"God knows the way that you take. He wants you to succeed in the testing you are experiencing. Considering His great love for you, do you honestly think He would let you go through more than you can handle? No...God is near you when your heart is broken, and saves you when your spirit is crushed (Psalm 34:18). God draws near to you during a hardship unlike at any other time in your life. Maybe this is why the desperate need comes. Maybe this is the very moment that God is seeking to engineer-the moment of your turning as never before to Him. If this is your moment and you don't know how to pray, God even knows that. Romans 8 tells us that God's Spirit prays for us when we don't have words. Just start praying and sharing your heart. Thank God that He knows the way you take."
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
MacDonald on Hardship
Next Tuesday, we are beginning a new session of Discipleship Study at our church. We are using the James MacDonald book When Life Is Hard as our study resource. MacDonald centers the teaching on finding God's hope in the midst of adversity and suffering. Considering the topic, it will certainly be a timely discussion. Adversity and suffering know no season; they are continual reminders that we live in a fallen world. But we can find hope. Right here. Right now. Here is a small excerpt from the book:
"God knows the way that you take. He wants you to succeed in the testing you are experiencing. Considering His great love for you, do you honestly think He would let you go through more than you can handle? No...God is near you when your heart is broken, and saves you when your spirit is crushed (Psalm 34:18). God draws near to you during a hardship unlike at any other time in your life. Maybe this is why the desperate need comes. Maybe this is the very moment that God is seeking to engineer-the moment of your turning as never before to Him. If this is your moment and you don't know how to pray, God even knows that. Romans 8 tells us that God's Spirit prays for us when we don't have words. Just start praying and sharing your heart. Thank God that He knows the way you take."
"God knows the way that you take. He wants you to succeed in the testing you are experiencing. Considering His great love for you, do you honestly think He would let you go through more than you can handle? No...God is near you when your heart is broken, and saves you when your spirit is crushed (Psalm 34:18). God draws near to you during a hardship unlike at any other time in your life. Maybe this is why the desperate need comes. Maybe this is the very moment that God is seeking to engineer-the moment of your turning as never before to Him. If this is your moment and you don't know how to pray, God even knows that. Romans 8 tells us that God's Spirit prays for us when we don't have words. Just start praying and sharing your heart. Thank God that He knows the way you take."
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Go Broncos!
As I bask in the excitement of the Denver Broncos' victory over the Pittsburg Steelers, may I simply share one word: TEBOW! See my April 23, 2010 entry for more details. I thank God for Tebow and his continued public faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Win or lose on the field, Tim has proven himself to be a winner off the field. And that counts most in the Kingdom. But hey! I'd still like to beat New England.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
You Might Be A Preacher If...
I know this is a tired old line, but I ran across these and thought that they were funny. Hope they bring a smile to your face this weekend. With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy:
You Might Be A Preacher If
...you talk in other people's sleep.
...you've ever stood by a grave as two drunken veterans try to fold an American flag.
...you have seen an ugly bride.
...you say, "It's Sunday, but Monday's coming!"
...you've ever wanted to fire the church and form a congregation search committee.
...you're often asked what it's like to only work one day a week.
...you get your second wind when you say, "...and in conclusion".
...you actually know how many committee members it takes to change a light bulb.
...you thank God every day for Caller ID.
...you've secretly wanted a Gatorade bath after a particularly good sermon.
...people think you were born again last night.
...you've had roast for Sunday dinner.
...you've been roasted for Sunday dinner.
...you think everyone loves preaching.
...you suffer weekly from P.M.S. (Pre-Sermon Syndrome)
...you've ever checked your fly as you stood for the opening hymn.
...you've ever fantasized about "re-baptizing" a certain deacon.
...you can pronounce names like Jeshishai, Mephibosheth, and Quirinius.
...despite all the struggles, you couldn't imagine yourself doing anything else.
You Might Be A Preacher If
...you talk in other people's sleep.
...you've ever stood by a grave as two drunken veterans try to fold an American flag.
...you have seen an ugly bride.
...you say, "It's Sunday, but Monday's coming!"
...you've ever wanted to fire the church and form a congregation search committee.
...you're often asked what it's like to only work one day a week.
...you get your second wind when you say, "...and in conclusion".
...you actually know how many committee members it takes to change a light bulb.
...you thank God every day for Caller ID.
...you've secretly wanted a Gatorade bath after a particularly good sermon.
...people think you were born again last night.
...you've had roast for Sunday dinner.
