Poetry by Kay Cude. Kay Cude is a Texas poet. Used with permission. Right-click to open larger in new tab
Poetry: “Mortifying Misunderstanding”
Providence: Caiaphas didn’t even know what he was saying!
By Elizabeth Prata
Have you ever wondered how it works with God being totally sovereign over all things, plans, actions, and events…yet man is not a robot and freely chooses his own actions, and moreover, is responsible to God for them? You’re not the only one to wonder how that tension works between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility.
Continue reading “Providence: Caiaphas didn’t even know what he was saying!”Contentious & mouthy, or quiet and gentle? Let’s compare
By Elizabeth Prata
Beth Moore left the Southern Baptist Convention last year, loudly and badly. She is an Anglican now, happy to be proclaiming prayers and Psalms from her home church pulpit. But she is still talking to us in the SBC about how to run things, what should happen, and having opinions all over the place about a denomination of which she is no longer a part.
Continue reading “Contentious & mouthy, or quiet and gentle? Let’s compare”If you give a mouse a cookie: How I get sidetracked from Bible study
By Elizabeth Prata
I was reading through 1 Kings this morning. I came across a reference to the Millo, and made a quick note to follow that up later. Then I read of Ahijah the prophet, and made another note. Uh-oh! My ink ran out. Oh, no, this is my favorite pen! It’s hand made from beautiful wood and has super beautiful fittings. I must replace the ink cartridge right now even though I have another favorite pen right here!
Continue reading “If you give a mouse a cookie: How I get sidetracked from Bible study”The incomparable riches of His grace
By Elizabeth Prata
Scroll to bottom after photo for mini-library suggestions of books on grace.
What are these incomparable riches of God’s grace?
First, Christ Jesus.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7).
As we are saved, we step from dead flesh to life eternal. From enemy sinner to forgiven friend. From object of wrath to recipient of grace.
He is GREAT!!
He manifested Himself as man, servant, no less, so that He could live a life full of the same temptations we experience, can you imagine that? “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)
GRACE!!
As our High Priest, when we confess to Him, He understands! Thoroughly, bodily, intimately. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15).
GRACE!!
Another example of the incomparable riches of His grace is “The Promise of the Holy Spirit” –“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39).
We are given the grace of Spirit within us and as a result have eternal security of our salvation all the days of our life. Incomparable grace!
“He set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:22)
What is to come is MORE GRACE!!
When you think of Jesus and what He has done for us and continues to do, don’t you just get weak in the knees? Doesn’t your heart faint with love? He saved us so that He could shower us with His grace. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10) He is the God of all grace, and He chose to shower us with the riches of that incomparable grace.
Don’t forget to remind each other of these things. Encourage one another. Repeat your testimonies. Share verses, laugh with joy at our Great Savior, who is of all Grace. All is well because Christ Jesus has risen and dwells in His heaven. All of us in Him are testimonies of His grace, and that is all joy.
Some Suggestions for Books on Grace:
Fundamentals of the Faith: 13 Lessons to Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ, foreword by John MacArthur
John Bunyan and the Grace of Fearing God, Joel R. Beeke
The Glory of Grace, Lewis Allen
Christian Freedom (Grace Essentials), Samuel Bolton
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners: A Brief Relation of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ to His Poor Servant John Bunyan, John Bunyan
All of Grace: An Earnest Word with Those Who Are Seeking Salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ, C. H. Spurgeon
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament, Mark Vroegop
Grace Transforming, Philip Graham Ryken
The Grace of Repentance, Sinclair B. Ferguson
Grace Defined and Defended: What a 400-Year-Old Confession Teaches Us about Sin, Salvation, and the Sovereignty of God, Kevin DeYoung
Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love, Jerry Bridges
See what the Lord is doing: Update from Justin Peters
By Elizabeth Prata
I subscribe to Justin Peters Ministries because I like how Justin operates in truth and kindness, I like what he does (evangelism and his rebuttals against false doctrines like health/wealth or word-faith), and I like the encouraging things I read about what the Lord is doing through him.
