The reason for the season

This Christmas I have been feeling distant from the typical feelings of nostalgia towards this season. I have felt little to no excitement over the typical baking fests and decorations. It is something I did more for the kids than for any feelings I had toward it. The only times I felt some connection to what this is all about was when I would do the advent calendar with my girls. Every item we would take out of it's pocket I would talk about what that item may remind us of. This was the one time when I would take the time to focus on this, the very reason for this season.



Today I listened to a sermon that reminded me of what is most important at this time. What our focus is to be. I knew this. I knew it in my mind but had forgotten at the same time. I allowed myself to become numb to what this is really all about.

Christ. His birth. His life of righteousness. His eventual death on the cross and resurrection. His birth points to who He is. His redemptive work.Why He came and what He did for us. In remembering this then worship will come. He is the reason for the season. I know many times this is said but It is more truth than any other thing that stated. He is the way the truth and the life, No man comes to the Father but by Him.

Here is the sermon that reminded me of this great and glorious truth.

And then I listened again to this Christmas concert put on by Grace community church.

I pray you all have a Merry rest of the Christmas Holidays and a Blessed new year.

God on His Glorious Throne.

As you may know I am a mother of two young girls, 7 and 4. There are times as a mother of these two young ones where I start to think of what might lay ahead for them. In the world that seems to be tossing to and fro in turmoils yet unknown I can start to feel swallowed up in deep concern. What hope is there that their life can be with any joy? What hope is there of them living an easy life? What struggles might they have to face in a world fraught with evil? In a world where, as the hymn says, "That though the wrong seems oft so strong."* there is an answer that is most glorious.



"God is the ruler yet."

And that is where my heart must rest. Will there be hardship on the road ahead? Most likely. Will I see it even within my life time? I can only expect. Yet there is one great truth that overrides all other. Experience should not sway us from this truth. Let us never forget that God is on His throne. He is the ruler of all. All things are in His Glorious hands. Let our focus be always set on this Truth. Christ is Lord over all.

Lord make our hearts look always to you, through all joys and tribulations. And let us remember what your word does say in 1 Peter 1:6 and 7 "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Let us look to His word for all our guidance never to look to the world for answers of our greatest concerns. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is by His will that we live and move and have our being. 

Here are two parts of a small sermon series out of a greater teaching on the book of Daniel that I have been listening to by Alistair Begg. Part 1 and Part 2  In a most complex scripture of Daniel 7 Alistair points us to the greatest overarching truth. That God is indeed on His Glorious throne. 


*These lines are taken from the Hymn "This is my Fathers world"

The Glory of the Cross

This Hymn has been ringing in my ears for the past week or so.

When is survey the wondrous cross
On which the prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it, Lord, That I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his hands, his head, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

And this sermon Brings to light what it all really means.

For the original posting of this sermon you can go here
And for a great rendition of this hymn and a bit of history as well you can go here.
I hope you found something to survey in the cross. It is a Great and glorious thing that our God in heaven has done for us.

This life will pass away.

Today as I listened to a teaching by Steven J. Lawson, on the importance of the Word, something struck me.

I know that Christ used scripture to refute the devil while he was being tempted in the desert (found in Luke 4). But suddenly there was a truth there that hit home. After the first temptation Jesus responds with a quote from the old testament "Man shall not live on bread alone". Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3. He only quoted a portion of that scripture. It ends with this statement "but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

Steven was explaining that The word which proceeds from the mouth of God, the entire scripture, is living and breathing. It is through the hearing of this word that we are given life, eternal life, spiritual life. And so it struck me that though we live and breath here on this earth our lives here are fading like grass, 1 Peter 1:24.
The only way to attain eternal life is through the word of God and so man indeed does not live on bread alone. In fact, we die on bread alone. We may live for a time but no matter the care taken here on this earth our bodies will break down and fade away. Without the word of God we are not alive in Christ and so we do not truly live but by and through and to him. 

This is something that probably has been clear to many before me and this is probably not news to any now but I was stunned at how it was suddenly so clear in a whole new way. 

