What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
He is not some impersonal force, but rather a person who acts and can be grieved.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to... Continue Reading
The Ordo Salutis: Glorification
For too many believers glorification is a concept that has no definition in their minds.
in Romans 8:29-30, the passage we call the “Golden Chain of Salvation”, there is something more given to us. Paul writes “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…”[ii] Following on this, Paul continues with a description of what happens when God predestines. The one that is predestined... Continue Reading
Caring for a Father with Dementia
When hard days come, I can take my dad’s dementia and everything else to the Lord.
In the first few years of my dad being back in my life, I struggled with my dad’s dementia and often read about his condition in various medical journals. It became too much for me to read much more about it, and I often cried thinking about what dementia will do to my dad. I... Continue Reading
What Children Need Most in a Pandemic, and Always
We have an opportunity right now to give our children the solid, nutritious, life-giving truth of God’s Word.
Monumental realities from God’s Word provide us and our children with unshakable hope at a time when the whole world seems to be shaking. When it may seem to our children that this virus is out of control, let’s make sure they understand that ‘the Lord has established his throne in the heavens and his... Continue Reading
The Danger of Trying to Explain COVID-19
Rather than trying to explain our suffering, let us give thanks that God brings good out of bad.
We look and see this good God has wrought, and in an effort to give testimony about what He has done, we say something like, “At the time I didn’t understand why we all went through this, but now I see clearly what God was doing.” It’s a noble attempt, and it certainly has the... Continue Reading
Are You Weary in Doing Good?
Look for those opportunities to be faithful to God and do good to others – and do them – even when you do not want to do so in the flesh.
Friends, are you tired? Possibly. Is this wearisome? Maybe for all of us. But will you be better off if you do good? Absolutely. Will God bless your faithfulness if you will just do good? Yes, He promises. Is God trustworthy? Of course. Therefore, when you are tired, continue to do good! Are you feeling it yet? There’s a... Continue Reading
How Talia’s Disabled Daughter Taught Her About the Love of God
God loved us enough to go through the sacrifice & suffering. John writes “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son…”
Growing up in a Christian home, I’ve always known that God loves me regardless of my own response to him. However, loving Georgia, despite the fact that she doesn’t outwardly display any love back (and may never) – that has given me a deeper understanding of how deep God’s love really is. This concept led me... Continue Reading
What Is God’s Ultimate Answer to Our Problem? (Luke 24:13–35)
Move beyond not understanding to understanding the storyline of Scripture, to gaining spiritual eyesight so you can see.
Today is the day you can get clarity on the story of the Bible, a unified story that includes you. It’s the story of God, the world, and God’s answer to the human predicament. If you understand this story, you will understand who you are and how to live. It will give your life hope... Continue Reading
What Is Practical?
We must greatly broaden our view of what is practical. It must fit the entire content of the Bible, or it is too narrow.
Let’s take the hardest kind of literature in the Bible imaginable, in terms of its practicality, the genealogy. How in the world does one read 1 Chronicles 1-9, for example? It is chock full of names, many of which we don’t see in Scripture in other places. Genealogies do several things. Firstly, they provide continuity... Continue Reading
God Is in Control – Even Now.
God has a plan. God is in control. Because of both (even in the midst of a pandemic), you can trust Him.
God is in control. Yes, we would all love to know when Jesus is going to come back; however, only God knows when He will come. Our responsibility is to faithfully serve God as those in Christ until He does come back. What a glorious promise to consider. As we look forward to celebrating... Continue Reading