girltalk Blog
I recently had a conversation with a woman who expressed regret over how she had parented her daughter. Mothers or not, we all have regrets. We are sinners, who, although “made anew by an unseen power of grace,” (The Valley of Vision, “Man A Nothing”) still await glorification in heaven some day. Maybe our regrets are mild and nagging, or perhaps they overwhelm our everyday thoughts and stymie our progress in godliness.
Whenever I am tempted to wallow in regret over a mistake, an unwise decision, a sinful comment, I have often found encouragement in these thoughts from Charles Spurgeon:
“What is the use of regret unless we can rise by it to a better future? Sighs, which do not raise us higher, are an ill use of vital breath. Chasten yourselves, but be not discouraged. Gather up the arrows which aforetime fell wide of the mark, not to break them in passionate despair, but to send them to the target with direct aim, and a more concentrated force. Weave victories out of defeats. Learn success from failure, wisdom from blundering” (Spurgeon on Spiritual Leadership by Steve Miller, p. 93)
Let’s get off our mental couch of despair over past sins and mistakes. Let us not be like the one the apostle Peter describes as “so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins” (1 Peter 1:9) By the power of Christ, let’s be all the more diligent to make our calling and election sure (v. 10). Let’s weave victories out of defeat.
All the girltalkers awoke this morning feeling extra tired and a little achy (Nicole especially!) from having walked many miles over the past two days for our annual shopping trip. We say it every year, but it’s true once again: This trip was our best one yet! We had a blast together and were able to finish almost all our Christmas shopping to boot!
How grateful I am for the friendship I enjoy with my three daughters. I’m even more thankful that they passionately love the Savior, ardently adore their husbands and children and delight in their homemaking careers, and faithfully serve in their local churches. I am a rich woman indeed!
However, I am freshly aware that this relational richness is not of my own making, but a gift from God. As my all time favorite preacher reminded us in his sermon on Sunday from 1 Corinthians 4:7: “What do you have that you did not receive?” Of course, the only right and appropriate answer to this question that Paul asks is: Absolutely nothing!
This reality should have a humbling effect on our souls and should produce expressions of gratefulness as we identify countless gifts throughout our day. Instead of arrogantly imagining we had something to do with all the blessings we enjoy, let’s recognize they come to us straight from Calvary.
For further (and more profound) thoughts on this topic, take some time to listen to my husband’s sermon. And may God receive the glory for all the good gifts He bestows—most of all, the gift of His Son.
2006 at 8:22 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
Yesterday we learned that two mothers you met here and here on the girltalk blog lost their little ones. Both are trusting God in the midst of unspeakable sorrow. Please remember them and their families in your prayers today.
Our hope today is in our Savior who “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
2006 at 11:57 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
It’s the girltalk highlight of the year—the shopping trip! We’ve even managed to extend it an extra day, so we have two whole days of shopping ahead of us. We’ll post some pics tomorrow, but today we want to encourage you to listen to Friday’s Al Mohler radio broadcast. That’s because my little brother, Grant, was the guest, to talk about youth ministry.
Little bro—When we were kids, I outran you after the bees attacked us for throwing rocks at their hive. But you’ve outrun me now! Love ya! Carolyn.
The following Friday Funny is a look into the future for Kristin, Janelle and me…
There were three sisters—ages 92, 94, 96 who lived together. One night, the 96-year-old drew a bath. She put one foot in, then paused. “Was I getting in the tub or out?” she yelled.
The 94-year-old hollered back, “I don’t know, I’ll come and see.” She started up the stairs, but stopped on the first one. She shouted, “Was I going up or coming down?”