...you've been roasted for Sunday dinner.
...you think everyone loves preaching.
...you suffer weekly from P.M.S. (Pre-Sermon Syndrome)
...you've ever checked your fly as you stood for the opening hymn.
...you've ever fantasized about "re-baptizing" a certain deacon.
...you can pronounce names like Jeshishai, Mephibosheth, and Quirinius.
...despite all the struggles, you couldn't imagine yourself doing anything else.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
How Do You Feel?
"Our common tendency is to habitually begin with the internal, the subjective, the experiential, then use those feelings and impressions to determine what we'll accept as being objective fact. We let our feelings tell us what is true, instead of letting the truth transform our feelings. For most of us, this isn't something we practice only when reading a book or listening to a sermon. We explain our choices by saying, 'I feel good about it.' It's the fundamental mindset with which we approach practically everything. It's how we live. We're conditioned to this approach not only by our sin but also by our culture, which incessantly entices us to 'follow your heart' and do whatever makes us feel good-along with the flattering assurance that nonstop feeling good is something we absolutely deserve! It would be fine to follow our feelings if we could always be sure they're faithful to reality. But they aren't; their perspective on reality typically has huge blind spots. As a result, our emotions are flighty, fickle, and far too easily dominated by any number of influences-spilled coffee at breakfast, a traffic stall when you're running late, a cutting comment from a coworker. Our feelings simply can't be trusted."
C.J. Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life
C.J. Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Dear Abby!
Dear Abby:
I am a middle-aged woman who is a Baptist by faith. I believe that when I die I will go to heaven. My problem is, if going to heaven means being reunited with my parents and other family members, then I don't want to go! The idea of spending eternity with them is more than I can stand, but I don't want to go to hell, either. Any thoughts?
Eternally Confused in Mississippi
Dear Eternally Confused:
Yes. When you reach the pearly gates, talk this over with St. Peter. Perhaps he would be willing to place you in a different wing than the one your parents and other family members are staying in. And in the meantime, discuss this with your minister.
The above letter really did appear in the Dear Abby column this past November. As is. My mom cut the column out and saved it for me. Oh, to be Dear Abby for a day! Or this lady's minister. I hope she did talk with her pastor; and I pray that Jesus would remove the bitterness from her heart and would allow her to value heaven for His sake alone.
I am a middle-aged woman who is a Baptist by faith. I believe that when I die I will go to heaven. My problem is, if going to heaven means being reunited with my parents and other family members, then I don't want to go! The idea of spending eternity with them is more than I can stand, but I don't want to go to hell, either. Any thoughts?
Eternally Confused in Mississippi
Dear Eternally Confused:
Yes. When you reach the pearly gates, talk this over with St. Peter. Perhaps he would be willing to place you in a different wing than the one your parents and other family members are staying in. And in the meantime, discuss this with your minister.
The above letter really did appear in the Dear Abby column this past November. As is. My mom cut the column out and saved it for me. Oh, to be Dear Abby for a day! Or this lady's minister. I hope she did talk with her pastor; and I pray that Jesus would remove the bitterness from her heart and would allow her to value heaven for His sake alone.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Whitfield on Walking with God
"Walking with God not only implies that the prevailing power of the enmity of a man's heart be taken away, but also that a person is actually reconciled to God the Father, in and through the all-sufficient righteousness and atonement of his dear Son. 'Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?' Jesus is our peace as well as our peace-maker. When we are justified by faith in Christ, then, but not till then, we have peace with God; and consequently cannot be said till then to walk with him, walking with a person being a sign and token that we are friends to that person, or at least, though we have been in variance, yet now we are reconciled and become friends again. This is the great errand that gospel ministers are sent out upon. To us is committed the ministry of reconciliation; as ambassadors for God, we are to beseech sinners, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled unto God, and when they comply with the gracious invitation, and are actually by faith brought into a state of reconciliation with God, then, and not till then, may they be said so much as to begin to walk with God."
George Whitfield, preaching from Genesis 5:24
George Whitfield, preaching from Genesis 5:24
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Welcome to 2012!
"Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. Who can declare the Lord's mighty acts or proclaim all the praise due Him? How happy are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times. Remember me, Lord, when You show favor to Your people. Come to me with Your salvation so that I may enjoy the prosperity of Your chosen ones, rejoice in the joy of Your nation, and boast about Your heritage."
Psalm 106:1-5 (HCSB)
Psalm 106:1-5 (HCSB)
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