tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:24:31 +0000InfertilityRecycled PostsDiscernmentMarriageFriendshipSpiritual FruitLiving as the Body of Christ; Book ReviewsTrinitysubmissionBiblical WomanhoodLiving as the Body of ChristBook ReviewsJoychurch plantingBook of JamescalvinismResourcesMy StoryThe GospelfamilysinglehoodA Hope DeferredSinprayercontestWorshipchildrenLavish LoveThis Momentary Marriage: A Parable of PermanencemusicDate Night IdeasSpiritual DisciplinesScripturesanctificationtimeJoy; Book ReviewsPractical Theology for WomenMarriage. Love that LastseldersThe Marriage BuilderwisdomSufferingspeechConflictRecipeJesus' Heart for His BrideFighting the Fight of FaithfearCharacter of GodThe transparent twisty turny journey of a Christian, 30-something, wife, daughter, sister, friend learning what it means to abide in Christ.http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Bina)Blogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-6294646862725834611Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:22:00 +00002012-01-20T19:24:31.449-08:00eldersIn my devotions this week, I read 1 Timothy.  Reading the 1 Timothy 3 qualifications for a pastor (also called “elder” or “overseer”) was a good reminder, as my husband is a pastor.  This time while reading these qualifications/disqualifications, I was struck by the fact that a lot what makes a man qualified or disqualified to lead the flock of God are the quiet aspects of his character, and not http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2012/01/pray-for-our-pastors.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-6586151723043372497Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:13:00 +00002011-11-16T17:20:19.611-08:00The GospelLiving as the Body of ChristI’m an activist at heart.  I feel my blood boil when I think of the powerful exploiting the weak, the many taking advantage of the few, or the privileged oppressing the less privileged.   This does not always result in godliness in me.  It can lead me to speaking too quickly (selfishly wanting to "unload" and not lovingly and prayerfully discerning timing--which is important even when speaking http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/11/activism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-8907813891516805380Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:08:00 +00002011-10-31T14:08:29.104-07:00Lavish LoveHere are some notes from Kristian’s sermon last Sunday.  It will be available online soon here: http://www.gracepugetsound.com/sermons/ This was the text:  1 John 2:7-11 ESV  “Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/10/gospel-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-2228160160533516684Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:50:00 +00002011-10-30T22:50:34.576-07:00DiscernmentI had a conversation with a friend this week that made me think of this post I wrote back in 2008. It was a reminder to me that we have to be prayerfully discerning when considering the advice and feedback of others, particularly when it comes to something as weighty as a calling that God has given us and confirmed to us through other believers. Please do not read this as an endorsement of simplyhttp://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/10/receiving-counsel-carefully.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-2963517259685174991Wed, 26 Oct 2011 06:32:00 +00002011-10-25T23:32:25.405-07:00JoyI just got back from an awesome women's Bible study.  I'll probably post more about it later when I am not so tired.  But I did want to record my gratitude and awe at how kind God is.  Yesterday I read Psalm 1 and was reminded how much being in the Word is like having my thirst quenched.  Without God's Word, I feel aimless and dry.  Psalm 1 describes being in God's Word as being like a tree http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/10/he-is-faithful.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-8686057186046518790Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:01:00 +00002011-10-12T08:01:46.142-07:00SufferingFound the dose of encouragement below from the Girl Talk blog: http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/still-rejoicing Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3 To "count it all joy" doesn't mean we will always feel happy in the midst of trials; but regardless of how we feel, it is a command http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/10/rejoicing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-1118618665923422711Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:24:00 +00002011-10-05T15:17:04.546-07:00church plantingLiving as the Body of ChristKristian and I have been blessed to be on a trip of a lifetime in Italy.  Even as I type this, stunning scenes of Italian countryside flash by us on the train that we are riding to Northern Italy. One of our favorite places so far has been Rome.  I have been to Rome before, but this was Kristian’s first time.  I had as much fun watching him experience it all for the first time, as I did http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/09/church-building.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-3819125374466099773Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:52:00 +00002011-08-21T19:52:48.698-07:00JoyA Sermon http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/1027.htm(No. 1027) Delivered on Lord's Day Morning, December 31st, 1871, by C. H. SPURGEON, At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The joy of the Lord is your strength."—Nehemiah 8:10. "And the singers sang aloud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. Also that day they http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/08/joy-of-lord-is-my-strength-spurgeon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-5389382701946092617Sat, 20 Aug 2011 04:49:00 +00002011-08-20T08:52:23.761-07:00My StorySufferingJoyI woke up yesterday morning with an overwhelming sense of deep joy and gratitude.  On the car ride to work, I felt the Spirit telling me that God loves me and that I am not alone and that I need to hold on.  This is significant because I have been going through maybe the darkest time of my life emotionally--feeling like God is distant and feeling very alone, discouraged, and disillusioned.  I http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/08/thirty-five.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-2201334200573882438Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:28:00 +00002011-08-15T00:09:32.084-07:00FriendshipJohn 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 18:24 “24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 27: 5-6: “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friendhttp://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/08/few-thoughts-on-biblical-friendship.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-8693152312592188153Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:58:00 +00002011-08-01T21:27:36.468-07:00Living as the Body of ChristAlong with the rest of the world, I was horrified to hear of the bombing in Oslo and the subsequent shooting spree at a youth camp nearby.   