Author Archives: Becky Pliego

About Becky Pliego

I am grateful because God, in His grace, called me out of darkness and into his admirable light. When I did not look for Him, He found me. When I was in a pit of sin, He rescued me. I am not walking this road alone, my family is always with me, and we love Him, because He loved us first.

On Titus 1: 10-16 – Stamp Eternity On My Eyes, O Lord-

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@Annie Pliego Photography

 

“For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.  One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.  To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
Titus 1: 10- 16

Bryan Chapell in his commentary on Titus says the following about these verses:

“If our deeds do not conform to the gracious character of our God, then we deny his nature and deny ourselves the opportunity to serve him.”

We know that is grace that upholds us, sustains us, and lead us to repentance over and over again. But this week, as I have been mediating on these verses, I kept thinking on how many times we –I– have hide under the precious truth of His never ending grace to excuse a sinful behavior in our lives. No, I am not talking about those who abuse grace by openly sinning against God saying that God is always merciful and all good, and will always forgive. No, I am talking here of the subtle lie, the one that is not easily seen. The one that hides behind a pious character, behind empty talks and deceitful appearances. I am referring to the sinful ways in which we live while excusing ourselves saying, “That is the way I am. I am a sinner. I am still living in this sinful body” while at the same time we wrong our families, and our family in the Lord’s Church.

The Word of the Lord has rebuked me sharply. If by faith I live,  then I must live accordingly to it. My deeds must show Christ, and do not deny Him.

J.C. Ryle said,

“To say that we are sorry for our sins is mere hypocrisy, unless we show that we are really sorry for them, by giving them up. Doing is the very life of repentance.”

 

Father, deliver me from loving Theology and not loving YOU. 
Deliver me, from professing that I know You while at the same time, 
I live denying You with my words (spoken or written) and deeds. 
Give my an obedient heart, 
one that pleases you, 
so that I may be fit to serve you where you have me this day.
 
Father, stamp eternity on my eyes so that all I view would be seen in the context of its eternal consequences.*

Under His sun and by His grace,

Becky

*This last line is based on one of Jonathan Edward’s prayers

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 19-

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©Katie Lloyd Photography

Psalm 19

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Lord, I love to watch the sky you have created; the vastness of it compared with my smallness. You above all and yet so close to me. Your glory revealed in the firmament, in the formation of clouds, in the sun and the colors we see. Lift my eyes, O Lord, to the  heavens above and remind me of your magnificence, your power, your greatness. That I may never forget how small I am and how much of a need I have of you.

 

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

And even though contemplating the beauty of the heavens fascinates me, nothing compares with the perfection of your law.

Lord, the truth is that many times when we feel weary and fool, we draw away from your law. Oh, how foolish we are! It is only your law that can revive our heart. It is only your law, your perfect law, that can make us wise. Lord, many times when we are sad, we go looking for a friend, but Oh God, who can really turn our tears into laughter? Only you. Your precepts bring true joy to our heart. We seek advice from many and yet, we barely come to You in prayer, seeking you with all diligence, longing to hear from You in your Word. Lord, you alone can enlighten our path because You are the Light, and your Word is a lamp into our feet. Father, that I may fear your Holy Name, that I may walk upright before You all the days of my life; that I may seek your Word and your precepts above all.

It makes my soul good to examine the things that I value the most. Do I really desire your law more than gold? More than all the comforts I enjoy? More than any material things I have, because of your grace towards me? Do I really find it sweeter than honey? Is it my greatest delight?  Lord, you know my answer: No. Not always. Transform this heart of mine, that I may grow in love for you. Deliver me from the lie that knowing in my mind is enough. I want to love you, and your law, and your precepts, and your Word. I want to LOVE YOU more and more. Lord, that I may take heed of your warnings and abide in your Word; that I may rejoice greatly in the rewards you have promised to those who keep your Law and love it.

Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

Father, I am so feeble, so simple at times, and so arrogant in my heart at other times that I don’t even see my sin. Other times come when I love my sin so much that I just don’t want to see it. Who can discern his own errors? Certainly not me. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that whispers me through the Word pointing to my sin and granting me repentance. Thanks for the conscience that is not easily put to silence. Deliver me, deliver me, Oh God, from all presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Cleanse me with the blood of Jesus, my Savior, and remember my sin no more.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

These three lines sum it all up…Yes, and amen to every word in them:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

In Jesus’ name, my Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,

Amen.

Becky

On Prayer and Fasting and Depending on God

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There are times when we must purposely fast, when we know we need to bring our bodies to submission to the spiritual things. But there are other seasons when fasting is the only natural way to come before God. Our bodies refuse to eat, and we have a greater need to pray, to fast, to come to the Word.

Being hungry for Him, and not hungry for food is a gift; a reminder that we are not of this world, that our flesh and all its desires will one day pass away. The heaviness of the soul is a reminder of how much we need His grace. All sufficient grace. Grace that satisfies our deepest needs, our longings. Grace that points our sin and grants us a repentant heart. Grace that lights up our way, that helps us think clearly.

In those days in which our bodies don’t crave for physical food, in which they refuse a morsel of sweetness, those days are days for fasting; for entering the prayer closet and open our hearts before God.

Let us welcome the days in which our only desire is to be with Him, and cry. Let us welcome the nights in which we cannot sleep and can only pray. Let us welcome the seasons in which we are reminded by the Spirit of God on how much we need Him. On how desperately we need His all sufficient grace.

Seasons of prayer and fasting are here to remind us on how much we must depend on Him, and not on the physical world that promises to satisfy our soul but always leaves us with a greater and deeper longing.

This year I have prayerfully purposed to live each day with a watchful heart; and how can I watch with all diligence if I don’t pray and fast? I welcome this season. I long for more of Him.

Under His grace, always clinging to Him…

Becky

My prayer today, I Lift Up My Hands

On Titus 1: 5-9 – The Character of a Godly Man-

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As you can probably imagine, I am behind my memory project. But you know what? That happens, and I will try to catch up pretty soon.

While enjoying the company of our friends these past weeks, I was not able to fully devote myself to memorization, but I did keep reading Titus and Bryan Chapell’s commentary. The thing that really impressed my heart was to read all the characteristics that a godly man, apt for the service of the Lord, should display. As a mother of two sons I saw this list as a guideline on what I should strive to see in them. If you have young kids, focus on these character traits to teach them what a real man is; and if your sons are young adults living far away from you, pray earnestly that they will be able to display these characteristics, by the grace of God, in all their manner of living.

These characteristics are also a great way to teach our sons about what a true Christian friend is. Choosing our friends is not an easy task, we need the Word of God to help us discern who can truly help us grow in the faith and in our relationships with others.

Our daughters should also know this list of characteristics well, and keep it before their eyes. We certainly want them to marry God-fearing men and this list will certainly help them discern who could make a godly husband and father.

As wives, we could also use this list to pray for our husband. What a blessing to be able to intercede for them according with the Word of God!

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Titus 1: 5-9 ESV

Being “above reproach”: Our sons must be taught that they only have one reputation and they must do all that is in their hands to keep it clean, above all men’s reproach.

“Husband of one wife”: My husband and I truly believe that we must teach our sons to have an “only-one-woman heart.” They need to learn how to depend on God’s means of grace to keep themselves pure for their wives, and because of the love that they will have for their wife, they should start now practicing self-control. We have taught them that the attitude of being faithful to their wife starts now, in their heart, not only after marriage.

“He must not be arrogant”: Oh how much I pray that my sons and sons in law will be humble men! Always with a heart willing to learn, to seek and receive advice. Always open to grow and admit their faults and sins. Always dependent on God’s all sufficient Grace.

“He must not be quick-tempered”: Chapell says that “this is a reference particularly to the kind of temper that flares at others.” We cannot stress the importance of this too much. It is vital. He who is quick-tempered will be like a city without a protection wall.

“Not given to drunkenness”: Again in Chapell’s words, “the phrase was used idiomatically to refer to any kind of outrageous, unconcerned-for-others conduct”

“He must not be violent”:  Moms of young sons, please, please, please, never let your little one respond violently (even with tantrums) to you or anybody else. Let us be diligent in teaching our sons how violence goes beyond physical abuse. Words-or the lack of words- can certainly be violent. Actions can also be violent and destroy and bring death.

