During the 17th century, Samuel Rutherford (Scottish preacher and author) penned 365 letters to those who were in need of godly counsel, based on the Word of God. In the  Letters of Samuel Rutherford  we find his sixth letter to Lady Kenmure (Anwoth. November 26, 1631; letter XIX in this publication) to provide her with further: "Encouragement to abound in faith from the prospect of glory—Christ's unchangeableness." He encourages her to, "Be content to wade through the waters betwixt you and glory with him [Christ Jesus], holding his hand fast; for he knoweth all the fords. Howbeit ye may be ducked, yet ye cannot drown, being in his company."

After reading this particular wisdom from this faithful saint of old, the Holy Spirit graciously brought to mind, something the Lord Jesus taught me long ago...

"On that day, when evening had come, He [Jesus] said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side'...And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' "

~Mark 4:35, 37-40, ESV

Though it's been more than 30 years since I first read this passage, I still marvel at how little has changed from 2,000 years ago with the apostles of Christ,  and we, disciples of the Lord, today.

And as I marvel, the Holy Spirit brings me to yet another verse to hearken my mind and heart even more to the living Word of God—"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Here's a sampling of two lessons I've learned from this passage:

1. Jesus said, they were getting into the boat, because they were going to the other side of the sea. He didn't say, "Let's see if we can make it to the other side." He said they would.
2. Jesus is God. And God doesn't sink.

Had the apostles remembered these truths they were already, faithfully taught by Christ, rather than defer to pragmatism (testing all things by their own finite knowledge and understanding), they would've practiced faith. They would've refrained from the futile efforts of trying to save themselves, and looked to Jesus, who was in the boat with them—taking a nap—in the midst of the howling winds, threatening waves; in a boat with rising water, yet, remaining afloat.

It may have not looked like a good place or time for napping. But if Christ, their Master and Lord was... then obviously, it was good (cf. Prov 3:5-8).

Let us heed the wisdom recorded in Romans 15:4. And let us, in every circumstance, remember the two things the apostles forgot: Whatever God says is true, and God doesn't sink. And if/when we forget these two truths, just as the apostles who had Jesus with them (just as we do too), then let us be quick to repent of our faithlessness, rather than harp on our unpleasant and/or frightful circumstances. When we repent of taking our eyes off of Jesus, we will immediately feel the weight of sinking flee from us, as our Lord steadily and powerfully leads us through...to the other side.

When our peace and hope are securely in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we possess, "the rare jewel of Christian contentment" in every circumstance.

"III. A Christian comes to contentment, not so much by getting rid of the burden that is on him, as by adding another burden to himself...You think there is no way in the world to contentment, but, O that this burden were but off! O it is a heavy load, and few know what a burden I have. What, do you think that there is no way for the contentment of your spirit, but to get rid of your burden?...But you are deceived; for if you can get your heart to be more burdened with your sin, you will be less burdened with your afflictions.

"[I]f you so fall to bemoaning your sin before the Lord, you shall quickly find the burden of your affliction to be lighter than it was before. Do but try this piece of skill and art, to get your souls contented with any low circumstance that God puts you in."

~Burroughs, Jeremiah.
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. 1964.

The Banner of Truth Trust, 2018, pp.47-48

As my earthly tent continues to weaken, due to the the 13 years in which the Lord Jesus carried me through a brutal and torrential storm of persecution, my mind and heart delight in these words from my Lord,

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst…”

On January 8, 2020, I will undergo my 3rd heart surgery (cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation) and 13th surgery within an 11-year-period of time. Less invasive methods for my fifth arrhythmia have already been tried and found to be ineffective. My most recent physical affliction has caused me to daily suffer from extreme fatigue, light-headedness, headaches, and nausea, with occasional incidences of near syncope. I’ve had adjustments made to my pacemaker to help prevent a heart attack, and prescribed a blood thinner to help prevent blood clots and stroke.

To compound the stress put on my worn and weary heart, I’ve also been suffering a great deal from a “thorn” of Satan (spiritual persecution from a professing believer).

