NUGGETS
The Struggle of Rejoicing with Those who Rejoice – “You may not think of opening your mail as a prime time for temptation, but it can be if your life has not panned out exactly the way you hoped it
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Beauty Out of Ashes
Yesterday, as I was reviewing notes from a workshop I’ve taught on trials and suffering, I was again counseled by these words from Jerry Bridges: “As we watch tragic events unfolding, or more particularly as we experience adversity ourselves, we
Continue readingThe Effects of Hostility and Betrayal upon the Mind and Body
Last week, I spent several days in Psalms 3-7 as part of my study through Alec Motyer’s devotional translation of the Hebrew songbook we know as the book of Psalms. Whether or not all agree that Psalms 3-7 belong to the
Continue readingAffliction Does Not Hinder the Gospel
I’ve been thinking about last week’s post on three ways suffering makes us like Christ and remembered an illustration that I told in an earlier book. As servants of Christ suffer for His name, and for the sake of His
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3 Ways Suffering Helps to Make Us like Christ
The past two Lord’s Days, our congregation has been considering what the apostle had in mind when he declared his heart’s longing, “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like
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The Joy of Sacrificial Service
The Christian life—when properly understood—is a life of sacrifice. Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it,
Continue readingSuffering and Singing
Singing to the Lord is a significant means of ministering to our own souls in times of suffering. That’s one reason why we are so drawn to the Psalms, and why Suffering and Singing is a fitting title for a
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Four Qualities of Our Resurrection Body
The resurrection of Jesus was the “the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Cor 15:20), that is, His was the first of more to come—ours. Meditating on this future promise strengthens us to face the physical maladies of
Continue readingNUGGETS (10/21/15)
I didn’t realize it had been so long, but it’s been over a year since I posted a Nuggets page. The decision to stop was intentional; I simply could not keep up and decided that if I could not do
Continue reading2 New Counseling Resources from RBP
One of the blessings of being a blogger is receiving review copies of new resources on discipleship, counseling, and Christian growth. Though I do not have time to read and review all of them, I like to inform you of
Continue readingBCTC of Arizona Fall Conference with Heath Lambert
The Christian Dilemma: Suffering and the Goodness of God is the theme for the annual conference for The Biblical Counseling Training Center of Arizona this October 23-24. Dr. Heath Lambert will speak three times, and 12 workshops will encourage and
Continue readingThe Test of Trials – Part 4
In the past few posts, we’ve been walking through James 1:2-12 and learning how God uses trials to test and grow our faith in order to lead us to greater fruitfulness. First, James taught us that trials test our posture,
Continue readingThe Test of Trials – Part 3
The Bible indicates that a person’s attitude toward material possessions is a reflector of his true spiritual condition. For example, when Jesus challenged the rich young ruler to leave his wealth and follow Him, the man “became very sad, for
Continue readingThe Test of Trials – Part 2
Nothing tests the sincerity of the heart motives behind our prayers like trials do. Why is that? Trials are custom-designed by God to reveal to us the idolatry that remains in our hearts, not so that He may gleefully watch
Continue readingThe Test of Trials – Part 1
In his excellent book, Trusting God, Jerry Bridges provides a compelling illustration of the necessary relationship between experiencing trials and growing toward spiritual maturity. He writes: One of the many fascinating events in nature is the emergence of the Cecropia
Continue readingAnother God-Centered Breast Cancer Testimony
[The following testimony was submitted by a woman in the state of Georgia whose pastor, Kevin Hurt, gave her biblical hope and counsel in her time of trial.] As I think about my journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer,
Continue readingBiblical Counsel for Women Facing Breast Cancer
One of the beauties of God’s wisdom is the way he uses our trials to equip us to counsel one another—just as it says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. As a result, many times the best counselors are those who’ve “been
Continue reading12 Pillars of Faith for Parents of Special Needs’ Kids
The society we live in expects life to be trouble-free; there is an assumption that we somehow have a right to an easy life. This mindset is reflected in the answer to a typical question. “What is the number-one question
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