Helping you grow in God's all-sufficient grace and truth
“Rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16). The idea of rejoicing at all times runs against the grain of our humanity. Our depravity has trained us to believe that joy is the same as happiness and is dependent upon our circumstances. If
Continue reading7. Encourage them to learn to gratefully and humbly receive from others even if it is better to give. When Paul gave his closing charge to the elders in Ephesus he said, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold
Continue reading4. Encourage them to be teachable so as not to miss the hidden blessings of their trial but learn to rest in God’s all-sufficient grace. There is no better teacher, or sanctifier, than trials. Trials have the unique power to
Continue reading1. Encourage them to joyfully trust God’s good purposes for their time of trial (yesterday’s post). 2. Encourage them to be diligent to pursue every avenue of ethical employment and yet wait on the Lord. God has a very high view
Continue readingOne of the most obvious consequences of our present economic downturn is the trial of unemployment. For many this is a trial they did not envision going through as they have never before had a problem being gainfully employed. However,
Continue readingIn a previous post, I recommended to you the counseling resource: Sunsets: Reflections for Life’s Final Journey. Being a hospice nurse, Deborah Howard has penned a valuable perspective on end-of-life care that is immensely profitable to all of us who
Continue readingMan Up! – “If art reflects culture, then we’re in need of a True Man Revolution. If art shapes culture, then we’re in need of some men exhibiting true masculinity to counter what Hollywood is pumping out.” In this article, Kimberly Wagner gives Christian
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A seminary student of mine, who is also a pastor, called this week to ask how to begin a visiting the sick ministry team in his church. Here’s the counsel I gave to him: Do the following simultaneously. Teach your
Continue readingDo the troubles of life ever leave you so wiped out physically, mentally, and emotionally that all you can do is squeak out “God, help me!”? Then Psalm 121 is for you. Yesterday, our congregation spent its morning worship time
Continue readingSometimes God’s ways are hard to understand, We want to ask “Why?”—to follow His hand. Sometimes when tragedy comes from above, It tempts us to waver, to doubt His love. But God is infinitely wise and good, He is too
Continue readingAccording to 1 Peter 1:7, God’s purpose in our suffering is “that the genuineness of [our] faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at
Continue readingOne 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 readingThis old Puritan prayer ministered to my heart today as well as to my congregation. It was very fitting. This morning, I preached from 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 as part of a sermon series Disability and the Glory of God. In
Continue readingIn the first, second, and third of this 4-part series we noted three reasons God gave us the book of Lamentations. First, to show us the awful reality of sin so that our hearts will long for reconciliation with God.
Continue readingIn the first and second post in this mini-series on the book of Lamentations, we noted two reasons God gave us this very sad book. First, to show us the awful reality of sin and its devastating consequences so that
Continue readingIn yesterday’s post, we thought about the fact that sin never ultimately delivers its promises. Rather, it brings only pain and misery into our lives. For sure, sin does bring some of its promised pleasure, but that is only for
Continue readingIn truth, all suffering is ultimately caused by sin. Before sin entered the world there was no suffering. However, this does not mean that all personal suffering is the result of personal sin (John 9:3). But let’s face it. If
Continue readingSo (and here’s the big question): Who caused my diving accident? I could ask, “Was it God’s fault?” and be assured that although He is sovereign, no it was not His fault. I might wonder…Was my accident a direct attack
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By God’s grace, I’m a husband, dad, grandpa, and pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Mayfield Hts, OH. I love Christ because He first loved me.
