The problem is not that women are not submissive. They’re submissive to men (plural). A woman should picture the gospel in submitting only to the right man as the church submits only to Christ. – paraphrase of a portion of Dr. Russell Moore‘s excellent sermon on Ephesians 5 during chapel time

“Theology lives, breathes, loves, and bleeds.” – a current student who spoke to all of us in the School of Theology

Are You Making Something?

Motion vs. Momentum

The Shocking Guide to Incredible Productivity

Now, let’s actually do things worth doing!

Below are some links to articles and videos that have encouraged me over the years. Enjoy, and may the Lord strengthen you to every challenge He brings your way!

Ana Marie

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A Challenge to Women

Do You Pray for Him?

Enjoying Where God Has You Now

How can I long to be married without obsessing about it?

Loving Your Husband Before You Get Married

The Single Woman and the Modesty of Personal Restraint

Becoming Esther

Because I am Completely Single

Guys and Touch

How (Not) to Heat Your Veins and Fire Your Brains

My Heart in a Field of Dreams

Set Apart Girl

Below, songs that speak of the greatest love ever shown:

“Christ has made us free!” – Galatians 5:1

We were once the slaves of sin, Satan, and the world; but Jesus has made us free!

We are now delivered from the law—and are under grace.

We are dead to sin—and are justified from it.

We are delivered from Satan—and are at war with him.

We overcome the world—and are hastening out of it.

We are at liberty to serve God, and walk with Him in friendship and holy love.

The price of our freedom—was the life and death of Jesus!

The grand moving cause—was the infinite and everlasting love of God our Father.

The efficient cause of our freedom—was the power and operation of the Holy Spirit.

The instrument by which we are brought into our freedom—is the holy gospel.

The grace which puts us into possession of our freedom—is faith.

The end of our freedom—is that we may serve our God in righteousness and holiness all the days of our life, and then be glorified with Him forever!

We are freed from sin—that we may be holy and happy.

Let us stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made us free!

—James Smith, The Pastor’s Morning Visit

Some weeks ago, as I studied for the Humanities CLEP, I came across the following poem by John Milton. I saved it as a blog post draft until the opportune day arrived.

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,

Stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year!
My hasting days fly on with full career,
But my late spring no bud or blossom shew’th.
Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth,
That I to manhood am arrived so near,
And inward ripeness doth much less appear,
That some more timely-happy spirits indu’th.

Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,
It shall be still in strictest measure even
To that same lot, however mean or high,
Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven.
All is, if I have grace to use it so,
As ever in my great Task-master’s eye.

Here is one explanation:

“Milton’s sonnet is a reflection about himself at the age of twenty-three. In it, he assesses himself in terms of his personal maturity, suggesting that he doesn’t appear to be as mature as others of his age, but that he may be more mature than he appears. Maturity here can be interpreted in terms of achievement and accomplishment, as well as in personal growth and understanding.

The sonnet ends by bringing in the idea of divine guidance, “the will of Heaven.” Milton writes in conclusion:

All is, if I have grace to use it so,

As ever in my great Task-Master’s eye.

All that he is and all that he might become, he hopes, will be a fulfillment of God’s will.

Milton is thought to have written the sonnet shortly after graduating from Cambridge University, and the poem is very consistent with the thoughts of a young man who has completed the early phase of his life and is about to move into a wider world.”

And another

“God blesses us all up to the full measure and extremity of what it is safe for him to do. If you do not get a blessing, it is because it is not safe for you to have one. If our heavenly Father were to let your unhumbled spirit win a victory in his holy war, you would pilfer the crown for yourself, and meeting with a fresh enemy you would fall a victim; so that you are kept low for your own safety.

When a man is sincerely humble, and never ventures to touch so much as a grain of the praise, there is scarcely any limit to what God will do for him. Humility makes us ready to be blessed by the God of all grace, and fits us to deal efficiently with our fellow men. True humility is a flower which will adorn any garden.”

— Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, April 5

Source

A Hymn To Christ At The Author’s Last Going Into Germany

by John Donne

In what torn ship so ever I embark,
That ship shall be my emblem of Thy ark;
What sea soever swallow me, that flood
Shall be to me an emblem of Thy blood;
Though Thou with clouds of anger do disguise
Thy face, yet through that mask I know those eyes,
Which, though they turn away sometimes,
They never will despise.

I sacrifice this island unto Thee,
And all whom I love there, and who loved me ;
When I have put our seas ‘twixt them and me,
Put thou Thy seas betwixt my sins and Thee.
As the tree’s sap doth seek the root below
In winter, in my winter now I go,
Where none but Thee, the eternal root
Of true love, I may know.

Nor Thou nor Thy religion dost control
The amorousness of an harmonious soul;
But Thou wouldst have that love Thyself; as Thou
Art jealous, Lord, so I am jealous now;
Thou lovest not, till from loving more Thou free
My soul ; Who ever gives, takes liberty;
Oh, if Thou carest not whom I love,
Alas ! Thou lovest not me.

Seal then this bill of my divorce to all,
On whom those fainter beams of love did fall;
Marry those loves, which in youth scatter’d be
On fame, wit, hopes—false mistresses—to Thee.
Churches are best for prayer, that have least light;
To see God only, I go out of sight;
And to escape stormy days, I choose
An everlasting night.

Note: I have made bold those phrases that particularly stood out to me.

The phrase that stuck out to me was Christ hath opened paradise. How awesome it is to ponder that Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden because of their sin, the garden was securely guarded to prevent any return, and now Christ has removed the barred gate to Paradise once and for all by His death and resurrection for those who repent and believe on Him. What a wonderful Savior He is!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

— Charles Wesley

Jesus lives and reigns supreme;
And, his kingdom still remaining
I shall also be with Him,
Ever living, ever reigning.
God has promised; be it must:
Jesus is my Hope and Trust.

Jesus lives, and God extends
Grace to each returning sinner;
Rebels He receives as friends,
And exalts to highest honor.
God is True as He is Just;
Jesus is my Hope and Trust.

Jesus lives, and by His grace,
Victory o’er my passions giving,
I will cleanse my heart and ways,
Ever to His glory living.
The weak He raises from the dust;
Jesus is my Hope and Trust.

Jesus lives, and I am sure
Naught shall e’er from Jesus sever,
Satan’s wiles, and Satan’s power,
Pain or pleasure– ye shall never!
Christian armor cannot rust;
Jesus is my Hope and Trust.

Jesus lives, and death is now
But my entrance into glory
Courage! then, my soul, for thou
Hast a crown of life before thee;
Thou shalt find thy hopes were just–
Jesus is the Christian’s Trust.

- Christian F. Gellert (1715-1769)

The tune (sung in German)

What Made the Cross so Heavy?

Was 3 Hours Of Suffering Enough?

The Answer to My Doubts

May Thy Cross…

How Awesome is That Day to Me

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

Ah, Lord Jesus

Herzliebster Jesu (German lyrics)

All Glory, Laud, and Honor