Evening Prayer: The Mediator
O God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, We hope in thy Word. There we see thee, not on a fearful throne of judgment, but on a throne of grace waiting to be gracious and exalted in mercy. There we hear
Continue reading“Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.” – Psalm 119:24
What Is Counseling?
One of the mantras here at Counseling One Another is “counseling is a targeted form of discipleship.” It’s a truism that, frankly, I seek to find multitude different ways of saying through this blog. However, today I’ve decided to simply
Continue readingCrucified with Christ
Crucifixion was a form of the death penalty used by the Romans in Jesus’ day. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia records the history and development of the cross as a form of punishment. The solitary cross as a form of
Continue readingThe Goodness of God
I’ve been meditating on the goodness of God toward me in Christ Jesus, His infinite love and patience, and the well-spring of His grace that transcends my ability to merit an ounce of it—even if given 10,000 lives to try.
Continue readingGod’s Ordained Instrument for Sanctification
It is time for Christians to regain a biblical understanding of the important role that an assembly of believers should have in their lives. The sooner we learn that we are not called to be consumers on the hunt for
Continue reading9Marks Weekender
It’s been silent here at the blog for a couple days because I’ve been immersed in the 9Marks Weekender at Capital Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. For several years, I have wanted to attend this four-day event, but made
Continue readingIs Your Local Church a Discipleship Hospital?
The longer I am a Christian the more I marvel at the genius of the local church. The longer I am a pastor the more I marvel that God’s grace would be sufficient enough to save, call, and equip a
Continue readingWhen You Are Sad
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). And if you are somewhere in between, do both. Sing a psalm while you pray or pray while you sing a psalm. Try
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5 Reasons God Brings Calamity
Other than the Psalms, which deal with life in such raw honesty, there hardly seems a better place to turn when in the midst of trials than the book of Job. Job lost everything in a matter of moments; his
Continue readingGod Answers the Prayers of Common, God-Dependent People
In the first chapter of the book of Acts, we peek into the window of a second-story meeting of early believers who were gathered for the express purpose of praying together. As we look closely, we see “Peter and John
Continue readingOur Refuge and Strength in Times of Grieving
This morning, while preparing my thoughts for a funeral service that will take place at our church in a few hours, I found my heart drawn again to Psalm 46. Over the years, this has been the psalm that I
Continue readingLiving by Prayer
O GOD OF THE OPEN EAR, Teach me to live by prayer as well as by Providence, for myself, soul, body, children, family, church; Give me a heart frameable to Thy will; so I might live in prayer, and honor
Continue readingThe Sluggard’s Squeaky Bed
The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!” As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he
Continue readingPrayer from a Changed Heart
The context of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) reveals that when Jesus taught His disciples to pray He was infinitely more concerned about the true state of their heart than He was in giving them a formula prayer. Verse 7
Continue readingRequired Reading for Family Counseling & Parenting
“Family Counseling & Parenting” is one of the courses I regularly teach as an adjunct professor in several seminaries. Someone recently asked what books I require my students to read. Here they are with a brief description. You’ll quickly see
Continue readingCounsel the Psalms
Charles Spurgeon referred to the book of Psalms as The Treasury of David. Though David was not the only author, he did write more than any other contributor. He wrote exactly half of the 150 songs compiled for God’s people
Continue readingFamily Money Matters
A couple months ago, our church had the privilege of hosting a financial stewardship seminar with Dr. John Temple, author and financial teacher. Some of you have inquired as to whether or not the audio files from the conference are
Continue readingJoy Is Coming
Joy is supernatural, it comes from God. Joy is dispensed from above before it ever becomes a reservoir within. It was “the joy of the Lord,” Ezra assured the disobedient and discouraged people of God, that would be their strength
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