It is easy to be dismayed when my eyes are focused on the here and now, on myself and others, rather than on the there and then, and on my God and Father. But when I lift my eyes to the hills, where my help comes from; from the Maker of Heaven and earth, then though I can only dimly see eternal things, it is still a more beautiful and truer sight of what is real, and perfectly good. And in the light of what awaits me in my Forever Home with Christ my God, I feel I can perceive all things here, even more lucidly.

Therefore, shall I complain of my sufferings—minuscule in comparison to what my Lord suffered for my sake? Shall I be perplexed by the fiery trials of unmitigated and unfounded disdain? Shall I desire less hardships in this life, than what my Lord taught me to expect in His Word? Shall I be surprised by the insults and hatred of false professors who practice the works of the flesh (idolatry, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger; Gal 5:19-21)?

No. I shall not refuse what my Lord uses to refine me. Rather, I ask for it. I ask that people will see Christ and the holiness of God, rather than see me. I pray that if in so doing, people misunderstand and mistake my own character—of weakness, frailty, and fear of man, for the character of Christ—humility, strength, and steadfastness.

In Matthew 10:34-36 and 1 Peter 4:12-14, my Father has faithfully reminded me that though those who feign victimhood receive comfort and encouragement, and it seems that I am left out in the cold, because of Christ, this is an impossibility. The truth is, all who are in Christ, are hid and sealed in the hand of the Almighty who is a consuming fire. And we are therefore, always warmed and kept safe by His divine hand, whether or not He allows people to participate in this compassionate work of His grace in truth.

Remembering this, I am able to endure the loss of all things (bodily health, beloved relationships), for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, my First and Greatest Love, and my most magnificent and sufficient Portion forever. For I have none in Heaven but my LORD. And there is none on earth that I desire equal to or above Him. Though my flesh and my heart fail me, because God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, I have the inexplicable happiness and highest honor of being able to daily feed from God’s Word, and drink from His Holy Spirit—having my hunger and thirst wholly satisfied beyond what I even knew was possible.

‘Come unto me and drink’…Not, come and take a hasty draught; not, come and slightly alleviate, or for a short time remove one’s thirst. No! ‘drink,’ or ‘be drinking’ constantly, habitually.

Do not let us change the Savior’s words…It is not ‘Whosoever has drunk,’ but ‘Whosoever drinketh.’ It is not one isolated draught he speaks, or even many, but of the continuous habit of the soul. In John 6:35, also, the full meaning is this, ‘He who is habitually coming to me shall by no means hunger, and he who is believing on me shall no means thirst.’ The habit of coming in faith to him is incompatible with unmet hunger and thirst…

It seems to me that where many of us err is in leaving our drinking in the past, while our thirst continues present. What we need is to be drinking—yes, thankfully for each occasion which drives us to drink ever more deeply of the living water.

1 Peter 4:1-5.

No sane person says, “I’m waiting for God to thank me.” But in reality, that’s what the unbelieving world is thinking, and sadly, many professing believers are thinking the same thing. How do we, the chosen and dearly beloved ones of the Most High God, think the same atrocious and presumptuous way as unbelievers?

Every time we’re offended by someone, complain, and/or boast about what we have in the past, or are presently suffering, for Christ’s sake, we prove that we’re waiting for God to thank us, that is, give us the good we feel we deserve for what we’ve suffered. Boasting about anything save Christ, is the outward expression of someone who believes they’ve got the corner market on suffering, and therefore feel owed: respect, being well-thought of, friendship, and loyalty from whom they have suffered. And since as Christians, we believe God is sovereign, then when we participate in these arrogant acts of expressing whatever dissatisfaction we have in life, then we are in fact, waiting for God to thank us by rewarding us with whatever good we feel He’s keeping from us (cf. Gen 3:4-7).

But let us rather, strengthen our souls with what’s recorded in Luke 17:9-10—

Does he (the master) thank the slave because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have only done what was our duty.'

When you remember who God is and who you are, does not your my mind and heart and soul and all your strength, happily shout with all the saints in Christ, “I am an unworthy and most blessed slave of righteousness; I have only done what was my most happy duty.”? Fort even the provisions and ability to serve the LORD of hosts, are given to us by the Most High—it does not originate from us (Js 1:16-17, 1 Cor 4:7).

