on the most important tasks. These will vary day by day, but you don’t want them to get looked over as you go about your business. If you do overlook (0r perhaps ignore them!) them, the chances of you getting to relax when your husband gets home are greatly decreased.

Make as many nighttime chores daytime chores as you can. 
For instance, if you normally unload and load the dishwasher after dinner or before you go to bed consider moving your dishwashing routine to the middle of the day. After lunch is through, run the dishwasher and unload it before you call it quits for the day. Then all you will have to do before bed is load the dinner dishes. Maybe you could move bath time for the little ones to a less hectic time during the day. If so, that is one less thing you will have to do before the kids go down. Simply setting out the kid’s diapers and pajamas for bed time (before you stop working for the day) is a huge help when you are trying to simplify your nighttime routine, plus it makes you feel prepared for the night.

Take the necessary steps to be able to call it quits. 
You can’t truly call it quits if the house is still in disarray when the quitting bell rings! The last 30 minutes of your day will have to be dedicated to a thorough pic up in order to make quitting a reality. This means that if you desire to stop working at 5pm, you must begin preparing to stop working a little after 4! Imagine how peaceful you would be if, at around 4:15pm you began picking up the house, looking for loose ends that need to be tied (like a clean load of laundry that needs to be put away or dishes that need to be unloaded). You are able to accomplish these last minute details, light a few candles, and put on a pot of coffee to enjoy before you start cooking dinner. Then, at 4:45pm you sit down with the your cup of coffee and plan out the next day. Depending on how long your dinner preparations are going to take, you may even have time to pray for a little bit thanking the Lord for the things you were able to accomplish and asking him to prepare your heart to be ready for your husband. It all sounds rather ideal does it not? Imagine how different your nights could be with just a little bit of planning!

When it is quitting time, quit! 
As you are planning out the next day, include the tasks that you were unable to get to today. Most household chores will not blow up if they are left for the next day and unless something completely unexpected happened, you already tended to the most imperative tasks by doing them first. Still, it isn’t as easy as it sounds to quit because a lot of the things we do can be done in just a few minutes. Remember that your off time is designated to other important things like preparing dinner, reading to your kids, or enjoying your husband’s company. These things are just as important (most of the time more important!) as matching a pair of socks or windexing a window.

Keep your plan for the next day handy. 
Though it is wise to make this plan before you quit for the day, having it handy so that you can add duties or activities as they come to mind is very helpful. As soon as you think of something or see something that needs to get done jot it down so that it does not weigh on you throughout the night. Before you go to bed, look over your plan for tomorrow one more time and make any adjustments necessary.

Make the “pick-up” habit second nature. 
If you aren’t going to dedicate yourself to cleaning after 5, then you will need to be diligent in the upkeep of the house from then on out. Keeping a tidy house must become part of our very nature as homemakers if we are to be able to enjoy a clean home for more than 15 minutes! Just take the time as you are enjoying your family to leave every room you spend time in orderly and picked up.

View your tasks after 5pm as enjoyable, relaxing activities.
Obviously, no matter how much you get done before you quit for the day, there are certain activities as wives and mothers that will have to be done during the night time. However, viewing them as enjoyable, relaxing activities rather than more chores will make your evenings much less stressful. Cooking, if you are not strapped for time, can be a therapeutic and creative endeavor. Bathing your children and putting them to bed should be an enjoyable, memory making activity. Unfortunately these things can become stressful tasks in and of themselves if you have not done the necessary preparations or accomplished enough ahead of time.

Being part of a family is hard work, being the mother or wife in that family is even harder work. However, evenings can be reserved for relaxing and fellowshiping with your husband and family as a means of service to them. The whole work day is devoted to serving your husband through working diligently in your home while he is out, let him enjoy the home  you have prepared for him by letting him enjoy you. If we work diligently throughout the day, we can also relax peacefully throughout the evening.