The 92-year-old was sitting at the kitchen having tea, listening to her sisters with a smirk on her face. She shook her head and said, “I sure hope I never get that forgetful,” and knocked on wood for good measure. Then she yelled, “I’ll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who’s at the door.” (From PreachingToday.com)
Have a happy weekend,
Nicole
for Carolyn, Kristin, and Janelle
2006 at 4:28 pm | by Janelle Bradshaw
Hey girls, it’s popcorn time. Not the microwave kind! No, you have to go for the real stuff. Pop it in oil on the stove and drench it in butter and salt (I like to add parmesan cheese, but I’m weird). My mouth is literally watering as I am writing this. Okay, all this talk about popcorn is really to recommend a movie. With me, things just start with food. Anyways, I wanted to tell you about a recent girly flick that we discovered and enjoyed called North and South
. Not set among the Civil War as you may think, this movie takes place in England in one of the centuries before this one. It’s perfect for that slumber party or girls night. If you enjoyed Bleak House than you will enjoy North and South. So check it out! Happy Friday!
2006 at 4:18 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
All my siblings will tell you this about our childhood: When the church doors were open, we were in attendance. Our dad made sure of it! And not surprisingly, it was his example and his insistence that the local church occupied primacy in our family life that hugely influenced my own passion for the local church.
I hold many fond childhood memories of attending the little white cinder block church building at the corner of 17th Street and Tuttle Avenue. One such memory includes my father leading the congregation to sing:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way,
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Trust and obey. That seems way too simple. My life feels complicated. My besetting sin seems baffling. In my pride I can search far and wide for some deep profound truth—the key to unlock my “mysterious” problem; or spend excessive time trying to analyze and figure out my sin. Rather, I must act upon the simple profound truth found in this song: Trust and Obey
Paul Tripp explains in his book, Instruments in the Redeemers Hands: “The Christian life can really be boiled down to two words: trust and obey. I must always entrust the things that are out of my control to God, and I must always be faithful to obey clear and specific commands.”
So what are your “complicated” problems today? May I encourage you to simply Trust and Obey.
2006 at 5:24 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
It’s true. Each day comes packaged with its “own trouble.” Today, my little troubles came in the form of a broken door handle that requires a screw-driver to get back in the house, a car and garage door in need of cleaning due to Halloween thrill-seekers throwing egg on them, last minute forms to turn in for my son’s basketball tryouts, a kaput homeschool schedule, and a house in disarray.
No calamity or tragedy was part of today’s “own trouble.” However, add all the little troubles together and they did make for a trying day.
I’m not complaining. Rather, I am grateful for the comfort and truth of Scripture that is sufficient for each day’s “own trouble.”
The Psalmist’s cry reveals a confident expectation in God’s help: “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!” (Psalm 20:1-2)
What has been your day’s “own trouble”? Maybe you have had one of the most difficult days of your life. Or maybe the little tiny troubles have accumulated with the hours.
Regardless, we can, like the Psalmist, turn to God for help. We can be confident in His help, support, and protection.
As Charles Spurgeon exhorts us: “Let us fly to the cross for shelter in all times of need and help will be sent to us. For praying breath is never spent in vain.”
May the Lord answer you as you call upon Him today!
2006 at 4:26 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
We want to say “thank you” for praying for us these past few weeks. This morning, we turned in the manuscript for our forthcoming book to our publisher. You must have been praying hard because this was the first time ever that we have managed to meet our deadline!
So instead of writing a post today we want you to pop on over to the T4G—Together for the Gospel blog and read about Dad’s trip to Southern Seminary. You can also listen to audio from his messages there—two of our favorites (you have to scroll down to find them).
Once again, thank you for your prayers and we’ll see you tomorrow!
2006 at 11:37 am | by Nicole Whitacre
Several of you have kindly inquired about my pregnancy. I realized that I neglected to pass on my good news: morning sickness is a thing of the past! I am off Zofran and eating more than enough for two.
Currently I’m at almost nineteen weeks gestation. In a week or so I will have a sonogram to find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl. What do you think it’s going to be? We’ll be sure to let you know. Honestly, I will be thrilled with either. I’m still amazed at God’s goodness in allowing us to have another child.
Yesterday at church we picked up a bassinet some friends are lending to us. As we put it in the back of our car, Jack asked if we could get a baby to go in the baby bed. I told him that we would. “I’m so excited” he said.
Mom suggested I have Steve take a picture of me to go along with this post, but I’m not feeling too photogenic right now. Instead, I am going to put on my “proud aunt” hat and share a picture Janelle sent me this morning of my niece Caly. Isn’t she the cutest thing?
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3
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