Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Five Minutes a Day with Luther

August 25, 2010
by Pastor Robin Fish

2 Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge.

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Here St. Peter takes up the admonition, that they should demonstrate their faith by good works. Since such great blessing is bestowed upon you through faith (he would say), that you really have all that God is, do this in addition: be diligent, that is to say, not sluggish; in your faith supply moral excellence; that is, let your faith break out before the world, so as to be zealous, busy, powerful, and active, and to do many works; do not let it remain idle and unfruitful. You have a good inheritance and a good field, but see to it that you do not let thistles and weeds grow upon it. Discrimination or knowledge is, in the first place, something which one should manifest in outward conduct, and the morality of faith, in accordance with reason. For we should bridle and check the body, to the end that we may be sober, vigorous, and fitted for good works. We should not torture and mortify ourselves as some famous saints have done. For though God is likewise opposed to the sins that remain in the flesh, yet does He not require that for this reason you should destroy the body. Its viciousness and caprice you should guard against. Still, you are not to ruin or injure the body, but give it its food and refreshment that it may remain sound and in living vigor. In the second place, discrimination, here, means that one should lead life deliberately, and act with discretion in regard to outward things, such as food and things of that sort; that one should not act in these things without thinking, and that he should give his neighbor no provocation.



Holy Father! Thou hast taught me
I should live to Thee alone;
Year by year Thy hand hath brought me
On through dangers oft unknown,
When I wandered, Thou hast found me;
When I doubted, sent me light;
Still Thine arm has been around me,
All my paths were in Thy sight.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Birthday Week

On August 7th, one of my nieces (also my Goddaughter) celebrated her 18th birthday.  When did she grow up?  On the 11th, my husband had his big day.  For once all of us were home to eat the evening meal together.  Cake at 9:00 p.m. was a bit late, but he blew out all 8 of his candles.  (I couldn't afford to buy 53 candles.  Plus the cake was not even big enough for more than 10.  I don't know why Ai put only 8 on the cake, but that's what it was.)  On the 15th, another niece will be having her 14th birthday.  She spent the early part of her summer vacation on the border of life or death when she had to have emergency brain surgery.  She's back home now and recuperating rather well.  A wonderful miracle.

But, the birthday I really want to mention belongs to Rifqa Bary.  She has been through a very difficult year, and now she has been awarded her freedom.  I think of her often, and shall continue to hope and pray that she will be well.  God bless her and all the people that helped her arrive safely to see 18.