Reflections of Glory

Real Life Faith: Here's another post where theology meets daily living...
 

I've given my life to the only one
Who makes the moon reflect the sun
Every starry night
That was his design

 -Chris August, Starry Night, 2010






February 9th Dr. Albert Mohler spoke at our church. (He's kinda a BIG deal.) He said many profound things (He ALWAYS does), but there was one thing he said that has been on my mind for the last few months. It wasn't even a main point, more of a side note. (Listen to the entire sermon to hear all the incredible wisdom: Scripture is Sufficient by Dr. Albert Mohler, 2/9/2014 High Pointe Baptist Church, Austin, TX)
Ok, here's his mind-blowing comment for me: "We have no innate ability to glorify God...We were made to glorify...but as it turns out, we are unable to originate glory, we actually just reflect it."

Did you catch that? We don't create glory. Our good deeds, kind thoughts, best efforts don't do anything inherently new - which is a huge relief as well as the answer to many questions for me.
If all our deeds are tainted with sin, how can obeying God please him?
If my salvation is based on faith alone, what's the big deal about works?

The Chris August song quoted above was playing on the radio one day as I was thinking about this revelation on God's glory - and it was the perfect illustration to what I was striving to understand. We are just like the moon. The moon doesn't create light/we don't create glory. The moon simply reflects the light of the sun to light the sky at night/we reflect the glory of God into the dark world to spread the light of the gospel, that is Jesus Christ. The sun is the source of light for the moon/God is the source of light/glory for us.

So all my good works and obedience are only a reflection of God's mercy and goodness toward me in His son, Jesus Christ so that His name will be praised through all the earth.

Book Review: Surprised by Motherhood

Honestly, I was surprised by this book (yes, pun intended). I've written a few times for Lisa-Jo's "Five-Minute Friday" blogger community full of wonderful, talented, creative women. Many of them are very poetic and have an amazing way with words. However, sometimes it seems the message they are telling gets lost in the beauty of telling it. I really thought that would happen with this book. But, like I said, I was surprised. Lisa-Jo did a wonderful job of telling her story in an adjective saturated way without losing me as an interested reader. I found myself enjoying the re-telling of very personal experiences and perspectives on becoming and being a mother.

*Special thanks to Tyndale House Publishers through Netgalley.com for providing this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Worth the Wait

It's been a long time since I've stayed up all night reading a book, but I just couldn't put this one down. Laura Jackson wrote an excellent novel in Worth the Wait.

Ellie thinks she has the perfect life until it all comes crashing down. She had defined her life by her boyfriend and his goals. But when he breaks up with her, she has to discover who she really is.

I loved how this book shows the struggle with temptation, real hurt, confusion, and then real hope. Jackson handles several difficult subjects for teens in the light of finding true identity in Christ.