Status Report: February

Sitting…on the couch in the living room.

Watching…Antique Roadshow. My excuse is that I’m dull and lazy because I’ve been sick today. Nothing serious, but my stomach and head are both wonky. 

Feeling…a little better now and hoping to be all well by tomorrow.

Not loving…the weather forecast. I’ll show you.

I think it’s been a couple of years since we’ve had -40 temps, and I was hoping we’d skip the very cold stuff this year, too. At least when the colder temperatures come in February, it’s more likely to warm up a little during the day. When -40 comes in January, it often stays -40 all day long because there’s so little warmth in the January sun.

Wishing…I’d remembered to my my frayed block heater cord while the weather was warm.

Loving…The bright blue sky and the sundogged sun of the cold winter days, and the bright moon and the northern lights of the cold winter nights.

Telling…this story. Two-year-old granddaughter and her mother dropped by yesterday evening. I wasn’t expecting them and had a candle burning on the coffee table in the living room, and forgot about it. I was standing in the kitchen chatting with my daughter when my granddaughter came in, carrying the still-burning candle. “Put this up, Grandma” she said. “Candles are dangerous for kids.”

Thanking…God she didn’t drop the candle, or spill liquid wax on herself, or start her clothes on fire. She did, I’m told, burn her finger on the stovetop today, but it’s just a tiny blister. So I’m thankful for God’s protection today, too. (No child would make it to adulthood without it!) 

Reading…Can We Still Believe the Bible? by Craig Blomberg. We have it in the church library and I plan to review it for the church newspaper once I finish. I don’t agree with everything in it, but still, it’s a good defense of the reliability of scripture.

And I’m still reading Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God’s Image by Hannah Anderson.

Wishing…you a February full of friends and family and fellowship. And no flu.

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 73. Why then does the Holy Ghost call baptism the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins?

Answer: God good reasons for these words. He wants to teach us that the blood and Spirit of Christ wash away our sins just as water washes away dirt from the body. (a)

But more important, he wants to assure us, by this divine pledge and sign, that the washing away of our sins spiritually is as real as physical washing with water. (b)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

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Sunday's Hymn: Not All the Blood of Beasts

Not all the blood of beasts
On Jewish altars slain,
Could give the guilty conscience peace,
Or wash away the stain:

But Christ, the heavenly Lamb
Takes all our sins away,
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.

My faith would lay her hand
On that dear head of thine,
While like a penitent I stand,
And there confess my sin.

My soul looks back to see
The burdens thou didst bear,
When hanging on the cursed tree,
And knows her guilt was there.

Believing, we rejoice
To see the curse remove;
We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice,
And sing his bleeding love.

—Isaac Watts

I’ve found two different tunes for this hymn.

I love the words, but I think this hymn is a good candidate for an updated tune. What do you think?

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• There’s Salvation Full and Free at the Cross at By Grace Alone
• Hallelujah, ‘Tis Done at The Happy Wonderer
• Wisdom is my name at The Upward Call
• By Faith at Theology for Girls
• Still, my soul be still at Triablogue
• Give Me Grace to Know More My Need of Grace from Trevin Wax
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: One talent dangers at Pyromaniacs
• Magnify the Lord this day at Tried With Fire
• Christ Gives Peace at Gentle Reformation

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.