Aidan

Aidan's mommy wanted some spring pictures of him to document what he looks like at age 5.  He is a cute little guy - all boy - and dressed up perfectly for spring :) 

Just Finished - To Die is Gain

Kay Arthur said that the best books to read besides the Bible are biographies of people who have walked with the Lord.  There is so much to learn about the Lord when you read about His dealings with faithful believers who have gone before.  It is so faith building.
When I graduated from high school, my mom's dear friend (who would become my mother in law!) loaded me up on biographies and I fell in love.  I have continued to read them through the years, sometimes more often than others, but every time I get to the end of one I think, I should only ever read biographies.  My faith is so strengthened! 


I definitely felt that way after finishing "To Die is Gain" by Mrs. Howard Taylor.  In short, this is the biography of a young missionary couple, John and Betty Stam, who give their life as martyrs in China in the 1930's.  I was challenged by their joyful attitude when faced with death and how faithfully they serve the Lord while they were alive.

This book has caused me to do some serious refocusing on what is really important.  While I'm stressing out over not having my laundry done or having what seems like a never ending pile of dirty dishes, other people are dying for the sake of the gospel.  That is so sobering to me.

You can buy this book here.

Here's one of Betty's poems (many more like it are sprinkled throughout the book.)

Afraid? Of What? 

To feel the spirit's glad release?

To pass from pain to perfect peace, 

The strife and strain of life to cease?

Afraid - of that?

Afraid? Of What? 

Afraid to see the Savior's face, 

To hear His welcome, and to trace

The glory gleam from wounds of grace?

Afraid - of that? 

Afraid? Of What? 

A flash, a crash, a pierced heart;

Darkness, light, O Heaven's art!

A wound of His counterpart!

Afraid - of that? 

Afraid? Of What? 

To do by death what life could not - 

Baptize with blood a stony plot, 

Till souls shall blossom from the spot?

Afraid - of that? 

To fall on Him

"All of us like sheep have gone astray,

 Each of us has turned to his own way;

But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."

Isaiah 53:6

Last night in Bible study we were discussing King Ahab from 1 Kings 19.  He was a wicked, wicked, man with an even more evil wife.  He killed the prophets of the Lord and worshipped false gods.  He hated Elijah and wanted him killed.  The Bible says that He did more evil than any other king before him. But at the very end of his life when judgement was being pronounced upon him, he humbled himself and the Lord delayed the judgement to the next generation. 

Just like that? This evil man gets off the hook for a lifetime of evil with a last minute heart of humility?  The mercy of God is so hard for me to grasp sometimes.  And yet, it makes me so, so thankful.  I am praying for a heart like His - willing to give mercy to anyone. At any time. For any reason - or for no reason at all.  (Quick definition of mercy - not getting what we deserve.) 

We were talking about different villains throughout history and how we would feel if they repented and turned to Jesus.  Would we rejoice? Or would we have a hard time with the fact that they weren't getting the punishment we thought they deserved? 

And then I thought about the cross.  And I thought about the high price God paid to show mercy to sinners.  He isn't just a jolly cosmic grandpa who sweeps our sins under the rug without a second thought - don't worry honey, we all make mistakes.  He doesn't make mistakes, and our sin is repulsive to Him.  

Our sin had to be dealt with. Someone had to die in order for the Holiness of God to be vindicated.  So He created the only situation in the entire universe that would work in order for God to demonstrate His perfect holiness and perfect love all at the same time.  

He punished sin. 

But He did not punish us. 

At the cross, God poured out the weight of all His wrath towards our rebellion and sin on the only One who was not guilty of it.  The only person who could take the punishment without being deserving of it. 

Jesus. 

"But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering..." 

Isaiah 53:10

This is the glory of the gospel.  God's wrath toward sin is satisfied and His love for sinners is poured out - all at the same time.  Sin is punished. Sinners are given the oppurtunity to be forgiven - because Jesus died the death we all deserve.