His reports are uplifting. We need encouragement these days. I like Paul Washer’s mission updates, too. (HeartCry Missionary Society). We can get so caught up in our own spheres we might overlook the grace that is bestowed elsewhere.
Justin’s Youtube Channel is a wealth of information.
I would like to re-post his latest ministry update. I hope you find it encouraging too! Here is Justin:
Continue reading “See what the Lord is doing: Update from Justin Peters”Prata Potpourri: From Ecotheology to Fridge Wizard, a roundup of links for you
By Elizabeth Prata
I found a new website I enjoy, “Beauty of Planet Earth“. There are all sorts of interesting articles about our home planet, and other planets. Lots of gorgeous pictures, facts about a wide range of subjects, architecture, and more. Like this article: “Priceless Art Found In Paris Apartment Vacant Since 1939.” The only thing that drives me crazy are the ‘science facts’ stating this or that animal died 44,000 years ago, or global warming.
Continue reading “Prata Potpourri: From Ecotheology to Fridge Wizard, a roundup of links for you”Poetry by Kay Cude: Joy- Do not despair, redeemed of Christ
Here is a scripture photo containing scripture against a beautiful photo, with poetry by a friend named Kay Cude. I like her art and she gave me permission to publish some of her poetic scripture art. Right-Click to enlarge in new tab. Please enjoy.
For What It’s Worth
By Elizabeth Prata
Buffalo Springfield. 1966. For What It’s Worth. An anthem that captured a moment, a movement, a revolution. And it wasn’t about the Viet Nam war.
“For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)“ (often referred to as simply “For What It’s Worth”) is a song written by Stephen Stills. Performed by Buffalo Springfield, it was recorded on December 5, 1966, released as a single on Atco Records on December 23, 1966. … The song is a staple of period piece films about 1960s America and the Vietnam War, such as Forrest Gump, and often used as a common shorthand to quickly establish the atmosphere of 1960s counterculture movement and protests.” (Wikipedia)
Reaching for the sun (Son)
By Elizabeth Prata
I used to vacation in the small village of Lubec, Maine. It is the “nose” on the map of Maine that looks like a silhouette of a dog. It sits across from Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada. I mean a stone’s throw. See?
The boat is docked in Lubec, USA. The lighthouse is in Canada.
Sunlight is a precious thing in Maine, especially that far north. Lubec is just 5 miles from the 45th parallel, which is the halfway point between the equator and the north pole. Daylight hours in July (when I visited) are 15 hours but in December there are only 8 hours of sunlight.
There is a street facing Canada called Water Street. There is an old cannery, the town library, a hotel, some pubs and cafes. One place you can stay is called the Betsy Ross B&B. It faces east, toward Campobello Island and has a bank of poppies and other plants growing in front. There is a slight overhang over the flwoers, plus the building is tall. The poppies are aiming, seemingly desperately reaching for the sun, as it rises over Campobello and arcs quickly across the sky before leaving the poppies in shadow again. See?
I wish I had a further-out view for you. But every flower is parallel to the wooden brace you see at a nearly 45 degree angle.
This isn’t a new thought, or an especially creative thought. But I think it is a good thought.
Though creation is fallen, it is still subject to God. Even the plants ‘know’ enough to reach for what is good for them. They need and thrive on the sun.
Isaiah 55:12,
For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Barnes’ Notes says,
Here it is an expression of the universal rejoicing which would attend the extension of the kingdom of God on the earth.
The conscience-less creation groans now and will be praising with joy later. Metaphorically? Actually? The Bible doesn’t explain. Yet, we know that God has a relationship with creation. Maybe it’s a general call to praise, or perhaps the trees will clap and the mountains will shout.
For all our human wisdom and machinations and progress, we Christians, do we reach for what is good for us? The Son? With our superior relationship with Jesus over the creation and even over the angels, do we reach? Bask? Long for the Son?
the-end-time.org 