Remember the unborn on Mother's Day

I was reminded this morning that a group of Christians from Louisville's crisis pregnancy center would be gathering this morning in front of Louisville's abortion clinic to pray. Not to picket, not to heckle, simply to pray. To pray that God would protect women from aborting their babies so close to Mother's Day and having to live with that knowledge every Mother's Day after.

Pray for women today who are contemplating abortions. Pray for women who have already had abortions. Pray for our government that they would work to protect women and unborn babies from the horrific realities of abortion. Support the crisis pregnancy clinic in your town so that women facing an unplanned pregnancy would not abort their babies out of fear or lack of resources.

I encourage you to visit the ACLJ's website and sign their petition to stop the "Right to Choose" act proposed in Congress. Our rights must be limited when their exercise detroys the life of another.

Other links:
Forced abortions in China
Piper on abortion as racism

Photo #1: Katie McCulloch in utero, 9 weeks

Photo #2: Katie McCulloch in utero, 20 weeks

Photo link test

If you click on this link does it get you to my photos on yahoo? All of them or just one album? Let me know.

McCulloch photos on Yahoo

A plug for Piper

Piper hit Davidson my sophomore year. I had been introduced to him the summer before when Desiring God was the assigned reading for the youth internship at Third Pres (thanks, Danny!). That December Piper spoke at CO's Christmas Conference and rocked our worlds. For all of my college friends (and anyone else), if it's been awhile since you've read or heard John Piper, I recommend you do so soon for the encouragement of your soul.

His website was recently revamped and now possesses a blog, online copies of most of his books, as well as mp3s of all the sermons and messages he has ever preached. And all this for FREE!

So my encouragement for today: go to Desiring God's website, listen to a Piper sermon, and be refreshed. Well...refreshed and challenged to sell all your stuff and move to Saudi Arabia.

A few recommendations:
Doing Missions When Dying is Gain
Boasting Only in the Cross
How to Kill Sin

My new favorite book

When I was growing up, I remember seeing a book called Stepping Heavenward lying around the house. Even though I was a Christian, I remember thinking disparaging thoughts about the book. Perhaps I thought the cover was cheesy or that it could not be nearly as spiritually significant as Mere Christianity or The Great Divorce (I was a huge C.S. Lewis fan in high school). Little did I know how wrong I was about this little book.

Thankfully, God in His mercy allowed this book to re-surface in my life. It all started when the ladies at the GirlTalk blog chose the biography of Elizabeth Prentiss as their second book club title. Elizabeth Prentiss was a 19th century pastor's wife who penned the hymn "More Love to Thee" as well as several books, her most famous being Stepping Heavenward. I devoured her biography and began to realize how hugely mistaken I had been about this book with the uninspiring cover.

When I visited Richmond in April, I was thrilled to see that this little book was still "lying around the house." I began reading my mom's copy and asked her if I could take it back to Louisville with me. She said no, but then handed me my very own copy from a secret stash of Stepping Heavenwards in her closet!

Well, I am pages away from finishing (which is heart-breaking), but as soon as I finish will start it over again. I can say that Stepping Heavenward is now my new favorite book. I am sort of thankful that I didn't ever read the book before I could fully appreciate the particular temptations that come with being a wife and mother. Yet at the same time, I wonder how my experience as a new wife and mother would have been different had I already been exposed to the precious truths this book teaches.

So...whether you are already a wife and mother or are not even close to this season of life, please buy this book and read it carefully. I even recommend this book to any men out there. This book will give you tremendous insight into what life is like as a Christian woman and would help you know how to encourage the women in your life.

A word of advice: buy the book, don't just borrow it. That way you can underline and make notes and take this book with you through every season of life. I understand now why my mom didn't want to loan me her well-marked copy! Oh, and if anyone out there has read the book and loved it, feel free to say so and leave a comment! Encourage others to share in the blessing!

PS-Even though I no longer find the cover to be a hindrance, I was happy to see that there's a new edition out with different cover art.

PPS-To motivate the men to read this book, check out my husband's post about its author.

"A deep breath of the righteousness of Christ"

I meant to point you all to this great post by my husband, back when my blogging had almost flat-lined. Adam quotes a letter from Martin Luther, and the truths it contains are precious.

For my non-Christian readers, please go to my husband's blog and read Luther's letter. It contains such a clear presentation of what God calls us all to believe. "You will find peace in Christ only through a confident despair in yourself and your works. Then, in addition, learn from Christ himself how in accepting you he has made your sins his and also made his righteousness to be yours."

And to my Christian readers, have you taken "a deep breath of the righteousness of Christ" lately?" If not (or if so!), please go read Luther's letter and breathe deeply.

17 months and two words together!

Yesterday was Katie's 17 month birthday. Wow. She decided to celebrate it by putting two words together for the first time! Don't believe it? Watch this:


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Encouragement from the Psalms

For whatever reason, the past week or so has been very difficult, spiritually. In the midst of discouragement, however, the Lord encouraged me this morning through Psalm 102:12a.

"But You, O Lord, sit enthroned forever..."

But- One of the most important words in the Bible. I love this word because it does not invalidate whatever was stated before it yet it also says, "That's not the whole story." In this psalm, this psalmist has just finished describing his miserable state: his days vanish like smoke, his bones burn within him, he can't eat, he can't sleep, his heart is withered, he cries all the time, he is cursed by his enemies, and he feels that God has thrown him down in anger. It is out of such a state that the psalmist now says the awesome word, "But."

You- I love that the words "but" and "you" occur so often together in Scripture, with the "you" referring to God. "I am ____ but You are ___." I think this is a good pattern to model our thoughts after. I also love that the Psalmist is not simply saying this to himself, but is actually talking to God. He's not saying, "I am ___ but He is ___." No, he's telling God, "I am ___, but YOU are ____." It is a prayer.

LORD- Not just any god, but YHWH. He uses the personal name of God. This is not just any God--this is the God of Israel. Just think of all the images and characteristics attached to this name throughout Scripture: the God who delivers, the God who makes promises, the Holy God, the Jealous God, the Kind and Merciful God, righteous, just, loving, faithful, patient, powerful, majestic, gracious, compassionate. "But You, YHWH..."

The anticipation builds! To what specific truth about YHWH is the psalmist about to appeal?

"...sit enthroned forever."

Sit- an image of establishment, rest, completion, security, confidence. This God is not pacing the floor in anxiety or fear. He is unrivaled and totally secure.

Enthroned- He is King, He rules over all. He is majestic, deserving all respect, honor, and fear. He is in total control of his domain.

Forever- And his rule is not ending soon. In fact, it's never going to end. He is not concerned about being overthrown at some future point. His throne is eternal, unchanging, not moving. I am ____ but You, YHWH, sit enthroned forever. God, I am falling apart, but You are not. You are in control. I am weak, but You define strength.

The Psalmist is deliberately contrasting his frail state with the immovable state of God. He turns from focusing on himself and his circumstances to focusing on God. He turns from seeking hope in himself to basing his hope on the character of God.

Yes, a simple, basic, obvious principle of Christian living...but one that was revealed afresh to me this morning in an hour of great need. Oh, that I might remember this as the day goes on!