We just recently picked up this new book to read by John Ensor. The subtitle is “How We Experience God’s Grace” and the Foreword is by John Piper.

I wanted to whet your appetite with the following quote from Ensor’s Introduction:

“The grace of God that forgives us changes us. It changes us not just initially but continually as well. It convicts us and troubles our conscience. Later on it comforts us, “wiping away every tear” (see Revelation 21:4). Soon after, it unleashes irrepressible shouts of praise. The grace of God wounds our pride but then increases our confidence. When God forgives, he exposes the most shameful things only to then cleanse them all from our conscience. And that is just the early work of God in the outworking of grace.

In the ongoing outworking of God’s grace, God reorients our passions. “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions” (Titus 2:11-12). It produces a radical joy and a strong faith, one that can endure great suffering and yet trust that, in the end, God’s plan will lead to our joy and his glory. The grace that turns us from evil makes us “eager to do good” (Titus 2:14 NIV). The American theologian and philosopher Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) said, ‘Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.’ I want to trace out how this is true and track the human experience of grace doing this perfecting and glorifying work.”

Want to join me in exploring this exciting book?

Nate informed me that he wanted to teach Lela and Justin how to ride their bikes without training wheels. He was waiting for the perfect day when it wasn’t too hot. Finally one came and he was so sweet and patient with them. Hope you enjoy the pictures:

Nate helping Lela

Lela on her own! Go Lela!!!

Nate helping Justin! Yesterday Justin was out riding without any help and was doing rather well, I might add. I think this coming Fall will be filled with perfecting their bike riding skills. It has been such a hot end of the summer, that it’s been almost unbearable to be outside. Since I was 7 when I learned to ride a bike, I’m glad that my kids are learning earlier. Thank you Nate!

It’s hard to believe my oldest “baby” is now 8! He is such a boy!! He loves riding bikes, swimming, hiking, playing swords, Roy Rogers, light sabers, and of course digging in the dirt! He was planning to buy this surplus miltary shovel with his birthday money, but we surprised him with it instead. We thought he’d forgotten about it, but the day of his birthday he told us he was going to “buy that shovel on the computer”. Boy, were we excited that that’s what we had already gotten and had wrapped for him.

The week of his birthday he had been going to soccer camp everyday and his friend, Stephen, was also there. They share a birthday, so their family had us over for dinner to celebrate. The pictures below show the cakes that Stephen’s mom made and Nate right after he opened his shovel.