Category Archives: Endless_Gifts

>We All Are Clay Vases

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Katie Lloyd Photography*





The church building’s doors were wide opened, and as we got in,  people came to us and gave us a warm welcome. Some faces we only get to see once a year, so we hugged hard;  some other faces were new, and touched our lives profoundly.


My little one held my hand hard and her eyes were all filled with tears as she saw in the row in front of us a beautiful family,  a family that taught me more than all the words that were spoken from the pulpit. Six biological children and one little adopted girl (from about 2 years old to 10); only one of the children had both arms; most had none. 


Seeing them broke my heart to pieces. You know how I have been reading about suffering, affliction, trials; how I have been memorizing the Word and mediating on James’ and Paul’s words to the church (in the epistle to the Philippians) concerning affliction. But suddenly, I had a living epistle in front of me.  A father kneeling low to hug his son and whisper with him the Catechism; a little boy holding the  hymn book with his only minuscule arm for his sister who had no arms. Mom was holding her precious Chinese girl (of about 2 years old) as she praised God, and kissed her lips. Smiles were exchanged between all the family members at all times. It was clear that even though they could not hug each other, they had learned to love with their eyes, in a deep and beautiful way. After the Lord’s Supper, mom and dad sat together, he whispered something to his wife’s ear and they smiled with their eyes closed and tenderly he embraced her.


As the church service was dismissed, they turned to us and gave us a warm welcome. What a beautiful smile this young mom had, and it surprised me that after crossing a few words she said she was sorry that they had to leave to some other state in the middle of the week, because they would have loved to host us for dinner! 


We all are clay vases, all different, all made with different purposes. Some are strong, some are weak, some are fragile, and some others, some that may seem to be broken and the world might despise are full of fresh water. These vases are chosen by God to teach us a lesson. I pray I  will not miss learning it.


Today I am grateful for the Maker of vases that can hold His grace. 




Becky 






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*Thanks to Katie Lloyd for granting me permission to use her image. 
You can always buy her prints here.

>Gratitude Monday

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“What shall I render unto the Lord 
for all his benefits to me?” 
Psalm 116:12
Monday is here, and for me it is a joy to take a day to give thanks to God publicly for all the mercies He has bestowed upon us as a family.
I like what MacDuff has to say on respect to gratitude:
“The Christian, as he journeys onwards in the pathway of life, ought frequently to look back, and standing, as it were, on the shadowy side of the hill, review the way by which God has led him. If we would keep alive our gratitude–if we would have it to increase more and more, until, like a holy flame, it burns within us–we must often, in thought, retrace the varied turnings and windings of our earthly pilgrimage. We are so prone, amid our daily duties and our converse with the world, to forget and overlook the benefits received, that only by a careful and frequent retrospect, can we continue, from day to day, cherishing a spirit of true and ever-increasing thankfulness to God. But, the oftener we make the review, the greater cause will we have for saying, with David, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my father’s house, that you have brought me hitherto?”
For me, Monday is the day I make a stop and look back, and give thanks to Him, my God and Maker, the Father of lights from whom all blessings flow.
Would you praise God with me today?
#1259- 1267
A precious log. Knots of time, colors and patterns that grab my attention. How can simple things can be so pretty? I am grateful I have eyes to see this. 
Sharing the table with friends whose eyes I had not seen before. O the gift of being together, and hugging! I am so grateful that online friends and students are real!
The joy of having a precious daughter who laughs and enjoys the time we spend together.
Memories.
A delayed canceled flight, a simple and clean bed to spend the night, no clean clothes, a hot shower,  perfume testers at the airport, a piece of lost luggage,  coffee, my husband’s hug, laughs, tired bodies, a found piece of luggage.
Being back home and finding my Mom’s delicious food on the table; hugs and kisses from the rest of my children, and the embrace of my Dad.
Last week of school. I am grateful for Veritas Press Scholars Academy, for each one of my students, for each one of my children’s teachers,  for the way they have influenced my children’s lives. 
I am grateful to see how God has helped me to memorize His Word, and meditate on it day and night.
Thankful for the ONE gift I did not ask for, as the Puritan prayer says,
“Unsought Thou hast given me the greatest gift,
the person of Thy Son,
and in Him thou wilt give me all I need”
May we look behind and give thanks to God for all the benefits He has given us, and for all the things that He has withhold from us. 
May God help us to step into a new day with nothing less than a grateful heart, and may His Spirit help us to do all things without grumbling or complaining, so that we may be blameless, innocent children of God  in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom, by His infinite gracem we shine as lights of the world.
Praising God with you today, 
Becky