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife,  Raising Homemakers, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, and Our Simple Country Life

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A Savior Worth Giving Everything For

Posted by desiringvirtue on Mar 6, 2012 in Editor's Corner, Evangelism, The Christian Life, The Home, Uncategorized | 3 comments

It’s easy to forget the reality we live in–this cosmic battle between the powers of darkness and the King of Light. There is an advancing kingdom of ransomed sinners, saved and empowered by the precious blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. This mighty King of ours has secured a glorious, final victory over Satan and his doomed followers–a victory that will right every wrong and restore the perfect order our hearts long for. There will be a day when God will be worshiped perfectly, and when our souls will experience the pure bliss they were created for. This is the day we strive toward and fight for.

A couple days ago my husband and I sat in a Sunday School class with some dear friends who are about to lay aside every earthly comfort, every sense of security, every promise of safety to go live among the lost. These Christ followers are humbly and bravely accepting a calling that could very easily lead to their deaths. They will enter a country covered in darkness, very much under the control of our spiritual enemy who wishes only to condemn its inhabitants to an eternity of anguish. Burdened by the call we are all given, to go and make disciples of all the nations, these dear friends will set aside all of their own desires for those of their Master. They will accept the reality of this fading life and live for the life to come, where they hope to usher in many fellow sinners covered by the blood of Christ.

In another part of the world there is a pastor who’s belief in Christ has made him an inevitable martyr at worst and a political pawn at best. Many of us have been watching and praying as the events of Pastor Nadarkhani’s imprisonment and death sentence have unfolded in Iran. We have been asking the Father to spare his life and been rightly outraged by the Iranian government’s unjustified actions toward him. It is yet one more reminder of the reality we sometimes forget we live in.

As women, wives, mothers, and homemakers, we pride ourselves on cultivating the home. We take seriously our role in creating beautiful, peaceful, and welcoming environments for our families and visitors to be blessed by. Hospitality and hard work are virtues we care deeply about as we seek to serve those around us, but to what end? Are we simply working to make people happy? To serve for service’s sake? These are nice things, but they have little eternal value if they are not ultimately aimed toward furthering the Kingdom of Christ. You and I are not exempt from waging war against the powers of darkness, we are not exempt from the call to leave everything, take up our crosses and follow Christ. Let us never forget that everything we do, the hospitality we extend, the homes we clean, the children we raise, the food we cook, the volunteer work we do, the jobs we labor at are all subject to the needs, mission, and will of our King Jesus Christ. They are all for his glory and for his people. They are all an act of love toward him and toward others.

We must challenge ourselves to not get too comfortable in these beautiful, peaceful homes we create. They are temporary gifts given to us for the use of the Kingdom. As we minister to our families, nurture our children, and extend hospitality through our homes, we do so in an effort to see Christ exalted among our communities and see sinners come to know true joy in him. Our lives must be a daily act of sacrifice in time, effort, and resources as we seek to see the nations reconciled to God. As those who have been saved from the wrath of God through the blood of Christ, as those who have been set free from the chains of death and slavery, as those who have been united to Christ, we must take seriously our call to serve the Savior in everything.

As we sat in our Sunday School class listening to our dear friends soberly explain their willingness to die if necessary to obey Christ, the weight of this mission we are all engaging in hit me. We are not all called to foreign countries as missionaries, nor are we all called to be martyrs for the sake of Christ, but we are all called to obey his will and lay down everything for his name. Yes, even in the work place, in our homes, or as we change dirty diapers, we must lay everything down for him. We are all members of this one body that is waging war against the devil. We are all seeking to set the captives free. We must all work with equal earnestness as we seek to serve our King–our victorious King. It is our complete and utter joy to do so.

All I Have Is Christ

by Jordan Kauflin

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

This post is linked up at Raising Homemakers, and A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

If this is your first time to visit Desiring Virtue you may want to join our growing community of passionate homemakers by "liking" DV on Facebook, following DV on Twitter, or subscribing to DV's email delivery via Feedburner.

Marvelous Meditations for Homemakers (Filthiness)

Posted by desiringvirtue on Mar 2, 2012 in Editor's Corner, Housekeeping, Marvelous Meditations for Homemakers, The Home, Theology, Uncategorized | 6 comments

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” (John 13:3-9 ESV)

Cleaning the toilet is always such a glorious task isn’t it? Out of all of the household chores I would have to say it is one of my least favorites. I mean who really enjoys getting nice and cozy with a dirty, disgusting toilet?

