Happy Sunday everyone!  I hope everyone has a beautiful Sabbath!  If you haven’t been to church in a while, today’s a good day to get back!

My blogging activity will be light this week, but I do have a few things I want to share with you …

First of all, I baked a cake last night!  A Red Velvet one. I baked it for Maria, my sister who I look forward to seeing every Sunday.  She and I, and a handful of others, serve dinner for our little fellowship after service. We’ve had a lot of laughs together — sometimes even through tears. Happy Birthday Maria!  Thank you for the joy that you spread!  You are greatly loved!

Diane has bravely tackled the topic of women and pornography on her blog.  “Secret sins will become public sins if they are not cleansed” (Obadiah Sedgwick).  If we are to effectively minister the Gospel to a generation that has been given over to sexual perversion and sensuality, the church needs to be ready for this.

Corey, the most brilliant teenager you ever met, has written an outstanding post on the Reformation entitled If/Then.  Most of you know him already. His momma is our beloved Trisha.  Corey, I don’t mean to embarrass you but if I had a son, I’d want him to be just like you! 😉

Becky has written an excellent book review on a best seller called The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. If you spend large quantities of time on the internet and feel a mile wide and an inch deep, you need to check this out.

I stumbled across an excerpt by John MacDuff the other day.  One thing I admire about the Reformers is their ability to discern falsehood. If there is a rat to be found, be assured the Reformers will sniff him out first.  While the Bible uses the imagery of a wolf (not a rat!) to depict false teachers who scatter the flock, there is another kind of wolf that requires just as much discernment. “We have wolves in our own hearts, lurking insidiously; fettered vices, longing to burst their bands, and go forth on missions of death and ruin.”  You can read about ravenous wolves here. 

Some  of us with strong political views (such as myself) should remember a few biblical principles when discussing politics publicly. While Paul was talking about divisions in the church here, there is a broader application. “For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” (1 Corinthians 3:3). Let’s remember that “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4).  Pray to make the most of every opportunity and, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…” (Colossians 3:12). 

Compelled by the Titus 2 model for the older women to teach the younger women, our church is launching a new ministry this week. Teenage girls are bombarded with all kind of messages from the media and Hollywood.  Who will teach the daughters of the church?  The world?  Or, the church?  Our first meeting will be this Friday and I humbly ask for your prayers. I am admittedly nervous and praying for many things, not the least of which is courage.

Lastly, on April 7th, I’ll be teaching on the doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints at our women’s Bible study. Lord willing, I’ll post my notes the morning of but also share as I study. Feel free to send material my way as I’ve been helped in the past by what many of you have shared.

Oh, I almost forgot…like some of you, I am waiting for Persis and Lydia to report back from the Ligonier Conference.  If I know Persis, she’ll have some goodies to share with us.

That’s all for now!  Sending all my love and blessings!

Your sister in Christ,

Christina