Author: DebbieLynne Kespert

Most importantly I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondarily, I'm married to my wonderful husband, John. We've both used wheelchairs since childhood (he from Polio and me from Cerebral Palsy). I type with a headstick because I can't control my hands. I enjoy reading, creating digital art, and exploring Boston with John.

A Necessary Eclipse Of Thought

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John is graciously typing this blog post as I dictate to him from bed. Because I cannot type this entry myself, I will not include Scripture quotes or references — doing so would be difficult to teach John. Please don’t interpret this absence of Scripture as an abandonment of God’s Word.

January 20th, 2021 should have been a joyous day for me to blog. It marks 50 years since Christ brought me to salvation, and I had looked forward to writing a post celebrating all He has done in my life. Sadly, events in Washington, D.C. and around the country have eclipsed personal celebration, as Christians around the United States mourn the violence of January 6th and the inauguration of an administration that will surely result in persecution for us.

But haven’t I been warning about persecution over the last 5 years of this blog? Should we be surprised at actions of social media that seek to silence conservative voices (and specifically Christian voices)?

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I Needed A Snappy Title

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Getting up Sunday morning, my back went out again. Yup, I probably fractured it, so I’m once again on bed rest for awhile. I needed a snappy title to reflect snapping my back bone a third time. I appreciate John for typing this on his laptop as I dictate to him. I’m not sure if I will dictate a few short blogs in the next month — maybe if I’m a good girl, John will agree to type for me.

The first time I had fractures, I told people that I injured myself skydiving. Last year, my story was that John made me carry him up three flights of stairs. This time, I struggled to come up with an outlandish explanation for my injury, but finally settled on snowboarding. You gotta have fun with these injuries!

This time around, the Lord is helping me pray in an orderly fashion. Normally I need to be at my computer where I can use my prayer lists in order to keep focused. But the Lord has given me inexplicable grace to pray through my list from memory yesterday and today. I cannot express the encouragement I feel at keeping up my communication with Him in this way.

Although I am not able to read my Bible, I have been watching Seed Family Worship videos on Youtube. These videos are a great Bible memorization tool for kids, and maybe for old ladies like me. At least it’s a way of getting a little Bible intake. I also intend to watch Sons of Korah videos on Youtube, since they put Psalms to music.

John and I wish each of you a merry Christmas filled with the wonder of God Incarnate. I look forward to blogging early in the new year.

The Person Christmas Celebrates — Hymn 4

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Silent Night

O Come, All Ye Faithful

What Child Is This

Angels We Have Heard On High

All these beloved Christmas hymns exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, boldly proclaiming Who He is and why He came. Since my childhood, I’ve cherished each of them, growing more fond of them once I became a Christian. I love these hymns because they celebrate God’s incarnation. All Christians probably love them for the same reason.

Another beloved Christmas hymn stands out to me as perhaps the one that most magnifies Who Jesus Christ is. Its lyrics beautifully portray His glory and His humility. Maybe the other hymns I’ve mentioned do the same, but this hymn strikes a chord with me far more deeply. Over the years, it seems to grow more profound and wonderous in its depiction of the mighty God as the offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Enjoy these powerful lyrics that exalt our precious Lord Who was born to give us second birth. May your Christmas be filled with glory to the newborn King!

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Saturday Sampler: December 13 — December 16

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Some blog posts are so tender that added comment would ruin them. When All Seems To Be Gain, Plan For Loss is one such blog post. You’ll appreciate Tim Challies for writing it.

Sometimes you can’t ignore the outlandish and ridiculous statements that crop up on Beth Moore’s Twitter feed. In The End Time, Elizabeth Prata analyzes Moore’s latest Twitter tirade by writing Beth Moore and the Danger of Dwelling on your Abuse. This essay isn’t about brow beating Beth Moore, however. Notice the beautiful encouragement in the concluding paragraphs.

With precision, Leslie A of Growing 4 Life shows us How the Church Was Fooled by enumerating various compromises and deceptions that have infiltrated churches in recent decades. Praise the Lord for Leslie, who boldly stands for Biblical truth! Her assessment of today’s culture is accurate, and something that each of us needs to carefully consider.

The Cripplegate features Joe Lum’s compilation of 10 reasons why singing is essential to worship. Particularly now, with more lockdowns threatened, Christians need encouragement to continue in congregational signing.

Alan Shlemon of Stand to Reason says that Reading the Bible Requires We Already Know. I love the way he takes the mystique out of properly understanding God’s Word. This article is by far my pick of the the week!

Where are our priorities? In The “Merry Christmas” Melee, Michelle Lesley questions the uproar over saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Her article asks us to examine ourselves and our commitment to the Gospel. If this annual debate grasps your attention, I hope you’ll consider Michelle’s point of view.