If you wish to have a clearer understanding on what Steven J. Lawson was teaching please listen to this.

psalm 8

Here is another psalm with some visuals.


psalm 8 from Angie Kroeker on Vimeo.

Psalm 5

This psalm, again, is full of so much meaning. So rich with the longings of a heart broken and searching for God. As I have read from commentary, this psalm is to be broken into two parts. The first (vs.1-7) in which David calls to God to hear his prayers, to answer his cry, and the second (vs. 8-12) He retraces his request. In other words it is a psalm full of anguish in prayer.

Spurgeons commentary is full, to over flowing with statements that make this psalm come alive. To even attempt to hint at what all this psalm is full of, I will not imagine to touch. But from his statements on just the first verse there is much to be gleaned.

Quote: " There are two sorts of prayers--Those expressed in words, and the un-uttered longings which abide as silent meditations. Words are not the essence but the garments of prayer." "Yet the use of language may prevent distraction of mind, may assist the powers of the soul, and may excite devotion. David, we observe, uses both modes of prayer, and craves for the one a hearing, and for the other a consideration." "'Consider my groaning.' If I have asked that which is right give it to me; if I have omitted to ask that which I most needed fill up the vacancy in my prayer." Here I might add "If I have prayed in error please forgive me, and thank you that you do not give what I do not need or must not have." Of course the commentary goes on from there but for now I will let the Psalm speak forth and be ever thankful for a God who hears our prayers.

Psalm 5
1. Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. 2. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. 3. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I will prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
4. For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evil doers.
6. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 7. But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, shall enter your house. I will bow down towards your holy temple in fear of you.
8. Lead me, O Lord, in righteousness because of my enemies; make your paths straight before me.
9. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
10.Make them bear their guilt, O God, let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their  transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you. 11. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
12. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Psalm 4

 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments, a psalm of David

1. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!



2. O men, how long shall my honor be turned to shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?



3. But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
4. Tremble and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.



5. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.



6. There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord"



7. You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.



8. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.


I found this to be a more difficult psalm to put to memory. I find that when I do not fully understand, or cannot seem to find the common flow of a psalm it is more difficult to keep it. At first I did not find the verse that talks of the "many" to fit. It seemed to me that it was misplaced when the verse right after it talks about having more joy than they. I thought they were seeking after God how could that be a wrong thing? But when I looked into the commentaries on the scripture I have found that those who are saying "who will show us some good?" and "Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord" are actually in the wrong.
I will again quote Spurgeon on this for I have found that his "Treasury of David" commentaries are full of rich and clear statements. They have started to give me insights into the Psalms that I had not known before.

This is for verse 6, quote: "There were many, even among David's own followers, who wanted to see rather than to believe. Alas! this is the tendency of us all! Even the regenerate sometimes groan after the sense and the sight of prosperity, and are sad when darkness covers all good from view. As the worldlings, this is their unceasing cry. "who will show us any good?" Never satisfied, their gaping mouths are turned in every direction, their empty hearts are ready to drink in any fine delusion which impostors may invent; and when these fail, they soon yield to despair, and declare that there is no good thing in either heaven or earth. The true believer is a man of a very different mold. His face is not downward like the beasts', but upward like the angels'. He drinks not from the muddy pools of Mammon, but from the fountain of life above. The light of God's countenance is enough for him. This is his riches, his honor, his health, his ambition, his ease. Give him this, and he will ask no more. This is joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Oh, for more of the indwelling of the Holy spirit, that our fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ may be constant and abiding!"

Indeed the Lord has put more Joy into our hearts as we look to Him and not the things of this world. It is Christ alone who gives us joy and Hope everlasting. To Him be the glory and praise forever and ever!!

 P.S. There is a great resource that I have come across where I have found all of Spurgeons treasury of David books for free.  http://www.ccel.org/   Search under authors and you will find him there with many others as well. I have also found that there are free versions for download on mobile devices.