2. To plead upon sufferings for Christ is a dreadful mark of a graceless sufferer, Matth. 20:12-16. It is a sign men seek themselves and not the Lord in their sufferings, therefore they get their penny, the credit and reputation among the saints that they were seeking, and that is all.

3. What is the Lord obliged to us when we have suffered the loss of all? Have we done more than our duty; yea, than our interest led us to? If a beggar should come in, and crave his alms as debt, because, forsooth, he stood at your door, and would not go away, though a heavy rain was falling on him all the time, what would you think of his plea? So it is with us, if we plead the merit of our sufferings.

Amen. Rather than be owed good by the Almighty because of my sufferings, I owe Him more than I did before my sufferings. For as much a as I have suffered, and continue to suffer, much more did and does Christ my God abundantly grant me, grace upon grace (cf. Jn 1:14, 16-18).

If what we have suffered is our mantra—the very edifice of our lives, then we have surely built in vain. For no one who suffers for the name and glory of Jesus, would willingly repeat, advertise, promote their ministry or themselves, by their sufferings. No, they would rather willingly repeat Christ crucified (1 Cor 2:1-5), than adjure men to listen to them because of who they are and what they have suffered.

“In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Heb 12:4). No, this honor and this great work of purchasing eternal salvation for all the elect of God, from every tribe, nation, and tongue, is given to Christ our God alone. For He alone is worthy of such a great and noble task—for Christ alone is sinless, and alone, perfectly fulfilled the holy demands of God’s righteous decrees.

No person, save Christ Jesus, has ever suffered more than their sins have earned them. And any person who suffers anything (great or small) for the glory of God, has received more grace than they can ever deserve.

This is why God need never thank us for anything. Rather, we ought always thank God for every grace and mercy He deems good to grant us, because we know the immeasurable good we owe Him, and can never repay (Php 2:13-15, 2 Thess 5:11-18).

I am convinced that if I were able to thank God every nanosecond of my life, from conception and throughout all eternity, it would still not meet the thanks I owe Him for giving me His Son.

I love Psalm 29:11 because it reminds me that true peace is not the absence of conflict with people. True peace, is the absence of conflict with God. And for anyone who has received the peace of God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, know that there must be conflict with people  in this life, for the Gospel is an offense to all who live in their pride, rather than in Christ.

For 45 years, God has granted me His peace, and considered me worthy of sharing in the sufferings of my Savior. For 13 years the Lord graciously endured me through brutal persecutions, beatings, and slander for proclaiming the Gospel of God's grace, and refusing to denounce the name of Jesus Christ. Because the Spirit of Christ lives in me, I couldn't deny my Lord who suffered and died to be the propitiation and expiation for the sins I committed against the one and only living and holy God.

In the past 14 years, God has considered me worthy of bearing the scars of my Savior. The scars were provided by the 13 years of persecutions. I've had the joy of witnessing the strength of my Savior's grace through 10 surgeries, 4 CT myelograms of my spine, multiple other invasive testings and ER visits and hospital stays, and more specialists than there are colors in the rainbow. I have 16 titanium screws, 2 titanium rods, 1 titanium plate, and 5 artificial discs holding my spine together; sick sinus syndrome that's accompanied by three other arrhythmias (SVTs, PVCs, and PACs); oral lichen planus; degenerative disc disease; osteoarthrosis of my left jaw, bilateral articular disc disorder; severe Vitamin B12 and D deficiencies; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; secondary hyperparathyroidism due to my Vitamin D deficiency; and a host of other serious medical issues. Due to these things, I'm in daily pain (sometimes debilitating) and therefore must daily take nerve pain medications (and sometimes other pain medications) in order to function as normally as possible. I suffer from depression (and am currently on an SSRI), and rarely have much strength or energy to do my daily chores, let alone serve and love others as unto the Lord Jesus. I have specific things I must eat and drink daily, as well as daily perform physical therapy exercises to help my body function as best as possible.