These massacres hit a little closer to home for us, since my husband is from Norway.  Thankfully, all of our family members are all right, but our hearts ache for Norway and especially for the loved ones of those who lost their lives and for the traumatized http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-name-of-jesus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-1622547849217200932Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:32:00 +00002011-07-30T11:33:51.849-07:00Living as the Body of ChristSpiritual FruitI read this and found it so helpful.  I hope you do too!!  http://oubsu.org/pdf/9%20Things%20That%20Grieve%20The%20Holy%20Spirit.pdf "9 Things That Grieve The Holy Spirit: We can block the Holy Spirit's work without realizing it." by Lorraine Pintus Discipleship Journal Issue #91 January/February 1996 "I have no interest in changing my long distance service." The irritation in my voice washttp://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/07/grieiving-spirit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-7850248967337865475Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:49:00 +00002011-07-29T10:49:28.808-07:00SufferingI loved this from Joshua Harris.  Praying and grieving IN HOPE for all of us in the Body of Christ experiencing brokeness.  Our hope is sure because our hope is in Christ who is faithful and He promises to redeem His bride.  Romans 5:5 "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." http://http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/07/good-words-from-joshua-harris.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-5784577560896798587Fri, 15 Jul 2011 05:58:00 +00002011-07-15T08:40:24.757-07:00FriendshipConflictI literally could not fall asleep because I was thinking... mourning is a better word.  I was thinking about some losses in life over the past few years and experiencing the heartbreak of it all.  Yes, there has been some healing.  Yes, there have been some strides.  Yes, there has been some growth.  Yes, there has been some repentance.  And yet there is still pain.  There is still unresolved.  http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitterness-and-mourning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-4656349560031125006Fri, 15 Jul 2011 05:12:00 +00002011-07-14T22:16:32.692-07:00Friendshipwww.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/gods-wisdom-your-relationships God's Wisdom, Your Relationships June 1, 2011 by: Paul Tripp God’s Word really does open up to us the mysteries of the universe. It really does make us wiser than we could ever be without it. And yet, having said all this, it's sad that we don’t take more advantage of this wisdom God has given us. It's sad that we don’t think http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-post-from-paul-tripp-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-7828270434274373615Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:53:00 +00002011-07-14T10:53:18.344-07:00Friendship http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/07/05/the-gift-of-friendship-and-the-godliness-of-good-friends-part-1/ The Gift of Friendship and the Godliness of Good Friends (Part 1) We talk a lot about relationships in the church. There are scores of marriage seminars, retreats, and conferences. There are video series and books for newlyweds and engaged couples. Most every http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-blog-post-on-friendship-by-kevin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-6362170316444693375Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:20:00 +00002011-06-27T09:20:36.028-07:00Kristian preached on this section of Scripture on Sunday: 1 John 1:5-10 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the bloodhttp://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/06/kristian-preaching-on-1-john-15-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-3835966381983548175Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:20:00 +00002011-06-26T22:20:49.835-07:00It has been a while since I have blogged.  I've been busy.  I've been lazy.  I've been wandering a little--losing a little bit of focus about what I desire my life to be about.  I've been distracted by the good and the bad and by the encouraging and discouraging. I have decided to start a new writing project.  I will still be blogging here at http://www.abranchinthevine,blogspot.com/, but on my http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/06/hello-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-3230744160944802453Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:49:00 +00002011-04-29T08:30:14.229-07:00Book ReviewsJoyBigger, better, faster, newer...it is often a reason we are always looking for the “next big thing”. It is a reason we don’t commit--to jobs, spouses, churches, you name it. It is a reason we find ourselves obsessed, depressed, or just restless. It is a reason we justify our action or inaction. It begins with two words, “if only”. We find that we cannot say with the apostle Paul, “I have learned http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/04/grass-is-greener-conspiracy-book-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-8395116708343378659Thu, 28 Apr 2011 05:24:00 +00002011-04-27T22:24:27.484-07:00Joy; Book Reviews "Greener Grass Conspiracy" Trailer - Stephen Altrogge from Crossway on Vimeo. My review of this book will be posted soon. http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/04/reviewing-greener-grass-consipracy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-1421305319382308917Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:04:00 +00002011-04-20T10:04:58.508-07:00I recently had a decision to make in a difficult area of my life.  It wasn't a particularly huge decision, but it could have had notable effects.  I was leaning toward one way, but through prayer and conversations with trusted friends in the past, I knew my weakness, propensity toward sin, and blindspots in this area of my life.  I prayed and I consulted three close, discreet, discerning, http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/04/discerning-will-of-god-in-community.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-7666900402641915273Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:43:00 +00002011-04-04T16:39:28.533-07:00ScriptureFighting the Fight of FaithI was recently blessed to have some sweet conversations this week--one with a friend who has weathered her share of trials and heartache in the last few years and has gained great wisdom and faith because of it. The other conversation was with my husband as he was talking about a topic that the Lord has placed on his heart and has given him a passion to preach on soon. Interestingly, both of http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/04/yes-you-are-legalistbut-god-is-good.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610467445141637237.post-1166757466724772001Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:52:00 +00002011-04-03T19:52:45.519-07:00prayerScriptureColossians 1 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as http://abranchinthevine.blogspot.com/2011/04/praying-scriptures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Bina)2