Without absolutes revealed from without by God Himself, we are left rudderless in a sea of conflicting ideas about manners, justice and right and wrong, issuing from a multitude of self-opinionated thinkers. John OwenBiography-Website

If we would talk less and pray more about them, things would be better than they are in the world: at least, we should be better enabled to bear them. John OwenBiography-Website


“The custom of sinning takes away the sense of it, the course of the world takes away the shame of it”
John Owen quote


“Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you”
John Owen quote


“In the divine Scriptures, there are shallows and there are deeps; shallows where the lamb may wade, and deeps where the elephant may swim”
John Owen quote

from johnowen.org ....a puritan theologian

Oh how todays society hates the Puritans! and so it behooves us to admire them.....


Let our hearts admit, "I am poor and weak. Satan is too subtle, too cunning, too powerful; he watches constantly for advantages over my soul. The world presses in upon me with all sorts of pressures, pleas, and pretences. My own corruption is violent, tumultuous, enticing, and entangling. As it conceives sin, it wars within me and against me. Occasions and opportunities for temptation are innumerable. No wonder I do not know how deeply involved I have been with sin. Therefore, on God alone will I rely for my keeping. I will continually look to Him.

John OwenBiography-Website

12 sins we blame on others

1) Anger

I wouldn’t lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more considerate.

2) Impatience

I would be a very patient person if it weren’t for traffic jams and long lines in the grocery store. If I didn’t have so many things to do, and if the people around me weren’t so slow, I would never become impatient!

3) Lust

I would have a pure mind if there weren’t so many sensual images in our culture.

4) Anxiety

I wouldn’t worry about the future if my life were just a little more secure—if I had more money, and no health problems.

5) Spiritual Apathy

My spiritual life would be so much more vibrant and I would struggle with sin less if my small group were more encouraging, or if Sunday school were more engaging, or if the music in the worship service were more lively, or if the sermons were better.

6) Insubordination

If my parents/bosses/elders were godly leaders, then I would joyfully follow them.

7) A Critical Spirit

It’s not my fault that the people around me are ignorant and inexperienced.

8) Bitterness

If you knew what that person did to me, you would understand my bitterness. How could I forgive something like that?

9) Gluttony

My wife/husband/roommate/friend is a wonderful cook! The things they make are impossible to resist.

10) Gossip

It’s the people around me who start the conversations. There’s no way to avoid hearing what others happen to say. And when others ask me questions, I can’t avoid sharing what I know.

11) Self-Pity

I’ll never be happy, because my marriage/family/job/ministry is so difficult.

12) Selfishness

I would be more generous if we had more money.

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Eleanor Roosevelt

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give. Eleanor Roosevelt

Quote of the Day
To us there are dark places in the truth. But who can say, in this brief vapor's breath of life, what light might break upon the soul that looks, unwavering, and long enough at some dark spot, with prayer and pondering and hope that it may turn into a portal for the sun?—John Piper, Taste and See, p. 179.

Penelope

Penelope Puppy. a reminder of how God is changing me through HIS effort just as I am changing Penelope by MY effort. She just starts with her puppy DNA and I can either ruin her or mold her for the good.
and God takes me and molds me for the good. For His good. so the onus is upon Him. I remain the eager puppy.

Mister is driving home from MS and I'm praying he drive safely. He's in the new car he bought me, but even though I managed to get him to purchase an automatic transmission (and in another color rather than the RED he was choosing AGAIN. not my fave. it's silver. hooray--black, white, and tan are good too)

tomorrow is mothers day and I'm thinking of my little baby N who is far away. we're going to go to her honey's celebration. we have our 25th anniversary coming up. I want a party but I want my house remodeled as well. we have so much work that we have to do on the house. i was so busy for a few years there. time to clean, repaint, renew and update.

dang, there are so many current fads. like outdoor living. of which i wholeheartedly approve. i always think i'm going to go out there. now with penelope, I do! and we eat dinners out there. we were eating dinners out there when k's fiance would come and when N was here. those were fun days. all the family around and my mom too.

what a blessing that was.

and now things are more quiet.

s has moved out.

mr is calling....