A Tale of Three Umpires
It is no secret to any of us that we live in an age that is increasingly skeptical about the very concept of truth. What was once right or wrong, truth or error, is now simply a matter of one’s
Continue reading“Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.” – Psalm 119:24
NUGGETS [8/27/16]
Here’s some articles that I found interesting this week. The Pastor’s PTSD – “My wife, Judy, and I know what it is like to live through a season of church conflict and not be OK, even after the trouble subsides.
Continue readingFlashback Friday – 37 Ways to Love One Another
Five years ago, this month, I published this article. Since then 44,000 people have read it. Therefore, I thought it may make a good Flashback Friday post. I trust it will encourage your growth in grace. A local church is
Continue readingGod All-Sufficient
[Yesterday morning, we read this in our staff meeting. It is a precious prayer demonstrating dependence upon the all-sufficient God. It is taken from Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions.] O LORD OF GRACE, The world
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 readingFlashback Friday – Waging a Long-Term War Against Anxiety
The past few days we have received instruction from the Lord as to how to battle against worry. The apostle Paul’s words to the Philippian believers have taught us to worry about nothing and pray about everything in order that
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3 Qualities of an Encourager
Have you ever experienced the power of encouragement? I can remember many times over the years when God provided faithful believers who were “others-focused” enough to come alongside and strengthen my hands for His work. The Apostle Paul had such
Continue readingFlashback Friday – A Poorly Dressed Beggar
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.’” There
Continue reading6 Reasons to Delight in the Word (10th Anniversary)
My goal in writing is simple. I want to increase every Christian’s love for God by increasing their delight in His Word, the Bible. That’s why I wrote my first book, Delight in the Word, and have just released 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
Continue readingFlashback Friday – Jesus Stands Between Us and the Father
Though Jesus has ascended back to the Father, his ministry to us continues. The door to God that the Son opened for us, through his death, he now keeps open in his role as our High Priest. “Therefore, brothers, since
Continue readingThe Locus and Display of God’s Holiness and Beauty
As I near the end of reading Isaiah By the Day: A Devotional Translation by Alec Motyer, I want to pass on to you some really important thoughts from the author which serve to challenge each of us. Today’s reading
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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
Continue readingFlashback Friday – 4 Fears that Block Forgiveness
Fear is a crippling form of unbelief that usually leads to many other sins, one of which is the unforgiving spirit that leads to resentment and deep-seated bitterness. How does sinful fear hinder the experience of true forgiveness? Answering this
Continue readingNUGGETS [7/29/16]
Why We Do Not Punish Our Children – Sara Wallace makes the same distinction that I’ve been making in my teaching and writing for several decades (HELP! My Toddler Rules the House, for example). So glad for this TGC post!
Continue readingTransformed Into His Likeness
Yesterday, I found myself recommending this resource again so I thought I’d mention it to you. Transformed Into His Likeness is a unique resource. Its spiral-bound flip chart design makes it very useful in counseling and personal one-to-one discipleship. This
Continue readingWhat It Means to Know Christ
Sometime in the early months of 1984, I met Jesus Christ. Before that moment, I knew about Him, but I did not know Him. I had a religion, but I did not have a relationship with God. By God’s grace
Continue readingFlashback Friday: 4 Privileges of Adoption
Today’s flashback was first posted in March 2013. May the Lord use these biblical reflections to nourish your faith! The doctrine of the believer’s adoption into God’s family is rich with assurance of the continuing love and commitment of the
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