This Week in Housekeeping

Recently updated theological terms:

infralapsarianism

• Tweaked the definition.
• Added Filed under Reformed Theology.

irresistible grace

• Removed dead link.
• Fixed the link to John Piper’s Irresistible Grace. (Not sure why the page heading on this says, “Unlike the Gospels, these latest tales don’t have deep roots.” Someone trying to be funny?)
• Added a link to Brian Schwertly’s Irresistible Grace. 
• Added a link to audio of Sinclair Ferguson’s Irresistable Grace.
• Added related terms effectual call, external call, grace alone, limited atonement, monergism, perseverance of the saints, total depravity, unconditional election.

Thankful Thurday

I’m thankful for

• long daylight hours to grow my garden in a short summer season.
• beautiful sunsets through smoky skies.
• windows to brighten my home naturally.
• electric lights. I’m thankful I live after electricity was harnessed and lightbulbs were invented.
• winter lights, too—the moon and the aurora. They will brighten my nights when summer is over.
• the Light who came into the world.
• this verse, my favorite: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)

Linked Together: On Prayer

Right Attitude

• Boldness: Aaron Armstrong quotes J. C. Ryle on holy boldness in prayer—not the kind of presumptious boldness that demands things of God, but a confident boldness that results from realizing “the believer’s privileges.”
  
  
• Gratitude: Thabiti Anyabwile answers Question 39 of the New City Catechism.
  
  

  NCC Q39: With what attitude should we pray? from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo. 

Good Books

• Valley of Vision. I use it frequently, especially at the end of busy days. Here’s some of the story behind this collection of Puritan prayers (Justin Taylor).
  
  
• Psalms. Josh Blount says “the Psalms are one of God’s provisions to strengthen our prayer lives” (The Blazing Center). There’s an appropriate Psalm for almost any life situation. I’m partial to laments—inspired words, words approved by God, recorded for us to use in difficult circumstances.