I don't share any of this to garner sympathy or empathy for myself. I share all of this to display the glorious and mighty works of God in my life (Jn 9:3). Because you see, although my temporal state may seem quite grim, it's not! In spite of all my physical weaknesses and sufferings, I still get to do ordinary things like laundry, cook healthy and tasty meals for my family and many others I love—with eternal intentions. I get to keep my home clean and orderly so that I may continue to produce a peaceful, restful, and loving atmosphere for all who live and visit here. I get to run errands and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with store clerks and other shoppers with whom the Lord graces me with opportunities to love in Jesus' name. I get to make and take meals to the sick, encourage the fainthearted and admonish the idle  (1 Thess 5:14-15). And I get to share the goodness of God with medical staff and other patients and their families and friends at every hospital and medical facility in which the Lord assigns me. I get to do all these things with the strength God supplies me in Christ Jesus (1 Pt 4:10-11)—that all may be enlightened with the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6).

This is why I gladly boast about my weaknesses. I love to urge and encourage all saints in Christ to daily carry their crosses in order to die to self, and to live all the more abandoned to Christ, our awesome and majestic Lord and Savior (2 Cor 9:9-12, Acts 20:24).

Every one of our lives is a mist. My mist may not last as long as yours. But no matter how short or long God chooses our lives to be, He commands all His children to redeem the time He's given us. We are called by God to live like the wise and not like the unwise. For only the children of the Most High have been given the sight to see—that the days are surely evil (Eph 5:15-17).

It is often said that those who are heavenly-minded are of no earthly good. But this sentiment, in accordance with God's Word, is erroneous. The truth is, it is only those who are heavenly-minded, that can be of any earthly good. For it is only those who perceive all things in this temporal life (relationships, vocations, ministering to others, communicating in person and social media, etc.) with eternal intents, that consider God's will for them and for others, before they proceed with any action. Not that any of us does this perfectly, but intentionally seeking to work out Ephesians 4:29 and Romans 12:1-3 (as well as many other Scriptures) in our lives, ought to be the greatest desire of every saint in Christ.

I close with a prayer from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. And I pray that your mind, heart, and soul is strengthened today to love God and others with God's eternal will, rather than with your temporal desires and perspective.

"I commend my heart to thy watchful care,

This exhorting article from R.C. Sproul took me back to a time nearly 30 years ago, when I was quite discontented with being single. I'd wanted to be married as long as I could remember. I was also discontented with my job, believing it wasn't using all my God-given computer skills and causing them to wane (because I didn't have to use a computer, I had secretaries for that). But that wasn't all; I was quite discontented with a number of things. It seemed everyone else around me was generally, happier than me because they had all they desired...and I felt owed, though I'd never admit that. I'd properly admit as a Christian, I know I'm only owed Hell. Yet, my discontented state proved my words of religiosity, to be false.

Then I came to the throne of grace, as did Asaph when he was miserably discontented as I,

"But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God...

"When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

[F]or me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." ~Psalm 73:16-17; 21-26; 28, ESV

After I read this entire Psalm, I repented, thanked my Father for His forgiveness, for my salvation, for His ever-present help, and for all I have in Christ; riches far greater than anything this world and life could offer. I resolved that day, to be content with, and to bring glory to my God in whatever circumstance He wisely and lovingly chooses for me; and He quieted my soul (Zeph 3:17).

Some of you reading this today are discontent because you're single. Some of you are discontent because you're married. Some of you are discontent because you're childless. Some of you are discontent because you have children. Some of you are discontent because you despise your job, and some of you are discontent because you wish you had a job.

This world and our flesh will happily and generously provide us with a myriad of reasons why we ought to be discontent. But God our Father gives us only one reason why we ought to be the most contented people—Jesus Christ His Son.

Whether we are single, married, have children or not, love our jobs or are waiting in limbo for one, we ought to be the most contented people in all the earth because we have been saved from the wrath to come. And in being saved, we also receive a holy adoption and are called the children of the Most High God. God is our Father. Christ is our Advocate, Savior, Redeemer, Propitiation; and the Holy Spirit is our Seal and Guarantor.

Knowing and embracing this truth doesn't mean we don't hurt. It doesn't mean we don't weep. It doesn't mean we slap on a happy face and pretend we have it all together when really, we're falling apart. What it means is that while we still have searing heartaches just as others do, unlike the rest of humanity, we have a Strong Tower to run into, and know we are safe; even in the midst of the torrential storms this life consistently brings.

