Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful for the incarnation. The sovereign Lord—the one who created thrones and dominions and rulers and authorities, and who upholds them all by his powerful word—emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, and was obedient even to death on the cross. And he did it to save his people. It’s the greatest gift ever.

I’m thankful that both grandbabies visited yesterday. I’m thankful that they like each other so much. 

I’m thankful for the opportunity to sing Christmas carols at the nursing home tonight.

I’m thankful for my blooming African violets. 

I’m thankful that it warmed up a little. Everything’s so much easier when it isn’t deathly cold outside. 

I’m thankful for mandarin oranges, my favorite fruit of the season.

This Week in Housekeeping

Recently updated theological term posts.

adoption

• Added a link to a new post by Tim Challies, The Essential: Adoption.

evidential apologetics

• Added Filed under Apologetics.

creation ex nihilo

• Added Filed under God’s Nature and His Work.

exclusivism

• Fixed a bad link.
• Added Filed under Isms.

exegesis

• This is a really old post and needed to be changed to make it like the newer theological term posts. I added scripture and updated the format.
• Fixed broken links.
• Added links to R. C. Sproul interviewing D. A. Carson on biblical exegesis and J. I. Packer’s Interpretation of Scripture.
• Added related links biblical hermeneutics, eisegesis, perspicuity of scripture.
• Added Filed under Scripture.

Round the Sphere Again: Christmas Hymns

The Story of Redemption
Kevin DeYoung gives us some background to one of my favorites, Of the Father’s Love Begotten.

The Hopes of Israel
Keith Mathison reflects on the content of O Come, O Come Emmanuel:

The words of the hymn express the hopes of Israel throughout her history for the fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise. We as Christians can now look back to the fulfillment of those promises – to the most incredible, awe-inspiring moment in history, the birth of Immanuel, the incarnation of the Son of God Himself.

(Ligonier Ministries Blog)

The Benefits of Christ
Daniel Hyde explains why Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is his favorite Christmas carol.

Why is Hark! the Herald Angels Sing my all-time favorite Christmas carol? It is not only because it powerfully proclaims the truth of the doctrine of the incarnation, but because it personally expresses the benefits of Christ in Christian experience. The One who was born on Christmas causes us to be born again as Christians.

(Ligonier Ministries Blog)