"The Bible: Kindling for Christian Hedonism", Desiring God, by John Piper

Every day with Jesus is not sweeter than the day before. The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. David wrote "he restores my soul" ps 23, ps 19:7, normal christian life is a process of restoration and renewal. our joy is not static it fluctatues with real life and is vulnerable to satan's attacks. but should it be?

2 cor 1:24 we are workers with you for your joy. preservation of joy in human heart takes work. there's a fight to be fought. devil prowls seeking someone to devour. he feeds on joy of faith. that's all he eats. he'll give you anything else if he can give you the joy of your faith. God has given us a shield of faith, a sword of word, a power of prayer. Satan wants to blow out the fire of your joy. there's an endless store of kindling in the word of God.

cry out for eyes to see ears to hear.

the word of the lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

wear the sword of the spirit. spend enough time in the word that you can keep it at your side to wield it when the time is at hand for the preservation of your joy against the evil one.

1. we need to see why we believe the bible is the word of God.

cannot be happy if consistently ignore word of god. if we measure belief by actions.

word of God is Jesus Christ. don't have to believe Bible is infallible to know bible presents person whose qualitites are incomprable and needs to be reckoned with.

impossible to see him as deceiver, skitso, but as a serious historical person, he is God in the flesh. he speaks with authority, he penetrates hearsts of enemies, he forvies sins, he heals sick, he casts out demons, he dies for sinners, he loves his enemies, he dies and leaves an empty tomb because he is the son of the living God. he has won my trust.

he is either conartist, fool, or true. you have to reckon with him.

What should i think of the OT and NT. Jesus says came to fulfill law of profits, therefore approves of OT. Read the OT as the word of God because that's the way he read it. Jesus gagthered 12 apostles to found church. HS will teach you all things and bring to your rememberance all I ahve said. Paul was converted from murderer to maker of Christians. Paul = comissed to preach in words taught by the spirit not by human wisdom. Paul claims taht what was predicted to happen is being fulfilled by the spirit. Peter ranks Pauls' writing with OT. special revelation assured. books have the ring of truth: holy god, guilty man, dying jesus - it makes sense given the state of the world. Proved in its power to convert sinners and edify saints.

what a treasure chest we have in this book.

2. we need bibilical exampls of how bible becomes so important for preserving our joy (if you read and trust the Bible) and 3. practical challenege to bind that word around us to wield our sword.

deut 42:36, it's a life and death matter of how we handle the bible, physical life is sustained by the word of God heb 1, spiritual life has beginning with the word james 1, peter 1, you wouldn't exist as a christian unless the word had penetrated your heart and made it acceptance to the grace of god. the bible is your life. ongoingness of this life is maintaned by the word, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the wrod of god. the word begets faith john 20, rom 10 faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of christ. heb 11 faith is...where does hope come from? people commit suicide because they are hopeless. rom 15:4 the whole new testament was written for hope which is why it should be delicious to you every morning.

ps 119:45 seeking of preceptsof lord is pathway to freedom. you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. word of god is pathway to freedom from corruption and destruction that is in the world.

cultivate wisdom. how do you get it? people whose minds are submissive to thoughts of god and whose life is full of the word. will pass widsom of all secular philosophers.

we need comfort. where are you going to get it? thy promise gives me life. discomfort is when you lose assurance. satan does battle with you to lose your faith. go to the bible, 1 john. satan's objective: to eat your joy of faith. sword of spirit of word of god. you can't wield it unless you wear it. unless my words abide in you, when you ask, there will be a void. is your mind full of worldiness? is the world coming at you with a tank? i write to you because you are strong the word of god abides in you and you have conquered the evil one. you have no weapon unless you have the word of god. it is yur only hope in the time of trial and testing.

Bible is the source of comfort, wisdom, life, faith, hope, freedom, guidance, assurance, and victory over our greatest enemy.

I will delight in your statutes.

build your kindling of joy with the word of god.

Jesus says: these thigns i have spoken to you that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life." 2 Peter 1:3

"and the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness." James

Man think about that. GOD yes GOD has GIVEN us EVERYTHING absolutely EVERYTHING we NEED for living a GODLY life. Living a godly life is what we desire to do, but we can't do it ourselves, we're human and we're pathetic and weak and have no clue what we're doing. BUT God who has not only saved us and provided a way for us to be righteous and clean in His sight, has also provided us with everything we need to live a life that pleases Him. How awesome is that?! God has done so much more than just save us, taken away our sin, and given us righteousness. We get the Holy Spirit too, to help us live our life each day since we're weak humans.

God has so much love for us and I will never completely understand it.

Happy God sent His son to earth as many years ago so that our relationship with God can be restored since we messed it up however many thousands of years ago.

Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let your endurance grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that god has promised to those who love him.

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Get rid of all filth and evil in your lives and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Fathe rmeans caring for orphans and widows

and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

-James

God tests people, but he does not tempt them by trying to seduce them to sin. God allows Satan to tempt people, however, in order to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence on Christ. We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey his word.

Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with you in rough times. Ask him to help you solve your problems or to give you strength to endure them. Then be patient, God will not leave you alone with your problems; he will stay close and help you grow.

Man what promises we have from God. We need to remember his promises more often.

We must ahve confidence that God will align our desires with his purposes.

I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring no matter if I rise or fall I will never be alone. Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing you Lord.

I needed a good dose of James. Living with my family and knowing the challenges that await me in Edinburgh are at the moment two of the big ones I'm facing and I really don't want to be discouraged or down I want to be joyful and encouraged by these verses.

I pray that my family would see the change in my life and see Jesus' light shining in me.

oh God is so good! I am so blessed and so loved. Man, God loves me a lot! (He loves you a lot too.)

I am a mess. but I'm saved so it's ok.

it's ok to be a mess and to not know much of what's going on in your life is what i'm learning. we as humans want to have all the answers and to know things because we don't like uncertainty, but we don't get all the answers and the challenge comes when you don't have the answers and you have to trust God with your life and your heart and everything you're put on the line. but remember who you're trusting GOD. yes GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD the creator of the universe. yes the UNIVERSE. He is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS faithful to us and makes everything work for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose Rom 8:28

Lately I've felt I was further from God ahving come to Texas, I haven't felt Him around as much in my life and I feel there wasn't as much chance for him to randomly work in my day since i am not doing as much as I do when I'm in Edinburgh, but as always, He has since proved otherwise. I know God holds me together more than I can ever imagine, but I'm silly and not satisfied just knowing, there are times I want to feel him close to me and for him to tell me he's holding me. He told me today - just spend a couple of hours with the Simpsons and man I needed jsut a few hours with Christians, especially two who care and love me so much, not far off as if I were their daughter. That is love. they are truly amazing. Lord thank you so much for them please bless them.

I'm off to bed now. I need it. Sleep is good and peaceful and I'm thankful for that.

hmm...been a while.  been too busy to write in here and not had a large amount of internet access when not working in the office.

busy day. missed French assignment already. teacher probably thinks i'm useless as I missed the first class last week. oh well. it's just an assignment and not the end of the world

please pray for me and that God would guide me with this issue of the magazine as I have the opportunity to put something in about the Pure controversy on campus. Pray for Andy Hall the president of the Christian Union and the Christian Union in general. Please pray that God's will be done. We're in need of guidance. Could be a wonderful opportunity here. Prayers appreciated. God knows what He's doing. He's God. He created the universe.

Thank you !

Jennifer