“He must not be greedy for gain”: Our sons must learn the value of hard work. Let us teach them not to put their trust in riches lest they will fall (Prov. 11:28), and that they don’t last forever (Prov. 27: 24).

Now we see in Paul’s epistle to Titus six positive qualifications, all of them having an impact on others. Our sons must learn that a godly man influences others. Being holy and godly is not a “personal” thing, it always reaches out to others.

“Hospitable”: Being hospitable is something that we talk about among women. But surprisingly, being hospitable is a characteristic of a godly man. And maybe it is more surprising that being hospitable is not listed in this epistle as a characteristic that a godly woman must have (see ch. 2: 3-5).

“A lover of good”: Chapell says, “particularly loving virtue or what promotes good for others.” What is it that they talk about among their friends? What is it that they enjoy the most? Paul in his epistle to the Philippians tells us what are the kind of good things that we must train our minds to think about (Phil. 4:8-9).

“Self-controlled”: in Chapell’s words, “Controlling drives that lead to impulsive and damaging behavior.”  How I pray that my sons rely on God’s Word to be self-controlled. To die to self and grow in Him.

“Upright”: Teaching our sons to align their lives to the Word of God is a must. The world will always offer them an easier way to live, a more “pleasant” life to live. The only way for them to live upright, is to treasure God’s Word in their hearts, pray and depend on God’s amazing and unfailing grace.

“Holy”: Separated from the world, not conformed to it. Willing to think and act differently than the fool who lives as if there were no God.

“Disciplined”: Chapell says., “a term probably analogous to the practices of an athlete in training, meaning rigorous application of the Biblical habits, means and restrictions for growing in godliness”

These last six characteristics have to do with a blameless behavior, but how could it be possible for our sons to live up to that standard?

Only by holding firm to the trustworthy Word as taught to them. Only when they hold fast to the Scriptures, in spite of all their shortcomings and sinful nature, will they be able to stand blameless not only before God, but also before the Church of Christ.

There is upon my shoulders a heavy burden to persevere in prayer for my sons and the future husband of my daughters; that they may hold firm to the Word of God and live an open life before our Most Holy God.

 

“Godly leadership proves that freedom from slavery of sin and selfishness is possible” Bryan Chapell

Under His sun and by His grace,

Becky

Happenings Around the Home -and a Winner-

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Hope your week is going great, friends. At the Pliegos we are very happy because yesterday we picked up some friends at the airport and tomorrow another group of friends will be coming in, which means that we will have a full house for the next couple of weeks. So, if you don’t see me around, you now know why.

Source

The winner of Andrew Peterson’s  CD, Counting Stars, is:

 

KIM SHAY at The Upward Call

Kim, please send me a message with your mailing address.

God willing, I will be posting later this week some reflections on Titus 1: 5-9. And it is my prayer that if you are memorizing this epistle with us, you may be encouraged to keep pressing on.

Under His sun and by His grace,

Becky

A Love Song That Makes Me Close My Eyes When I Listen -and a giveaway-

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When my husband and I got married, one of the dreams we had was to travel through the world together. It really seemed like an impossible dream, but we are grateful that God’s Providence has brought that dream to come true.

Friends always ask us which has been our favorite country, city, or corner of the world… we always say it is so hard to tell, every place has its own magic. There are many books that tell you all about traveling, and the 1,000 places to see before you die; and every time I see them I think to myself, “no matter where I go, or not go, the eyes of my husband is what I don’t want to miss seeing.” 

So, no matter where you travel, or not… make sure that you see into your husband’s eyes today.

 

 

Andrew Peterson has so many wonderful songs, that I am sure you would totally love. So I have decided I will give away a copy of his CD, Counting Stars, which also has another love song that I just love, Dancing in the Minefields. To enter your name in this giveaway,  leave a comment here and maybe share with us your favorite love song,  and -if times permits- a story on why that song makes you close your eyes?

I will announce a winner Tuesday, February 14

Becky

Related post:

Our Marriage, Our Dance.