Today as I went about this lovely task my little Hudson appeared at the bathroom door with the hymnal we use during Bible time. He has gotten into the habit of bringing it to me whenever he wants to sing, and who wouldn’t want to sing while cleaning toilets? As I started to go through the melody of “Holy, Holy, Holy” I found myself giggling as the hilarity of the situation set in on me. Here I am singing about God’s perfection, his utter cleanness, his purity, while the paper towel I am holding sweeps away accumulated filth from the past week. The two subjects on my mind could not be more diametrically opposed to one another. But the stark contrast found in that ordinary moment reminded me of my own filthiness before a holy God, the unimaginable grace shown by the Savior Jesus Christ to this poor and lowly sinner.

Christ and me. How opposite are our natures. How filthy and disgusting was I when he chose to lavish his love upon me! How clean and pure was he when he suffered for my sin, when he washed me and clothed me with his righteousness! How incredible are the truths of mercy and grace! How unimaginable that my king would stoop down and dirty himself with the filth I  accumulated every moment of everyday on the path of unrighteousness. How wondrous that he would go about the business of continually washing me, purifying me even when I stray from his commands–because his blood is that powerful. How marvelous is the Savior who washes away sins: past, present, and future.

Let us never forget sisters, no matter how close we get to Christ, no matter how familiar we become with him, that he has shown us mercy and grace immeasurable. We must never forget how filthy we were, and how deep our struggle against sin continues to be. Christ has made a way for salvation that was once impossible, that by our own merit should still be impossible if it weren’t for his love, if it weren’t for his mercy. Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus that covers all our sins, that counts them as nothing as we are washed by the precious blood that transforms the harlot into a pure bride. This grace is AMAZING. Never allow it to become common or everyday.

When Jesus stooped down to wash his disciple’s feet, to serve them in such a humble way, they were outraged. A Messiah, doing the job of a servant was unheard of, but a God taking the punishment for his creation should do nothing less than take our breath away. This is the reality that we live in; this is the power for salvation.

“I thought I could have leaped from earth to heaven at one spring when I first saw my sins drowned in the Redeemer’s blood” (Charles Spurgeon)

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife

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Easter Reading Recommendations

Posted by desiringvirtue on Feb 27, 2012 in Easter, Editor's Corner, Holidays, Theology, Uncategorized | 3 comments

This is the season for celebrating the cross of Christ. What a wonderful work has been done on the behalf of man through the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God! During seasons like this I enjoy dedicating myself to the study of what it is we are truly celebrating and how it impacts my life. This year I am reading In My Place Condemned He Stood, a book that focuses on the wonderful doctrine of Christ taking my place and paying for my sins. Perhaps you too are looking for a good book that focuses on the truth of Christ’s work through the cross to bring you to salvation and sanctification. If so, I pray that within this list of cross centered resources you will find a book to draw you closer to Christ this Easter season. Most of these books focus on what was accomplished through the cross, and the last three are great explanations for how to apply such beautiful truths to your life as God’s child.

Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross

Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter

Edited by Nancy Guthrie

Publisher’s Description: This collection of readings, drawn from the writings and sermons of 25 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers, focuses on the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice.

In a culture where crosses have become little more than decorative accessories and jewelry, how easy it is for even the most well-intended Christian to rush from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without thoughtfully contemplating the cross and all that it means. Yet we miss out on spiritual riches when we do.

So that we all may linger at the cross during the Lenten season—and stay near it the whole year through—editor Nancy Guthrie has compiled this special anthology. It draws from the works and sermons of classic theologians such as Luther, Edwards, Spurgeon, Ryle, and Augustine, and from leading contemporary communicators such as John Piper, R. C. Sproul, Francis Schaeffer, John MacArthur, Skip Ryan, and Joni Eareckson Tada to help readers enter into an experience of Christ’s passion and anchor their hope in the power of his resurrection.

Each essay in this collection holds to a high view of Scripture and expounds on a particular aspect of the Easter story using the appropriate Scripture passage from the ESV Bible. These readings are sure to prepare people’s hearts for a fresh experience of the cross each and every Easter season.

