by jot and tittle

Before bed, I am reading the Life and Diary of Andrew Bonar. If there was one saint from old that I could sit down with over a cup of tea, it would probably be this father in the faith. He was a Puritan, but he wasn't what you think of when you think of a stereotypical puritan. Andrew Bonar was kind, good with names, and beloved by children. When he went into the town to visit the people it was not uncommon to see children take his hand and walk with him. He was best friends with Robert Murray M'Cheyne, he wrote and edited several biographies and Bible commentaries, he longed for the revival of the Jews, he buried a young son as well as his own wife. He knew his weakness and he prayed. But most of all, he really loved the Lord Jesus.  In reading his diary, I came across this section: Often I have wondered that I did not feel the temptations of Satan more frequently and plainly. But now I discover his plan. For a long time, indeed for years, I can see that he has contrived very ...

Over Easter weekend I had the opportunity to visit my grandparents. We caught up over soup and egg salad sandwiches and then migrated to the living room with cups of tea. Gradually the conversation turned to a couple young siblings from their church whom they've observed seldom fight. Sometimes these kids do get angry or annoyed with each other and then they fight, but that is not their normal relationship. My grandfather made this observation, "isn't that just like sin? You are living your life of obedience and then all of a sudden its like sin gets the better of you." It was a comforting statement coming from my elderly grandfather who has been walking with the Lord for over 80 years. Even as a seasoned saint, sin still creeps up on him. But it has also made me think quite a bit. Sometimes I am tempted to think that if I do everything right (regular devotions, get enough sleep, listen to good music, eat well, have Christian fellowship, exercise) then I won't fal...

Crossing the street from the pool entrance to my parked car, I looked into the park. In the dusk and after-rain light the grass looked greener and the air smelled of dirt and worms and growing things. In this moment the question suddenly came to me: do you like your life? Perhaps my post-exercise mind was just more awake and present than it had been in a while, but the thought came as it was, walking into my mind with a comfortable smile and taking a seat to stay for a while.  Do you like your life? My life is a mix of my decisions and my response to circumstances outside of my control, and it is not what child and teenager me ever planned or dreamed of. I'm guessing that it is easier for each of us to think about things that we dislike in our lives than the things we like, but this morning during prayer I was reminded that God is good and He is good to me, including the parts of my life that I'm not a fan of.  When I start with the goodness of God, it is harder to concentrate...