Praying the Psalms – Psalm 32-

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 Saying Grace
Blessed Are the Forgiven
A Maskil of David.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
O Lord, I am grateful, grateful because you have blessed me in spite of all my iniquities.
Thank you, because you have forgiven my transgression;
because my sin has been covered with your blood.
Thank you, because of Jesus’ sacrifice you don’t see my sin but Him, who is my Redeemer.
Thank you, because you don’t count up my iniquity, but count me righteouss through the blood of Jesus.
Don’t let me walk in deceit.
Draw me to you when I sin.
Give me a contrite heart,
a humble spirit willing to ask forgiveness.
Don’t let my heart be hardened, O Lord.
Don’t let my body grow weary,
let my find, at the foot of the cross,
forgiveness and hope.
Father, that I may come to you in prayer,
in prayer day and night.
That I may find you,
that I may find in You alone my hiding place,
my strong tower.
O Lord, preserve me,
surround me,
instruct me,
teach me,
counsel me,
and help me to obey,
to follow your voice today.
I am glad in you today, O Father!
You are my joy.
You are my song,
You alone are my God,
and in You alone my soul
is satisfied!
I am forever grateful for the song of deliverance which you have put in my mouth!

Becky

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A Way Out of Sin

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back view of a person carrying a backpack looking into the ocean

Photo by Kristina Nor on Pexels.com

There is a vast ocean before us. Each of the doctrines taught in the Scriptures, is like a drop of water in the ocean. Each one is precious. Each one is a gem. Each one has brought life to me.

Today, however, I want to give thanks to my God for one specific doctrine, one that gives God’s children a way out of sin. I am grateful because God has given his children the possibility to mortify sin every day.

This is a doctrine that reaches down into my heart and pierces my soul, and enables me to walk in holiness in my home, in my kitchen, in the city, in the farm, in the office, in the school, wherever I go.

We are saved by grace, our justification is a decree from God. He makes us righteous without any merit on our part. He saves us by grace through faith. I didn’t choose God; I couldn’t have chosen Him simply because I was dead in my sins. But when He came and by His infinite grace He called my name, and gave me life, He set me free from the terrible and cruel hands of the Devil, the father of all sinners. Now I am free.Free, free indeed. Free from sin

Isn’t this wonderful news? Isn’t this something that sets your feet on dancing and makes you raise your hands toward God, the great Deliverer of His people? I am so grateful, grateful for this wondrous miracle!

God has set the feet of His own people free from bondage and has set them on a new path. A path which is not always smooth. During this journey, Satan will try to make us fall, he will try to deceive us, he will promise us the world, all the satisfactions and power, if only we would bow before him and what he has to offer. But now, we are free… now we can truly say no to his schemes.

Now, because God has called us out of darkness into His admirable light, now we can by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, so that we may live.

“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:12-13

Octavius Winslow said it well,”To the flesh we owe nothing but uncompromising hatred; to Jehovah we owe undivided and supreme affection.”

It is concerning this doctrine, the Mortification of our flesh, our sinful desires (Sanctification) that we are called to action.

It is here where we have no other option but to do something, to be “doers”, to act. It is here where God expects us to obey, to die to self, and carry our cross

But I am grateful, yes, I am grateful because even though this is not easy, the Lord is on our side; it is He who enables us to walk in holiness, it is He who strengthens our weary souls, and renews our strength and gives us the victory! We are indeed more than over-comers in Him who has called us! A.W. Pink reminds us that “mortification is not optional but imperative.” He continues to say:

“The imperative necessity for this work of mortification arises from the continued presence of the evil nature in the Christian. Upon his believing in Christ unto salvation he was at once delivered from the condemnation of the Divine law, and freed from the reigning power of sin; but “the flesh” was not eradicated from his being, nor were its vile propensities purged or even modified…”

“Mortification is a task to which every Christian must apply himself with prayerful diligence and resolute earnestness. The regenerate have a spiritual nature within that fits them for holy action, otherwise there would be no difference between them and the unregenerate.”

I am forever grateful that God works in me day after day, He who began the good work in me will bring it to completion at the Day of Jesus Christ. I am grateful that I am in the process of becoming more like Christ every day, and that it is because of Him, because of His grace that I can press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. How glorious is this truth!

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

The Roots and Stem of my Life

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Shiloh Photography (Thank you, Rachel)

 

My little one and I have studying Botany this school year and I was teaching her that just like we have bones to give a strong structure to our bodies, so plants have stems to give them structure. Stems are strong, they rise up looking for the sunlight, they open their way even in the most unexpected places and sprout out life.
And now, as I have been reflecting on the Doctrines taught in the Bible, I have realized that each doctrine in the Word of God is part of the stem that gives structure to my spiritual life. We have always heard that our roots must be grounded in the Word of God, and it is true; but today I want to reflect on the stem. The doctrines (teachings on the Bible upon a particular area) are like the stem in a plant, we can have weak stems or strong stems. When the wind blows hard and the storms of life come, our roots help us not to be blown away, and strong stems help us bend, even bend low and not break.
Today I am grateful for the teachings of the Bible, the sound doctrines that uphold my life, that give structure to my soul. I pray that if I am to live through a strong storm, even through a hurricane, I will be well rooted in the Word and that the stem in my life will be able to bend low but not break.
I am grateful for… (#1247- 1258)
The Holiness of God which reminds me of how sinful I am and how desperately I need His grace.
Where would I be if it were not for God’s patience?
The Faithfulness of God… I am so grateful that His constant love, His faithfulness does not depend on  my performance.
The power of God, to know that He is indeed all powerful!
God’s Grace, His amazing grace, his grace which I cannot comprehend!
The Love of God, eternal, immeasurable, perfect, holy, sovereign… the joy of being loved by Him.
The doctrine of the wrath of God, I would not understand the magnanimity of God’s grace if I didn’t know about the wrath of God.
The immutability of God; I am grateful that He never, never changes.  And because He is immutable His breathed Word never changes.
The Decrees of God… “O my reader, how thankful should we be that everything is determined by infinite wisdom and goodness! What praise and gratitude are due unto God for His Divine decrees. It is because of them that”we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Well may we exclaim, “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things:to whom he glory forever. Amen” (Rom 11:36).” A.W. Pink