The Cross of Christ

By John R.W. Stott

The work of a lifetime, from one of the world’s most influential thinkers, about the heart of the Christian faith. “I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross. . . . In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?” With compelling honesty John Stott confronts this generation with the centrality of the cross in God’s redemption of the world — a world now haunted by the memories of Auschwitz, the pain of oppression and the specter of nuclear war. Can we see triumph in tragedy, victory in shame? Why should an object of Roman distaste and Jewish disgust be the emblem of our worship and the axiom of our faith? And what does it mean for us today? Now from one of the foremost preachers and Christian leaders of our day comes theology at its readable best, a contemporary restatement of the meaning of the cross. At the cross Stott finds the majesty and love of God disclosed, the sin and bondage of the world exposed. More than a study of the atonement, this book brings Scripture into living dialogue with Christian theology and the twentieth century. What emerges is a pattern for Christian life and worship, hope and mission. Destined to be a classic study of the center of our faith, Stott’s work is the product of a uniquely gifted pastor, scholar and Christian statesman. His penetrating insight, charitable scholarship and pastoral warmth are guaranteed to feed both heart and mind.

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

By John Piper

WHY?

The most important questions anyone can ask are: Why was JesusChrist crucified? Why did he suffer so much? What has this to dowith me? Finally, who sent him to his sdeath? The answer to thelast question is that God did. Jesus was God’s Son. The sufferingwas unsurpassed, but the whole message of the Bible leads to thisanswer.

The central issue of Jesus’ death is not the cause, but themeaning-God’s meaning. That is what this book is about. John Piperhas gathered from the New Testament fifty reasons. Not fiftycauses, but fifty purposes-in answer to the most important questionthat each of us must face: What did God achieve for sinners like usin sending his Son to die?

 The Great Exchange

My Sin for His Righteousness

By Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington

Sinclair Ferguson’s Description: Believers often take for granted the great act of salvationprovided to us by the work of Jesus Christ. Beginning with the OldTestament sacrifices and the prophecies that foreshadowed Christ,authors Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington guide believers through thebiblical overview of Christ’s atonement. The Great Exchange helpsbelievers see how the Old Testament practices tie in with the NewTestament discussion of Christ’s great work of salvation.

As believers work through these principles, they will begin torecognize that even though we deserve condemnation and punishmentfrom a holy God, he has given us the opportunity to experience hisgreat riches through his Son, Jesus Christ. The clear gospelmessage presented throughout the entire book offers a greatappreciation of Christ for believers and an opportunity forsalvation for unbelievers.

In My Place Condemned He Stood

Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement

By J.I. Packer and Mark Dever

Combining three classic articles by J. I. Packer with a recent article by Mark Dever and a foreword by the four principals of Together for the Gospel, this compact yet penetrating anthology takes an unwavering, classically biblical stance on the increasingly controversial doctrine of substitutionary atonement.

An important anthology that reaffirms the classic doctrine of substitutionary atonement and counters the ongoing attacks against it.

If ever there was a time and a need for an enthusiastic reaffirmation of the biblical doctrine of substitutionary atonement, it is now. With this foundational tenet under widespread attack, J. I. Packer and Mark Dever’s anthology plays an important role, issuing a clarion call to readers to stand firm in the truth.

In My Place Condemned He Stood combines three classic articles by Packer——”The Heart of the Gospel”; his Tyndale Biblical Theology Lecture, “What Did the Cross Achieve”; and his introductory essay to John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ—with Dever’s recent article, “Nothing but the Blood.” It also features a foreword by the four principals of Together for the Gospel: Dever, Ligon Duncan, C. J. Mahaney, and Al Mohler. Thoughtful readers looking for a compact classic on this increasingly controversial doctrine need look no further than this penetrating volume.

