Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
Better Than Reality TV
Today, still home sick, I watched some more reality TV, but then switched to some lectures and sermons by Jim Wilson. As with his book How to Be Free from Bitterness, which was transcribed from his lectures, I get to a certain point and hit a wall in my understanding of what Pastor Wilson the More Venerable has to say -- right about when it comes time to apply it. But I'm pretty sure the problem is with my heart, not with his teaching. I wish I had someone to listen along with me and walk me through (or beat me on the head through) learning the basic, practical Christian living stuff he teaches.
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 8:36 PM
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4 comments
4 Comments:
On June 30, 2008 11:21 PMEleanorwrote... Valerie, I've learned that there are some things we are simply not ready to hear yet, and no matter how you concentrate, take notes, or write it over in your own words, the message will not make it to your heart until God wishes it.. This is especially true with the Puritans in my experience. But when it IS time....baby, a 2x4 could not deliver the message more clearly. My strategy has been to buy the books I think I'm going to need someday, and wait for God to indicate that it is time to read them. Jeremy Burroughs on Contentment....the right message at the right time became the most important book I'd read in a decade (after the Bible of course). I'm still waiting for Him to tell me to proceed with Charity and Its Fruits. I tried that one and it was like walking into a rock wall. Be more patient and wait for the Lord's leading on when you need to hear something in particular...
On July 3, 2008 5:39 PMpentamomwrote... What Eleanor said, plus maybe a dash of Jeff Meyers' idea of not wanting to publish his sermons because his preaching is meant for his own flock, and to preach with a wider audience in mind might lead him to preach in a way that is less helpful to those to whom he has been specially called. I'm not saying we can't all benefit from published preaching of various types from time to time, but maybe Pr. Wilson's message was meant (by the Holy Spirit) for its immediate hearers in a way that it's not meant for you at this time. OTOH, the flip side of that is that when those who preach before our own congregations are speaking (or wherever the Lord leads us to visit, etc.), we had REALLY better listen up.
On July 3, 2008 5:44 PMValerie (Kyriosity)wrote... Those are very cogent and helpful thoughts. Alas, I have been listening to messages on abecedarian obedience. Surely I ought to have learned this stuff long ago or at least be able to grasp it now!
On July 3, 2008 6:43 PMpentamomwrote... I'm not sure the "simplicity" of the content -- or might I even be more pointed and say "your perception" of the simplicity -- matters. What matters is that God is perfectly capable of (and desirous of) making you understand the particular things you need to grasp *at this particular moment,* if you are truly seeking to do so, so if you're not getting it, it must not be the thing you need to get at this moment. Neither you nor I are the basket case God can't handle, much as either of us are frequently tempted to think we're that special. ;-)