When we trust our Savior rather than our circumstances, we are able to hold fast to His promises, and trust His wisdom, love, and sovereignty. And when we do this, we are able to be content in any and every circumstance, not because we find them pleasant, but because we find Christ always present.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

~2 Corinthians 4:16-18, ESV

Lessen Learned: If Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, condescended from his heavenly throne to interject Himself into His own creation as a man; thereby, making Himself nothing, to suffer the wrath of God and die for my sins, then who am I to consider myself greater than my Lord and my God?

Though God chose all Scripture to be penned by men, He did not decree that all of the wisdom therein, would come only from men. Proverbs 31:10-31 is an acrostic poem based on the Hebrew alphabet; an oracle a mother taught her son. A son, who was a king.

King Lemuel is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, except in the opening of this famous passage of a what a biblically submissive woman truly looks like—in spirit, and in the practical applications of her every day life. Most scholars believe King Lemuel is King Solomon (also called Jedidiah) since the names have similar meanings, and King Solomon wrote most of Proverbs. Lemuel means "devoted, or belonging to God" and Jedidiah (Solomon's other name) means "beloved of the LORD (2 Sam 12:25).

While it is uncertain who King Lemuel was, what is certain is that God chose for this wise counsel from a mother to her son, to be recorded—that men may know what a godly woman looks like, and women may know that her greatest "adorning...[is] the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." (1 Pet 3:4).

I read our sons God's Word, in the womb and out. I did this because I knew giving them the Word of God was the greatest way to love, protect, and provide them with everything they need for this life and the next. As soon as a hint of delight and intrigue sparkled in their eyes for the opposite sex, I began to read and teach them Proverbs 31:10-31, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Timothy 2:9-15, Titus 2:3-5, and the book of Ruth  (to demonstrate what all these Scriptures looked like in the life of a woman whose first and greatest love is Jesus Christ the Lord). I not only read and taught them the Scriptures of what a woman who loves and fears the Lord looks like, but I also imperfectly endeavored to live it before them.

Additionally, I prayed for our sons to be attracted to women who are most attached to the Lord, and to be repulsed by women who are most attached to this world and their sinful desires. I still pray this now. I've developed a habit of praying for their future wives—that God would protect them from the enemy's schemes, keep them pure, and bless them with wisdom from above. I pray that God gives our sons women whom He deems will be suitable help-meets for our boys, so that they may not be hindered, but rather, encouraged to be the men God commands them to be (Ps 1:1-3). I pray for our sons to find and become one with women of noble character, because they are not a dime a dozen, but are rare treasures—far more precious than any jewel found on this earth. And just as priceless jewels must be sought out with great patience, wisdom and diligence, likewise, I pray my sons will diligently seek to find women who fear the Lord and seek to adorn themselves with good works of faith—for the glory of God, for the welfare of her household, and for the good of the church and community in which she joyfully lives and serves.

I've always told my sons that Christ is my First Love, their Daddy is my Second, and they are both securely tied for Third. They didn't like being told this at first, but as they grew older, they learned the value of having a mother whose love and devotion for Christ is preeminent.

Just as a father must teach and demonstrate what kind of man they want their daughters to be attracted to, likewise, a mother must do the same for her sons.

The idiom, "dime a dozen" is reported to have originated from the 1800s when certain foods like eggs, fruits, etc. were sold for a dime a dozen. It soon became well-known that if you could purchase something for a dime a dozen, it was a very ordinary, common, and ubiquitous item. And therefore, this idiom is still used today with the same purpose and meaning: to describe something that is common and easy to find.

Physically attractive girls are a dime a dozen. Whether you turn on the TV, go to a movie, look at magazines, books, billboards, or walk about any public area, you will find attractive women galore. Women with beautiful eyes, beautiful hair, beautiful figures, etc. Women who are fashionable and avant-garde (unorthodox or daring; radical). These kinds of women are truly a dime a dozen. Though these women's lives are valuable in God's sight and ours, they are common and easy to find because they make themselves common and easy to find by exposing what ought not be exposed and delight in catching the eye of any man...single or married.