Pierced for Our Transgressions

Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution

By Steve Jeffery, Michael Ovey, Andrew Sach

Publisher’s Description: The belief that Jesus died for us, suffering the wrath of hisown Father in our place, has been the wellspring of hope forcountless Christians through the ages. However, with an increasingnumber of theologians, church leaders, and even popular Christianbooks and magazines questioning this doctrine, which naysayers havedescribed as a form of “cosmic child abuse,” a fresh articulationand affirmation of penal substitution is needed. And Jeffery, Ovey,and Sach have responded here with clear exposition andanalysis.

They make the case not only that the doctrine is clearly taughtin Scripture, but that it has an impeccable pedigree and a centralplace in Christian theology, and that its neglect has seriousconsequences. The authors also systematically analyze over twentyspecific objections that have been brought against penalsubstitution and charitably but firmly offer a defining declarationof the doctrine of the cross for any concerned reader.

The Gospel for Real Life

Turn to the Liberating Power of the Cross… Every Day

By Jerry Bridges

Publisher’s Description: The gospel of Jesus Christ is the door to eternal life, but what difference does it make once we’re inside God’s kingdom? Jerry Bridges says the gospel is the very lifeblood of our walk with God. Without doubt it is the key to our salvation, but it is also the power for our daily progress in holiness.The Gospel for Real Life will help you:

~Experience freedom from the grip of sin and know the joy of pursuing holiness
~Revel in God’s acceptance of you and participate in His grace as a daily reality
~Expose the subtle acids of legalism in your life and enjoy the liberty of the cross
~Discover how to “preach the gospel to yourself daily” and so partake of its continuous transforming power
~Carry the true fullness of the gospel to a desperately needy world around you

This new paperback edition includes a study guide to help you experience every day “the unsearchable riches of Christ” that are available to us in the gospel.

 Living the Cross Centered Life

Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing

By C.J. Mahaney

What Really Matters 
Have the extremities taken over and left the core of your faith forgotten? Do you get confused by what you feel versus what is real? Let dynamic pastor C. J. Mahaney strip away the nonessentials and bring you back to the simplest, most fundamental reason for your faith: Jesus Christ. This book is packed with powerful truth that will grip your heart, clear your mind, and invigorate your soul. Chapters include “Breaking the Rules of Legalism,” “The Cross Centered Day,” and “Assurance and Joy.” Get ready to behold a breathtaking view of what God intends to accomplish in and through you every day. You’ll discover how embracing this cross centered life is both our highest privilege and greatest responsibility.

His Gift, Your Hope
Do you desire more passion for Jesus Christ? Return to the very essence of your faith—the cross of Christ. Here, the deepest truths of Calvary will stir your passion for Him into an unquenchable fire.

“Never lay it aside. Never move on,” says C. J. Mahaney, who shows you how to center every day around the life-giving reality of the gospel and how to escape the pitfalls of legalism, condemnation, and feelings-driven faith.

 Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Everything

By Tullian Tchividjian

Publisher’s Description: A proclamation of Christ’s sufficiency that frees us from self-righteousness and keeps us anchored through storms.

Jesus + Nothing = Everything is the equation that Tullian Tchividjian took away from a year of great trial and turmoil. In this book he describes the bitter divisions that soured the beginning of his pastorate at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and the personal anchor that he found in the overwhelming power of the gospel. The book of Colossians forms the basis of Tchividjian’s call for Christians to rediscover the gospel and continually reorient their lives around Jesus.

Tchividjian insists that many who assume they understand the gospel fail to actually apply its riches to their lives. He takes particular aim at self-righteousness, which emphasizes moral behavior while ignoring gospel indicatives. In contrast, Tchividjian delivers a strong grip of the gospel and the radical freedom and peace that are only then possible. This book delves into the profound theological truths of the gospel, yet the message is intensely practical–Tchividjian sounds the call for believers to lean hard on Christ in every area of every day.

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife

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Our Family’s Easter Traditions

Posted by desiringvirtue on Feb 24, 2012 in Easter, Editor's Corner, Holidays, Uncategorized | 21 comments

A couple years ago I wrote a post filled with ways to celebrate a Christ-centered Easter. Since then our own family traditions have slowly begun to take shape and “set” if you will. I, in no way, mean to imply that I am done implementing new traditions (I am sure I will be trying out some new activities this year). Today, however, I would like to share with you some of the ways our little family tries to purposefully keep this holiday about our Savior by celebrating his death and resurrection.

