girltalk Blog
With the changing of the seasons come the new fall fashions. As we stand in front of the dressing room mirror or our closet at home, John Calvin, the great reformer, has two questions for us. In short, he wonders, what do our clothes say about our relationship to God?
“Where is our gratefulness toward God for our clothing if in the sumptuousness of our apparel we both admire ourselves and despise others, if with its elegance and glitter we prepare ourselves for shameless conduct?”
and
“Where is our recognition of God if our minds be fixed upon the splendor of our apparel? For many so enslave all their senses to delights that the mind lies overwhelmed.” (HT: Justin Taylor)
If other words, what brazen ungratefulness is expressed if we proudly admire ourselves for the clothing God has provided, if we dress to attract the attention and admiration of others instead of drawing their attention to God, and worst of all, if we dress to “allure men sexually?” What kind of “thank you” is this to God for His good gift of attractive, comfortable, and warm clothing?
And how can our minds be fixed upon the goodness and the glory of God if they are consumed with thoughts of what we wear? If we are preoccupied with the latest fashions, which (like the grass) will be here today and gone tomorrow, how can we worship and love the eternal Savior with all our minds?
Sobering questions as we consider fall fashions. I am convicted.
There is nothing special about today. It is not a holiday. It’s not my birthday or wedding anniversary. I am not celebrating any particular milestone in my life. It’s simply another ordinary day, filled with the usual commonplace tasks: cooking, cleaning, laundry, caring for the needs of my family….
And yet author Samuel Ward has reminded me that though ordinary, this day should be like a holiday, a celebration. I should have a Christmas-like spirit on this rainy September day, because, as Mr. Ward writes:
“It is sad to see a Christian pursuing joy in coarse and earthly pleasures when he has more noble and angelical delights, second only in degree and manner of enjoyment to heaven itself. Our faith takes us to the third heaven. We roll and tumble our souls in beds of roses, that is, our meditations of justification, sanctification, and salvation through Christ. No day should pass without these enjoyments. Should not our soul have her due drinks, breakfasts, meals, snacks, and desserts, as well as our body? Cannot such meditations make pleasant work of our daily tasks? They would make time pass by like a boat with full wind and tide, needing no oars. They would make all of our days like holidays and celebrations.” (HT: Tony Reinke)
As we “roll and tumble our souls in beds of roses, that is, our meditations of justification, sanctification, and salvation through Christ,” it makes pleasant work of our daily tasks and turns the most ordinary days into holidays.
Won’t you celebrate with me today?
I made a new resolution recently. It’s a good idea I’ve known about for a long time but never consistently put into practice. (Sadly, it’s one of many!) I’m purposing to review the Sunday message in my Monday quiet time.
My mom made this point (in a post I can’t find at the moment): If our pastor, whom God has called and gifted to preach, spends many hours studying God’s Word to share it with us, shouldn’t we be humble and diligent to review and apply that truth?
Our Senior Pastor here at Sovereign Grace Church, Mark Mullery, is an exceptional expositor of Scripture, as are the other men who regularly fill the pulpit (you’ll forgive my bias if I tell you my husband is my favorite?). Sunday after Sunday I am instructed, convicted, and encouraged only to forget what I heard by Monday morning. I want that to change. I want to extract the full benefit from the weekly preaching of God’s Word.
So this morning I reviewed my notes from yesterday’s sermon. My dad happened to be the visiting preacher and he spoke from Psalm 42 on “Speaking to Yourself.”
“In the Psalms,” he explained (quoting David Powlison), “God meets you where you are.” Then he made the potentially audacious claim that “The truth in this Psalm, if applied, can dramatically change your life” It’s true. That’s why I’m trying to apply it today.
I bet a lot of great sermons were preached all over the world yesterday. I wish I could have heard them all. But let me encourage you to review the notes from your pastor’s sermon. And if you have extra time, listen to “Speaking to Yourself.”
Let’s take full advantage of the preaching of God’s Word.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Ps. 19:7-11
Janelle and MJ came home from the hospital today and hopefully they will both have a good night sleep tonight. We’ll sign off with just the Friday Funnies today. Maybe this young girl can give Caly some babysitting tips!
Thanks again for all your prayers for Janelle!
Nicole for the girltalkers
2008 at 4:47 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Motherhood
I spoke to Mike a little while ago (Janelle was sleeping, thankfully!) and he sent me these pictures of MJ. If any are blurry it’s probably because I took them…I’m not the photographer in the family. But Mike asked me to thank all of you again for your prayers and emails of encouragement. God answered your prayers for no c-section and for a healthy baby. Mike and Janelle are grateful for your care as yet another evidence of God’s undeserved goodness to their family.
2008 at 7:08 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Motherhood
Baby MJ and Mommy are both doing great. Janelle is feeling very good and MJ is healthy and content. Soon they will be transferred to the postpartum room. Right now Caly is getting acquainted with her new little sister and Mike’s parents are getting to hold their new little granddaughter for the first time. Mike and Janelle want to thank all of you for their prayers. They are so grateful!
The only pic I have right now is one I snapped with my phone, but we’ll post more as soon as we are able…
2008 at 6:16 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Baby MJ came into the world just a few minutes ago. She was delivered naturally and is screaming her cute little head off right now. She’s 8lb even and 21 1/2 in long. More details and pics to come!
2008 at 5:01 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Motherhood
Well, the epidural worked the second time…so well that she’s been playing Solitaire on her phone while contracting. Then, just a few moments ago her water broke on its own. Nurse says she is completely effaced and ten cm. Shouldn’t be too long now!
2008 at 3:40 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Motherhood
Not much to report except that unfortunately the epidural didn’t seem to take. She’s in more pain than she was before, but hopefully they’ll be here soon to give it to her again.
2008 at 1:17 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Motherhood
Just saw the doctor. He’s given the order for the epidural so she won’t have long to wait now. After examining her charts the doctor thinks she might not be as overdue as she thought. He thinks the due date was probably more like August 29 or so. That’s good news. Janelle would continue to appreciate your prayers that she will be able to deliver naturally. But of course, she is trusting God for whatever the outcome, and still joking around in between contractions. Oh, and they will break her water around 1pm or so.
Talking to Caly: “Baby MJ’s gonna be here today!”
Mike helping her through a contraction…
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If other words, what brazen ungratefulness is expressed if we proudly admire ourselves for the clothing God has provided, if we dress to attract the attention and admiration of others instead of drawing their attention to God, and worst of all, if we dress to “allure men sexually?” What kind of “thank you” is this to God for His good gift of attractive, comfortable, and warm clothing?
