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.
Growing
I finally got around to looking up the context of one of my favorite Luther quotes:
This life, therefore, is not righteousness but growth in righteousness, not health but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise; we are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it; the process is not yet finished, but it is going on; this is not the end, but it is the road; all does not yet gleam with glory, but all is being purified.
I've treasured that one for about two decades, and have just now bothered to ask what the "therefore" is there for.
Luther doesn't mention it, but I often connect that quote in my mind with 2 Peter 1:3-8 (one of my favorite passages, here in NIV):
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It's the "in increasing measure" of the NIV that I like and have clung to lo these many years. God's not demanding that I arrive, just that I keep moving.
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 7:30 PM
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2 comments
On September 22, 2009 11:16 AMLarry Whitewrote... Thanks, Valerie. This and your list of quotes on domesticity and diligence (sorely needed by me) are arriving just ahead of my Lutheran pastor making his first pastoral visit to my particular broken-down house today.