But the godly woman is not so easy to find because she doesn't expose herself. She's not wearing skin-tight clothing, detailing every curve of her body. She's not in stiletto heals or short skirts, dresses or shorts in order to bring attention to her legs. She's not wearing gobs of makeup and fake additions to accentuate features she doesn't have (long eyelashes, voluptuous lips, etc.). No, a godly woman who loves and fears the Lord will do all these things differently. She will wear makeup in moderation, she might wear mascara, but not falsies; she may wear blush, but not colors that scream "Hey, look at me! I'm blush!" A godly woman may wear jewelry, but she will not wear something that others will want to steal from her. And she will not wear jewelry that cost her so much, she has nothing to give to the poor and needy.

A godly woman dresses modestly, rather than drably (there is a difference). A woman who fears the Lord dresses outwardly to display what God has done, and is doing, inwardly. Having been saved by God's grace through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, women who love the Lord outwardly adorn themselves in a way that befits a princess of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Her outward beauty is simple, so that her greater beauty, the Spirit of Christ within her, can effortlessly shine (2 Cor 4:5-6)!

Because a woman who loves and fears the LORD knows the greatest treasure is within her (the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ), her greatest desire is for this treasure (not herself) to be made known for all the world to see—that all may fear and put their trust in the LORD (Ps 40:3)

So what has been and still is my counsel to my sons until the day the Lord brings them godly women to become one with? It is this: attractive girls are a dime a dozen, but a godly woman is a rare treasure. Like a rare jewel, a woman who loves and fears the Lord is difficult to find, but she is of more value than women who love and fear this world.

Therefore sons, with much prayer, great patience, wisdom, and diligence, seek for yourselves women whose lives (not mere words) radiate these Scriptures, "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain, She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life." (Prov 31:10-12), "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates." (Prov 31:30-31), "likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works." (1 Tim 2:9-10).

What are some practical attributes of a woman who adorns herself with good works? She is a humble and faithful student of the Word, a joyful servant of all, a sacrificial giver, she seeks to love others well rather than seeking to be well-loved by others, she's a good listener, a wise counselor (because her counsel will be from God's Word)—these are just a few visible traits of what a godly woman adorns herself with.

And finally sons, if you will not ready yourselves and take seriously what God calls men to be, then be assured, you are not ready to be married to a godly woman...or any woman for that matter. Therefore, pray that God will make you an Ephesians 5:25-33 and 1 Peter 3:7 man, so that He will bring you a Proverbs 31 woman, whose joy and delight will be to love you and your children well, because she loves the Lord Jesus most.

"House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD."

-Proverbs 19:14

We must pray for our President's repentance before he suffers severely from waving his fist at the LORD of hosts, the Lord Almighty who is, and who was, and who is to come (Rev 1:8).

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month." -President Barak Obama

On Tuesday, May 31, 2016 President Obama made a proclamation demonstrating his utter foolishness and wickedness. Ever since the President took office in 2009, he has been contending supremacy with God. And now, sadly, to increase his enmity with God, he openly and unashamedly blasphemes the name of our holy and awesome LORD. In this audacious act of megalomania, our President is attempting to rename and recreate what the LORD Almighty has said is good (a man is a man, a woman is a woman, both created in the image of God, Genesis 1:27).

Our President is suffering from severe self-deception, therefore, knows not what he is doing. He truly believes, along with the LGBT community and their supporters, that being a lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender is something new. It is not. Which is why, by His grace and extreme act of kindness and mercy, the LORD God lovingly admonishes His image-bearers to refrain from such heinous acts against His holy name.

King Nebuchadnezzar tried to contend supremacy with God and the LORD Almighty struck Nebuchadnezzar with madness so that he crawled on his hands and knees and ate grass like an animal. It wasn't until he humbled himself before the LORD and repented of his arrogance that he was restored (Dan 4:24-33). 

King Herod also tried to contend supremacy with God and the LORD Almighty caused him to be eaten by worms, and he died (Acts 12:21-23).

These are only two examples of numerous occasions recorded in Scripture of people who dared to contend supremacy with God, and the destruction they brought upon themselves. Our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. May He grant our President repentance that leads to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

And may our magnificent Father God grant all His children the strength, discernment and wisdom to lovingly and unashamedly proclaim His excellencies to all people. And may our gracious and merciful Father remind us that our sins are just as heinous before His sight. We are no better than anyone in the LGBT community or those who support them. We, like every human being God has created, have sinned grievously against our holy God and only by His grace have we been granted the gift of repentance that leads to saving faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 2:4, Eph 2:8-9).

