Scripture Memory Monday

My heart has been stirred lately about the kindness and mercy of the Lord. Even His children can still find themselves in sin that can become too comfortable and familiar. I have to remind myself that this Christian life is a battle. We must fight - with the strength of our victorious Redeemer - if we are to stand a chance against the daily battles and temptations that our enemy would love to see overwhelm and devour us (1 Peter 5:8). But praise the Lord that, by His grace and mercy, He always provides a way of escape from these snares so that we do not have to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13). As children of God, we are not slaves to sin any longer (Romans 6). Hallelujah! Yet, when we do sin, our God "is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). But He extends forgiveness for His glory. He extends forgiveness, not that we should continue in sin (Romans 6:1-2), but that we should - in repentance (Romans 2:4) - turn from our sin and fear Him, the Almighty, Holy God who "upholds the universe by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3).

This leads us to the verse I felt lead to meditate on this week. Psalm 130:3 & 4, remind us of how sinful we are, the beauty of forgiveness, and God's purpose in extending forgiveness to mankind. Let's hide this in our hearts and may this ammunition deter us from sinning against our Holy God. Oh, to sin no more!

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with You,

that You may be feared."

Psalm 130:3&4 (NKJV)

*click here for ESV

My Love, My Valentine

What a privilege to be the wife of David Kizziah.

Thank you, dear Lord, for such a blessing.

Friday's Photo

Thursday's Thanksgivings

As we are approaching Valentine's Day, I cannot deter my thoughts from the topic of love as I think about what I'm thankful for. First of all, I am so thankful that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and that we are able to love "because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Yes, because He is love, we cannot truly nor fully love apart from Him. So whether you have a "valentine" on this holiday or not, you can be thankful for the overwhelming, unfathomable love of God, and the fact that He imparts to us the gift of grace to love others. Yet, the way He loves us is "categorically different" than the way that we can humanly demonstrate and understand love. And for this, we can be thankful!

Next, I must humbly say that I do have a most special "Valentine" to be thankful for and to celebrate. I am specifically grateful for the way that my husband loves me - so selflessly, so unconditionally - and seeks to dwell with me "in an understanding way" (1 Peter 3:7). Yes, I must make mention today that I am so thankful for David, whom I count it a privilege to be able to love as his wife.

I am also incredibly thankful for the examples of love and of godly marriages that are present in my family. By God's kindness, our family is full of them. But for the sake of time and space, I thought I'd just mention my own immediate family. In addition, I will mention books regarding marriage that each of these couples recommend.

I will begin with my mom and dad. (I love this picture of them taken when they were engaged.) All my life my parents have exemplified what a Christ-centered marriage looks like. They are a beautiful Ephesians 5 example of the way a husband should love and serve his wife and the way a wife should respect and adore her husband. They have counseled countless couples throughout their years of marriage and ministry together, as well as lead numerous marriage retreats, etc. A book that is at the top of their list of recommendations is entitled Love & Respect. They would tell you that, even if you don't read this book, the Scriptural "love and respect" principal of Ephesians 5 is key if you desire a happy, fulfilling, Christ-exalting marriage. I am so gratefully excited that this May they will be celebrating 30 years of marriage!

(Click here to order the book Love & Respect. Click here to purchase the book on cd.)

Also in May, my older brother, K.J., and his precious wife, Lynn, will be celebrating their 6th wedding anniversary. I have learned so much through observing their lives as individuals, as well as husband and wife. Both K.J. and Lynn are avid readers. Lynn recently said that John Piper's book This Momentary Marriage is the best that she has ever read on the topic. So, I interpret that to mean this book is as a "must read."

(Click here to order Piper's book. The audiobook is available here.)

Kameron, my younger brother, is patiently awaiting May 22nd, the day he will marry his sweet bride-to-be, Olivia. It has been so encouraging to see the way that they are seeking to honor the Lord in each step of their engagement as they prepare for life together as husband and wife. In further preparation for their wedding day, Kameron and Olivia are together reading When Sinners Say "I Do". They highly recommend it, and by the title, it sounds like a great one.

(Click here to order this book. Click here to listen to an audio sermon by the author.)

I had to include this favorite picture from the day Kameron proposed to Olivia. Precious.

And for those patiently waiting on God's perfect plan regarding their "love life", though I have not read it, I hear great reviews about Elisabeth Elliot's book Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under Christ's Control.

(Click here to preview and/or order Elisabeth Elliot's book.)

May God give us grace to be faithful, to honor Him, and to love Him above all, no matter where we are in this pilgrimage on earth. And may He help us - with veiled faces now - to see more clearly the reality of His love for us, until we see Him face to face. Only then will we begin to comprehend and understand fully.