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What God’s Word Says Depends On What God’s Word Says

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I once heard someone ask a pastor what to do when Bible reading seems dry. The pastor answered (quite seriously, I’m sorry to say), “Just keep reading until something jumps out at you.” He went on to explain that a verse that catches our attention is what the Holy Spirit has for us that particular day.

Never mind the context. Never mind the intent of the human author, or the way his original readers would have understood the verse. Above all, never mind that God spoke that verse very specifically, with a meaning that doesn’t change in order to accommodate our individual circumstances. All too often, professing Christians read the Bible with the expectation that they can arrive at a personal, subjective interpretation.

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What Should I Write?

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Now that I feel better and I no longer have a Hickman catheter that requires visiting nurses to come daily, I have both energy and freedom to blog more often. After Christmas, I hope to blog every day (with occasional exceptions). Actually, I thought daily blogging would happen this week. Um, no — a couple things popped up to change that plan.

Still, I’m getting back into frequently producing blog content after five months of dealing with my illness. I lay in bed waiting for my PCA this morning with the frightening realization that I have no idea for a blog post. Yikes!

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The Person Christmas Celebrates — Hymn 3

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At this time of year, we generally think of a helpless Infant wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Now, there’s definitely wonder in the truth that God Incarnate came to earth as a Baby, dependent on His mother and her husband for His basic physical care. If that concept hasn’t filled you with awe and amazement at least once in your life, it should!

But Jesus is much more than a Baby in a Bethlehem manger. The shepherds and wise men, while they didn’t understand that this Child was the God Who rules all nature, knew that He was Israel’s promised Messiah. “Christ the Lord,” the angels had told the shepherds.

Our sentimental images of Christ’s birth often cause us to forget His power and majesty as the sovereign Lord Who governs all creation. I therefore encourage you to step back from thoughts about a Baby for a moment, and to meditate on Who this fairest of all Babies truly is. As you think about this Son of God and Son of man, you’ll remember that glory, honor praise and adoration belong — now and evermore — to Him.

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Saturday Sampler: December 6 — December 12

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Clint Archer reflects on the importance of Bethlehem by writing O Little Town of Bethlehem in his weekly post for The Cripplegate. Far from a dry study of history, this piece inspires worship as we see God’s careful planning in the birthplace of Messiah.

Leslie A writes The Park is Closing in Growing 4 Life as a sobering, yet exciting reminder of our future as Christians. I love her ability to look beyond immediate circumstances to see the Lord’s sovereign hand in current events!

Addressing the controversy over Nativity Scenes and the Second Commandment that crops up this time of year, Michelle Lesley turns to Scripture. Take a few minutes to consider her perspective, and determine to hold whatever convictions you have on this matter with an attitude of charity towards Christians with different convictions. I appreciate Michelle for helping us think Biblically about the issue.

In a post for Things Above Us, George Alvarado writes An Open Letter to Afflicted Saints. If you’re going through trials right now, his words might encourage you. Then again, they might not. I’ll leave that between you and the Lord. But give it a try — maybe the Lord will minister to you through it.

Although Leslie A says that the park is closing, Elizabeth Prata assures us that It’s All OK in The End Time. Elizabeth isn’t ignoring the increasing turbulence of current events, but she knows Who has everything in His control. Please enjoy her words of comfort.

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It’s Not Too Late For Christians

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John and I regularly listen to The Dividing Line webcast with Dr. James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries. Yes, people, I know James White is a controversial figure, and sometimes he aligns himself with teachers he really shouldn’t (most notably, Michael Brown). At the same time, White holds tightly to Reformed Theology, and has an excellent understanding of history in general. We value his insight and carefully consider his perspective — even when we don’t share his conclusions.

White has made various predictions about our country’s trajectory that cause many to accuse him of wearing a tin foil hat. He firmly believes that the Biden administration will plunge the United States into a dystopian society. And he thinks the damage will be irreversible.

I hope he’s wrong. I believe he’s right.

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My Fear For Evangelical Ostriches

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Generally, ostriches are among my favorite animals. I love their flirtatious eyes, if you really want to know (which you probably didn’t). I love emus for the same reason, and had my husband photograph this one at Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo:

But ostriches — and probably emus — have a reputation for burying their heads in the sand. Our culture has consequently turned their practice into a metaphor describing someone who tries to avoid unpleasant realities.

I’m thinking about that metaphor after a recent conversation with a Christian we know. John and I had watched a documentary about Corrie ten Boom, a Christian woman from Holland who had been imprisoned in a Nazi Concentration Camp during World War II. Corrie and her family had provided a hiding place for Jews fleeing persecution, only to be caught for doing so. Her father and her sister both died in Concentration Camps, while Corrie was unintentionally released due to a clerical error (and of course, God’s providence).

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