Therefore, let us not boast in what we ourselves have done nothing to earn. But let us strive to share the Gospel with the lost, that they may also hear, believe, and be saved.

When I first heard the news about Target and their new Transgender bathroom and fitting room policy announced on Tuesday, April 19, 2016—I prayed. I prayed for the Lord to give me wisdom in conversations regarding this issue, and for the safety of innocent women and children who may be endangered by those who would abuse this policy to satisfy their sinful passions.

The crux of Target's policy is summed up in this quote, "Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity."

Before you get offended by my prayers, please understand, I absolutely do not think everyone who identifies themselves as transgender is more perverse than those who don't. I know for a fact that all people: gay, straight, transgender, Black, White, Asian, etc. are all inherently perverse (wayward, wicked, corrupt—sinful) before the sight of a holy God—and that includes me.

As God Almighty has revealed in His Word, only through repentance and faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ alone, can anyone do anything that is good and acceptable in the sight of the Righteous Judge of all—the Great I AM. 

Sexual Predators Posing As Transgender

Sadly, to inflame this already heated debate, there have been erroneous news reports from both Christian and non-Christian sites regarding sexual predators posing as transgender females in order to abuse innocent women and children. One of the faulty reports is about 33-year-old Jason Pomare, who fraudulently posed as a transgender female in order to use the women's bathroom at a Macy's store in Palmdale, California. Though the news reports of this incident are accurate, the reports about when and why it happened are not. This incident did not take place in April 2016, but actually took place in May of 2013. Therefore, though what Pomare did was atrocious (videotaping women in bathroom stalls), this incident did not occur due to any recent battles regarding laws or policies that make provisions for transgender people to use whichever restroom or dressing room they prefer.

But just because the date of the incident was incorrect doesn't mean we ought to foolishly discount the entire report...because it did happen. Sexual predators like Jason Pomare of California, and 37-year-old Christopher Hambrook of Toronto, are everywhere. And there are countless other sexually deviant men and women like them, who already have, and will continue to falsely pose as transgender men and women in order to prey on and abuse the innocent.

Again, I am not accusing all transgender men and women of this crime, I am rightly accusing anyone; truly transgender or falsely transgender, who will see policies like Target's as a gateway for their ruse to abuse.

Biblical Perspective on Transgender Restrooms and Dressing Rooms

As a Christian, I am not alarmed by this policy. We live in a fallen world, and my Lord Jesus already warned all who belong to Him, of the trials and tribulations we will suffer in this life (John 16:33). With His warnings, Jesus also plainly revealed how we, as dearly beloved children of the Most High God ought to respond.

Christians are commanded by God to faithfully, lovingly and boldly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order that some may be saved. We are commanded to protect the innocent and wish no ill on anyone, but to speak up and fight for the protection of the innocent. We are not, however, called to fight social battles that neither endangers nor threatens the welfare of others (e.g., boycotting Starbucks and other companies who choose to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas"). However, this issue of allowing transgender people to use whichever restroom or dressing room they prefer does jeopardize the safety of innocent women and children by exposing them to falsified transgender men and women. And this is why we must speak up and take action.

Therefore, every Christian ought to boycott Target because Target is foolishly entrapping innocent people by exposing them to the wave of sexual predators who have, and will continue to abuse policies like these.

Reasonable Solution

If Target or other companies want to include transgender people, then they ought to assign bathrooms and dressing rooms that are unisex. That way, those who feel comfortable using the same restroom or dressing room with a transgender male or female, will be able to do so, without forcing those who are uncomfortable with this arrangement to comply.

PARENTS BE ADVISED: the video below is not appropriate for young children.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."

-1 Peter 4:12-16, ESV

Yesterday, I saw something on Twitter that grieved my heart: a list of the top 25 bestselling "Christian" books for March 2016. It's too painful to share all 25, so I'm only sharing the screenshot of the top 10 because the rest of the list is just more of the same.