I wanted to share two verses that have stuck out to me today regarding God's love. For more Scripture on the love of God, click here.*

"And I said, 'O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments'" (Nehemiah 1:5)

"How precious is your lovingkindess, O God..." (Psalm 36:7a)

(Memorizing this week!)

In closing, here is one of my favorite verses from one of my favorite hymns regarding the love of God:

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.

(The Love of God : F.M. Lehman)

Let's give thanks today for such inexhaustible love!

Sugar and Spice

I know lately there have been many more pictures of little Claire than big brother John David. Because Claire is stationary - unlike her brother - it is much easier to take lots of pictures of her in just a minute or two. Oh - but don't worry grandparents! - more photos of John David to come. Until then, here's baby Claire from the past couple of days.

Scripture Memory Monday

It is Monday afternoon now, and much has already taken place this day. In response to the post below, we had a wonderful concluding session of John David's re-evaluation. Thank you to those who were praying for us during this time. The Lord is so good, so kind and wise in all of His ways. I will share more details later, I'm sure.

But on to the new Scripture passage for this week. Yes, I'd thought we'd be ambitious and try to memorize two verses again. Hopefully we will be disciplined to do this and end the week with 9 additional verses in our tool belt. Like I mentioned in the first "Scripture Memory Monday" post, you don't have to memorize the same verses as I am. You don't even have to be tracking with me at all. The main point is to be hiding God's Word in our hearts and keeping it at the forefront of our minds, for it indeed "is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path" (Psalm 119:105). In that first post I also mentioned that I am not disciplined in this area. But making these posts each Monday has been so helpful to me. I pray that you have found it to be the same.

I thought that this passage, speaking of the lovingkindness of God and the pleasure that He brings, was fitting for the week, especially since we are approaching Valentine's Day. Some people love this holiday; others will tell you that they hate it. Whether or not you have a certain "Valentine" in your life, as a child of God, you can specifically celebrate His unconditional love on this day and the fact that He is the Lover and Pursuer of our souls.

"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,

And You give them to drink of from the river of Your pleasures."

Psalm 36:7-9 (NKJV)

I know that each week I have posted Scripture in the English Standard Version (ESV). But I thought I'd post a little New King James today. Some people like to memorize all from the same translation. Click here to see this passage in the ESV, if you prefer to be consistent.

Struggles That Stir a Longing

Tomorrow (Monday) morning is the last session of John David's re-evaluation process. We are so thankful that we have been able to have this evaluation done at this time. David and I want to be sure that we are doing everything that we can to serve our precious son that the Lord has entrusted to us while on this earth. What a huge responsibility. While we know that the Lord is completely in control of every day of John David's life, we want to be good stewards of our son, and we desire to please the Lord with each moment of this stewardship.

Please join us in praying for our time tomorrow. John David will have one more session of testing, and then the rest of the time the professionals will be meeting with David and I regarding how to best meet John David's unique needs.

We would be so grateful for your prayers for us, that the Lord will give those evaluating John David wisdom and discernment. And we are praying for those same things for ourselves. What a blessing to have friends and family who graciously love, support, and encourage us through this journey of life. This journey that is, indeed, but a vapor.

Yet, as we travel this journey, each of us will face our own allotted struggles. Knowing that the Lord allows each circumstance - difficult or delightful - for our good and His glory, we also know that everything we encounter should, in some way, point us to our King and further stir in our hearts a longing for His return.

I can't tell you how many times thinking of my sweet John David has caused me to long even more for Christ's coming. And no matter what he has to go through, one day, he will know no pain or struggle; anxiety will be gone and uncertainty no more. To know that my son will one day be perfected; oh, how my heart rejoices! But on those really hard days, I am thankful to have my dear husband to help me keep things in perspective. David often reminds me that, for those who have been bought with the blood of our Savior, no matter what we have to go through on this earth, "This is as close to hell as we will ever get!" Hallelujah!

So, let's join together in proclaiming, "Come, Lord Jesus!" We long to see Your face. How glorious to no longer see the effects of our fallen world (sickness, disease, fear, pain, autism....) We long for the fullness of freedom and joy in Your presence. Yes, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

I know that it will be completely and utterly overwhelming for everyone who enters into eternal rest and the fullness of the reality of the presence of our Triune God! But I can't help but think that for those for which even the small daily tasks - like making conversation or looking into someone's eyes - is a chore, heaven may be just a bit more overwhelming. I know I am thinking with my mind that is unable to understand in the slightest bit what God has prepared for all of those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). But, no matter what, we will be amazed!