Hot Cross Buns

“…this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:23 ESV)

 

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8 ESV)

As the season progresses I will be making these delicious fruit-filled buns with my children. They are a simple bread to make and provide an excellent opportunity to meditate on Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross. As we squeeze the yummy icing onto each bun and slowly make the cross symbol I explain that it was on a cross that our Savior suffered and died for our sins.

Good Friday Meal

“…and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”’ (John 1:36 ESV)

 

“…and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”’ (Matthew 27:29 ESV)

On the Friday before Easter we take a special meal to remember the Lord’s crucifixion. I decorate the table with a wooden cross and candles. (See here where I suggest using wood from your Christmas tree for this cross.) On the cross I attach fresh rose petals to symbolize Christ’s blood. As I rip the petals off of these beautiful flowers and pin them to the cross I am reminded of Christ willingly suffering and giving up his life so that I might experience life everlasting. (On Easter morning I remove the rose petals to signify his resurrection.) For dinner we enjoy lamb to symbolize Jesus being the sacrificial “Lamb of God” and a special Easter bread that’s shape symbolizes the crown of thorns our Savior wore as he suffered and died. After we have finished eating my husband reads the Biblical account of the crucifixion to us and then the children blow out all of the candles symbolizing the Light of the World’s death.

Fasting

“And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matthew 9:15 ESV)

After our Good Friday meal my husband and I fast until Easter morning. Fasting is a way to focus our hearts on the Lord and draw near to him. It is a time to dedicate yourself to prayer and meditation. From Friday night on we dedicate our time and thoughts to meditating on the beauty of the cross, appreciating Christ’s death, and looking forward to the celebration of his resurrection.

Easter Eggs

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…” (Colossians 2:13 ESV)

 

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV)

 

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103 ESV)

Easter eggs have been a symbol of new life for generations. Much of the symbolism has been lost today as the world focuses on a Bunny instead of a Savior, but in our home eggs are symbol of Christ giving new life to his people through his death and resurrection. We celebrate with eggs in three ways. The first is the traditional egg dying which is always a fun activity for children.

On Good Friday I dye some eggs dark red to symbolize the blood of Christ that brings us all to perfection. There is something so incredible about dipping this perfectly white egg into dark, bloody red that focuses my heart on the sacrifice of the pure lamb on my behalf. I use these eggs in the Easter Bread above.

The third way we celebrate with eggs is through the traditional Easter Egg Hunt. Though our hunt is a little different than others. First of all, there is no bunny. I don’t particularly have anything against the Easter Bunny (besides the fact that he tends to distract from our Savior during this holiday), I just don’t feel he is necessary for our celebration, so he is largely ignored this time of the year. Each egg contains some candy and a scripture that reminds us how sweet a relationship with the Lord is. Just as candy (and things like honey in Biblical terms) are sweet to our taste, the Lord and his Word are sweet to our souls as we draw near to him.

New Clothes

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

 

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices…” (Colossians 2:19 ESV)

Every year we buy a new outfit for our children to wear to Church. The new clothes are a simple reminder that Christ both clothes us in his righteousness and gives us a new, redeemed nature. (To get your own clothing tags like the ones below click here.)

Resurrection Buns

“But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:5-6 ESV)

On Easter day I make Resurrection Buns with my children. They are simple crescent rolls wrapped around cinnamon/sugar covered marshmallows. As the rolls bake, the marshmallows disappear into the bread creating an “empty tomb” and a yummy sweet bread. Children find these rolls exciting as they find the marshmallow has disappeared and adults find them just plain tasty! It is a fun way to teach your children about Christ’s miraculous resurrection. As they open their rolls to find the marshmallow missing you have the opportunity to explain that in the same way, the disciples found that Jesus was missing from his tomb. Our Lord as been raised from the dead!

These are some of the simple ways that we as a family celebrate an Easter focused on Christ. I pray that these examples will encourage you to be purposeful in how you guide your own heart as well as our children’s hearts this Easter season. May Christ be exalted and treasured through our traditions!

