Interrupting this Temporal Silence

Dear friends,

Many of you know that our family has been traveling for the last two weeks and will still be away for the next two; we have been visiting old friends, making new ones, hugging long and crying even more. We  also left our oldest son in College; and now my girls and I are visiting my sister and her family. A gift from above indeed!

My pictures are still in my camera, but I promise to share some with you soon. I am sure you will love them.

I am not sure when I will be back to posting regularly (maybe not so soon!), but meanwhile I hope you are enjoying the last weeks of your summer and that no matter where you are now, you may see His wonderful Hand at work in your life.

I thought you might be blessed by this wonderful hymn sung at the NSA Convocation 2011

Coram Deo

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Calvin on Piety

I want to share with you some excellent quotes from my reading corner about the meaning and importance of a word that we have almost forgotten and need to use more often: PIETY

The book: Living for God's Glory by Joel R. Beeke
Chapter 13, Calvin's Exalting Piety

"For him [Calvin], piety was not only a positive trait, it was the essence of true biblical Christianity. For him, theological understanding and practical piety, truth and usefulness, were inseparable."

"In the preface of his Institutes, which he addressed to King Francis I, Calvin says that the book's purpose is solely to transmit certain rudiments by which those who are touched with any zeal for religion might be shaped to true godliness [pietas]"

"For Calvin, piety designates a proper attitude toward God, and obedience to Him. Flowing out of the knowledge of who and what God is (theology), piety includes heartfelt worship, saving faith, filial fear, prayerful submission, and reverential love."

"In his first catechism, Calvin writes, 'True piety consists in a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death.'"

"Such piety embraces all life. Calvin writes, 'The whole life of Christians ought to be a sort of practice of godliness'"

"The goal of piety is to recognize and praise the glory of God -glory that shines in God's attributes, in the structure of the world, and in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ... As a result the pious man's deepest concern is God himself and the things of God -God's Word, God's authority, God's gospel, God's truth. He yearns to know more of God and to commune more with Him."

"But how do we glorify God? Calvin writes, 'God has prescribed for us a way in which he will be glorified by us, namely, piety, which consists in the obedience of his Word... Obedience to God's word means taking refuge in Christ for forgiveness of our sins, knowing Him through the Scriptures, serving Him with a loving heart, doing good works in gratitude for His goodness, and exercising self-denial to the point of loving our enemies. This response involves total surrender to God Himself, his Word and His will (see Romans 11: 33-12:2)"

"The believer who excels in piety learns to grasp Christ so firmly by faith that Christ dwells within his heart, though He remains in heaven. The pious live by what they find in Christ rather than  by what they find in themselves."

May His grace abound!

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Gratitude Monday

"It is a pity that our tears on account of our troubles should so blind our eyes that we should not see our mercies." - John Flavel

#1301- 1371

I am grateful because through these past weeks, God has kept our eyes open to see His mercies; and this mercy is on the top of my list because being able to see Him and give Him thanks at all times, in all seasons, is not "natural", it is the work of the Spirit in us.

I thank the Lord for my sister's health, and her quick recovery.

For provision to visit her and her family.

For the body of Christ that knows no boundaries and has been interceding for us; for our brothers and sisters that have cried with us.

For the hope that we have in the Lord and in the resurrection.

For technology that help us to stay very close with those we love so much.

For children's laughter.

For my sister's faith in the Lord.

Knowing that God sustains us through the darkest valley.

For the Grace that He gives us day by day to endure moment after moment.

Books written to help us during the trials.

For my husband; I can never thank God enough for Him.

I am so grateful for our son Santiago, for all the days, the hours, the minutes we have spent together.

For the invaluable gift of seeing him grow fearing the Lord and honoring His Word.

For the days ahead; knowing that God will be with our son as he goes to college is what makes us smile at the future.

For our church family.

These words full of truth:

"Christian contentment is that sweet,
inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit,
which freely submits to and delights in
God's wise and fatherly disposal in
every condition."   Jeremiah Burroughs

"From the bottom of my heart I pity that man who never reads his Bible. I wonder whence he expects to draw his consolation by-and-by. I do implore him to change his plan—and to change it without delay!...

The Bible applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit, is the only treasury of consolation. Without it we have nothing to depend on; "our feet will slide in due time" (Deut. 32:35). With it we are like those who stand on a rock. That man is ready for anything—who has got a firm hold of God's promises. Once more, then, I say to every reader, arm yourself with a thorough knowledge of God's Word. Read it, and be able to say, "I have hope, because it is thus and thus written! I am not afraid, because it is thus and thus written!" Happy is that soul who can say with Job, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth—more than my necessary food! (Job 23. 12)"   J.C. Ryle

 "The Lord is my helper—and I will not fear."

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