 

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>Gratitude Is Not the Way to God

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>I have thinking about gratitude and its place in the life of every Christian; and as I search the Scriptures, I find no place to support that having a grateful heart will lead us to God or will affirm our walking with the Lord. The only way to God the Father is Jesus Christ and this way is only open when we repent from our sins.

If we don’t repent from our sins, if we don’t see our desperate need for God every day, we can have the longest gratitude list ever, we could fill pages and pages on a journal and yet not be saved. Having a grateful heart is not even listed among the fruit of the Spirit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law”             Gal. 5:21- 23

Neither on the list of virtues listed on 1 Peter 1 which Paul gives to remind us that “if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”:

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

The 1st Epistle of John was written so that we could use it as a “guide” a “test” to examine if we are are truly walking in the Lord (2:2; 5:13), and nowhere, not even once in all the Epistle, having a grateful heart is listed among the marks of a true Christian.

The Bible doesn’t teach us that having a grateful heart is a sign of a true believer. There are many, many, many pagans walking with a grateful heart out there. (In fact, did you know that a “grateful attitude” is an absolute important part of the people who practice yoga?)

Gratefulness doesn’t draw us closer to God according to the word of God; instead, the Bible teaches us that being close to God will make us grateful.

Being grateful, dear sisters, is not what precedes the miracle. What precedes the miracle is the work of the Spirit in our hearts drawing us to Him. Convicting us from our sins. Breaking our pride and will. Gratitude in the life of a Christian woman is nothing else but the natural response of a person who knows that she does not deserve to eat at the Master’s table and yet she is invited to join the feast.

Gratitude is what follows the miracle.

We give thanks not because we expect a miracle, we give thanks for the miracles that surround us. For the graces that we have and for all those that will come because the greatest miracle has already occurred, we have been given a new heart, a heart of flesh that is willing to bow low and recognize that from God’s hand we receive everything that comes to our lives, whether we like it or not.

James Smith (1800’s) said it well,

“True Christian love is grateful love. We love him — because he first loved us. The loving Christian is always grateful. Where there is much love — there is much gratitude. When filled with love — we praise God for every drop, for every crumb. Our smallest mercies appear large, and God gets thanks then — for that which is scarcely acknowledged at another time.”

Gratitude to God just as our love to God, is a response to Him. We give our love and our thanks to God because He already performed the miracle in us. Because He changed us, because He opened our eyes to see we see clearly that He has given much and we don’t deserve any of it.

I keep a list, I count His mercies to train myself, to subdue my prideful heart, to remind my soul of its duty to praise God. I give thanks because I need to remind myself that I am a slave redeemed by Jesus’ blood to give glory to His name. I give thanks because when I see the life God has given me, I see nothing but mercies, endless mercies.

I bow low and give thanks today….

1226. Being a slave of Christ.

1227. Having eyes to see that all I have, all that I am is because of Him, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

1228. I am grateful, Lord, for the Word, our sure hope.

1229. Thank you, Lord, for the birds, how you provide food for them and as I watch them, I am reminded of your faithfulness.

1230. A place to worship God with brothers and sisters in Christ who love your Word.

1231. Little hands holding mine.

1232. The life of Persis, a faithful woman, who trusts in God’s sovereignty and is has been an encouragement to me.

1233. A Kindle with many books to read.

1234. My husband’s wisdom.

1235. A call to persevere in prayer.

1236. Summer fruit.

1237. Beauty to hold, vibrant colors, the wonderful creation of God.

1238. Two new turtles and a happy girl.

1239. Dad and little one out in a date.

1240. Reading glasses.

1241. A camera to capture those moments that make our days. (even though this week, I didn’t use very much!)

1242. Planning a great idea with my blogging friends for you. Yes for you… (wait until April!)

1243. Having a son who loves to converse for hours with me.

1244. A homemade notebook. (sorry… no pics. yet)

1245. My memory Moleskine.

1246. This place.

What are you grateful for today?

May you find today joy in Him alone (not only in His gifts!)