_When we have strength only to resist, we may know Christ’s government in us will be victorious_ – Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed pg.99-100

Because of the **Lego Batman Movie**, my 5-year-old son has asked me to make him _Lobster Thermidor_ someday. I’m nearly 30 and barely know what Lobster Thermidor is!

_How to treat people is always near the center of Christian discipleship._ – [DA Carson](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/d-a-carson/2-kings-7-1-timothy-4-daniel-11-psalm-11925-48/)

I’m always blown away by [astronomy photography](https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/astronomy-photographer-year/galleries/2018/overall-winners).

the least likely to

While going through my Bible reading for the day, I was struck again by the way God chooses to use the people we would never want on our teams as the means by which he accomplishes his plans. Particularly in this passage from 2 Kings 7, we see four men who are banished from society because they have leprosy.

To add to their disgrace, they were also at the end of their rope. There was a famine happening, they would have been weak and tired. They had nothing left to lose, so they decided to surrender themselves to the Arameans with the hope that they might be given some mercy. They ended up finding the military camp empty because of God’s intervention and brought back news of what they saw.

This account points to the shepherds hearing the good news of Jesus’ birth in a really cool way. In much the same way that lepers were not permitted to be a part of normal society, shepherds were also isolated. They lived where their sheep could pasture. While important to the local economies and food supplies, _they were not esteemed like the religious elite_.

And yet, that is who God chose to proclaim his good news to.

Big Bird is doing the bedtime story on CBeebies. My and my kids’ childhoods have officially merged.

_But he gives us more grace._ – James 4:6a

Thursdays are generally my day for studying for my biblical counselling course. I usually try to study at a cafe downtown but today, I’ve set myself up on a couch in the guest bedroom/study in our attic.

Had to run a couple of errands in town, which always leads to photos. 📷

_“A simple and time-tested formula for building a big audience:
1) Call yourself a Christian.
2) Criticize traditional Christianity.
3) Side with the culture on contested issues.
It’s worked for centuries. They will love you.”_ – Jonathan Leeman