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Rebecca, of Rebecca Writes, just started posting the Westminster's Larger Catechism. If you pop over there now, you can follow along from the beginning. (Trying to catch up isn't fun!) Question and Answer 1 is here, 2 is here.

Reading through one 'Q and A a day' is a great way to renew one's mind with scripture and the historic doctrines of the Christian faith at the same time. If it's been a while or if you've never read them before, go take a look.

Thankful for Katy

This morning I am thankful for Katy.

Katy loves dogs. Being disabled, it takes a great deal of concentration and effort for her to coordinate her movements. But Katy is a determined young lady and last night she was determined to pet our dogs.

We had had the dogs crated while we were eating dinner, but with that extra special doggy sense of when the meal was winding down and scraps might be forthcoming, Eve began to whine and ask to get out. I wish you could have seen Katy's delight when Eve came skidding into the dining room, wagging and sniffing; so happy to see visitors.

Katy worked and worked until she could reach out and get her hands on Eve to pet her. She wanted to share her food with Eve, so she clutched a tiny piece in her hand and offered it to Eve. Grasping is easier than releasing for Katy, but Eve was so gentle and patient and between the two of them, they worked together until Eve got the treat.

After seeing how much Katy was enjoying Eve, we decided to let Ivy come to the party. Now, mind you, Ivy is not like Eve (yet). Vizslas have a long puppyhood and at 2 1/2, Ivy is still very much a puppy. Lively is a nice word--wild might be closer to the truth at times. She runs and wiggles and leaps through the house like a red blurrrrr. Ivy came busting into the room like a red whirling dervish and within seconds had greeted everyone and kissed Katy on the cheek. Katy loved it! I think it was hard for her to focus on Ivy with her swift movements, but that only added to her wonder and joy.

I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed watching Katy with the dogs. Her enjoyment of them was not hampered in the least by the effort required for her to interact with them.

I am so thankful for Katy; for her happiness and excitement. For her determination and her sense of accomplishment. For reminding me that disabled does not mean unabled. There is nothing "unabled" about Katy.

God's Minute

November 9

Be not afraid, only believe--Mark 5:36

OUR Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the child's right of approach and of expectancy. Humbly pleading Thy promises, relying alone upon the merits of Thy Son, we pray; in our sorrow, send the Comforter.

In our helplessness, supply efficiency for service. In our ignorance and loneliness, show us the way wherein Thou wilt walk with us.

Dwell Thou within us, that we sin no more against Thee, that Thy will be our pleasure, Thy cause our masked passion. Give us the courage of faith, the consolation of conscious forgiveness, and the blessed assurance that underneath are the everlasting arms. Make us to cleave to that which is good, and abhor that which is evil.

Above all, O Thou Giver and supreme Lover of life, we pray for ourselves not only, but for all men and women, and particularly for all children, that Thou wilt give everlasting life--saving spiritual life, vigorous physical life, pure social life, beneficient mental life--all the life there is that is worth having, for we ask it in His name Who lovingly confided to us, "I am come that ye might have life, and that ye might have it abundantly."

Amen.

Ira Landrith, D.D., LL.D.,
Boston, Massachusetts

Complimentary Contemplations

Today two of my favorite bloggers are contemplating the same thing: the cross of Christ.

Laura from Words Behind Me's post is titled "Assurance of Salvation"

I felt a little of this on Sunday as I contemplated the God of the universe made flesh and bleeding on the cross, the Creator of the ends of the earth pierced for my transgressions, mocked and scorned by rebellious creatures whom He had every right to crush beneath His heel. Lord, I thought, how can I approach you, I who am but dust and ashes? How can the mortal dare to worship the Immortal? And the answer that came to me was that I can come because He bled for me, and that our whole race was ennobled by His incarnation. We are dust and ashes–but He deigned to wed Himself to flesh, to become one of us, and for me to despise myself for my humanity is to scorn the Incarnate God.

Kim from the Upward call has a post titled "Crucified, too."

The reality is that I have been crucified with Christ. I did “die” to my old nature when I accepted Christ. Now, I must live in light of that; my life needs to reflect that. The Holy Spirit is here to help me, but there is no guarantee that I will listen to that voice. I’d like to say that I do all the time, but the reality is that I often don’t. And that doesn’t mean that I need to be crucified again. It simply means that I need to live in light of something that already happened.

Different takes, different meditations--both food for thought. I'll be chewing on these all day.