Happiness in God involves an act of will toward the God who’s there and who loves us, even in sickness, hunger, war, and prison cells. It’s built on His all-encompassing sovereignty, love, goodness, grace, gladness, and redemptive purposes in our lives.   The prophet Habakkuk understood that there is a joy that transcends all circumstances.... Continue Reading

We hope this little catechism will help you and your children to praise God.…by the time your baby has mastered this catechism he or she will probably be time to move on to memorizing short Bible verses, and a children’s catechism.    My wife Emily and I found significant challenges in feeding our first baby... Continue Reading

Know that you are loving your child in the best way possible by modeling and sticking to the truth of God’s Word…and to Truth, the Lord Jesus himself (John 14:6)….By doing so, you will demonstrate that you love them too much to give in to what their Creator says is destructive to them.   Truth... Continue Reading

Our days overflow with countless gifts we easily overlook….evidence of God’s goodness. In the middle of running, parenting, working, pastoring, and living our ordinary lives, it is good to be reminded, “What a privilege!” God is so good in giving us so many gifts that we tend to overlook.   If you’ve ever run a... Continue Reading

Do not envy the wicked. Their prosperity is a vapor. Do not cling to your tithe as if it will save you. Do not scoff at holiness. Do not mock the God of justice.   Malachi 2:17–3:5 The temple courtyard smelled of burnt flour and warm oil. Smoke floated like a veil over the worshipers... Continue Reading

There is something going on. It’s an exciting time to be part of a church and see people coming through the door for the first time.…People are looking for hope, purpose and meaning. We believe that it’s possible, as Charlie Kirk put it, to “pursue the eternal” and in doing so “seek true joy.”  ... Continue Reading

Winthrop wanted the Christian commonwealth in Massachusetts to be a beacon for Christ and to differ from the rest of the world. He wanted the people to keep covenant with God, lest His wrath break out on them for breaching that covenant.   Many Europeans who fled religious persecution in the old country came to the... Continue Reading

How can we respond to such a great salvation? The only possible reply is to fall on our knees before our gracious God in humble awe at His eternal purpose. We ought to cry with thankful tongues, “Lord, why was I a guest?”   One of the mottos associated with the sixteenth-century Reformation is the... Continue Reading

We do not have the moral character to measure wrong perfectly or even well. But the God of the Bible does. He stands as an eternal, ever-present, and ever-truthful witness, as well as an ever-wise, ever-merciful, and ever-just Judge.   Judgments in Revelation There are three series of judgments in the book of Revelation. First,... Continue Reading

As Christ dwells at the center of our affections, we will watch—in wonder, gratitude, and joy—as the circumference of our affections continually expands, radiating upward and outward to include all things (1 Corinthians 3:22-23). Let us, therefore, most heartily resolve never to depart from our first love.   Then Jacob was left alone, and a man... Continue Reading