How do you celebrate a Christ-centered Easter? I would love to hear your suggestions!

This post is linked up at Time~Warp Wife

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Living Out the Mystery

Posted by desiringvirtue on Feb 14, 2012 in Editor's Corner, Uncategorized | 2 comments

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

 

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.‘ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:22-33)

In this passage, in just a few words, we behold a stunning truth. Here we have a glimpse into the mind of God, with this truth explained we can understand his very motive in creating us man and woman, husband and wife.

The truth is that our roles as husband and wife, and the mystical union (both in flesh and spirit) that takes place as we take our vows, were ordained from eternity past by our Holy God to reflect the glorious acts of Christ.

“…when Paul wanted to tell the Ephesians about marriage, he did not just hunt around for a helpful analogy and suddenly think that “Christ and the church” might be a good teaching illustration. No, it was much more fundamental than that: Paul saw that when God designed the original marriage He already had Christ and the church in mind. This is one of God’s great purposes in marriage: to picture the relationship between Christ and His redeemed people forever!” (George Knight)

This truth is captivating! When Jesus made us heirs of the Living God through his precious blood, he forever grafted us into his own family. In the most perfect way, he married the church-pledging his life, his body, and his future to us. We are his and he is ours. As the wedding ring on my finger testifies to the promise of my earthly marriage, the Holy Spirit within us testifies to the heavenly union we have with our Savior.

If this connection between the marriage relationship and Christ’s relationship to the church is true, it presents many weighty and marvelous implications for our lives. There are two that I have been meditating on recently:

1. Our Marriages are Not About Us.

Marriage is an incredible blessing to a husband and wife, but above all it is meant to bring glory to the Risen Lord. Like so much of scripture, the creation of such a relationship between Adam and Eve was meant to point to Christ’s glorious work on the cross for the redeemed. We can’t miss this truth and hope to fulfill the divine purpose God has for our marriages. How a husband and wife interact on a daily basis either brings glory to the gospel or defiles it because it is meant to be a picture of the gospel. As the redeemed people of God it is our duty and delight to use this remarkable gift to bring glory to his name in all creation.

How do we bring glory to the gospel through our marriages? How do we live the gospel in our marriages? In order to live out the divine purpose of our marriages we must obey the word of God in the callings it has laid out for us. Husbands must love their wives sacrificially, they must lead their wives in a way that mirrors Christ’s leadership of the church. Wives must honor and respect their husbands and submit to them in everything. This kind of relationship is completely counter cultural, but so is the gospel it is meant to represent.

2. Our Marriages are Meant to Be Incredible!

If our marriages are meant to reflect the glorious love between Christ and his church, it stands to reason the love that a husband and wife have for one another has the potential to reach magnificent heights! Our physical and spiritual union with our husbands is nothing short of miraculous. There is something supernatural about it, something that cannot be explained from our finite human minds, something deep, pervasive, unique. Just as Christ miraculously bound himself to the church for her good and his glory, we have entered into a binding relationship for our good and Christ’s glory. Marriage is meant to bring immense pleasure to a husband and wife because of the very nature of what marriage represents.

If this is true, why then do we find ourselves in difficult situations with our spouse? Why do we get into fights or have periods of disunity? Is it as simple as the fact that we are not living out the gospel with each other? If we are not walking in and breathing out the very thing that gives life and meaning to our marriages how can we ever expect for them to blossom and mature into their full potential? We must daily seek out the very thing we are trying to mirror in our relationship. The gospel isn’t just the purpose for our marriages it is the power for our marriages. We cannot bring glory to God on our own. We cannot be the wives he has called us to be without his powerful working in the deepest, darkest parts of our souls. The power of the Risen Lord is the only thing sufficient to make our marriages gospel-bearing vessels worthy of the honor bestowed on them.

What a glorious privilege it is to partake in this mystery that God prepared for us in ages past! What a humbling thought that he purposefully planned to use flawed men and women to physically represent the relationship of Christ and the church. We must beg Christ for the ability to bring glory to his name through this means and we must thank him for the joy to be found in such a mystical union.

For further reading: The Theology of a Helper

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