“The change you don’t implement often becomes something none of us wants– regret. . . . for the sake of contributing meaningfully throughout your entire life, don’t just intend to change. Actually do it.”- Carey Nieuwhof (emphasis author’s) Carey Nieuwhof concludes Chapter 8 of Didn’t See It Coming as he provides four insights and strategies […]
“Theologically, God never changes, and for sure, God’s values are timeless. But your willingness to change gives you the ability to communicate timeless truths in a way that has meaning to those who come after you.”-Carey Nieuwhof In Chapter 8 (“Craving Different”) of Didn’t See It Coming, Carey Nieuwhof discusses how regular (and radical) change […]
Bill Hybels continues Chapter 7 of Simplify with a description of three levels of friendship to help us determine the depth of friendship we have with friends and acquaintances. Pastor Hybels explains: “Having a clear understanding of where each person fits in your life helps you clarify your expectations.” 1. Circumstantial friends. Bill defines circumstantial […]
“. . . you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”- Colossians 3:9-10 “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream another dream.”- C. S. Lewis Opened in 1925, the Crystal […]
Following Chapter 3 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, Sara Horn discusses five ways to start letting go of bitterness right now. 1. Tell God how you’re feeling. When we keep ignoring the hard feelings about our vocation loss, they build up and grow bigger. Sara stresses that we need to make time to talk […]
“Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed by this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”- 2 Chronicles 20:15 As Sara Horn continues Chapter 2 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, she emphasizes that when we are intentional in living each day for Jesus and praying our way through it, […]
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.”- Psalm 19:7 In Chapter 12 (“The Soul Needs Freedom”) of Soul Keeping, John Ortberg observes that Israel always has had deep respect for the giving of the law in a way that is hard for Christians to understand. Before God gave Moses the Ten Commandments […]
“We are all governed by an Overwhelming Positive Passion.”- Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods John Ortberg begins Chapter 6 (“It’s the Nature of the Soul to Need”) of Soul Keeping by stating that the soul is vulnerable because it is needy. If we try to meet that need with anything other than God, life will be […]
In today’s blog, Calvin’s second rule, or principle, of prayer is presented and discussed. 2. Spiritual humility. Calvin described his second rule for prayer as “the sense of need that excludes all unreality.” This spiritual humility includes both (a) a strong sense of our dependence on God, in general, and (b) a readiness to recognize […]
Today Timothy Keller concludes his presentation of twelve aspects of the richness of prayer, found in Chapter 2 of Prayer. 9. Prayer is a refuge. Poet George Herbert states that prayer is a “sinner’s towre”. Pastor Keller explains that means “prayerful dependence on Jesus is our only refuge from our own sin.” Without our dependence […]
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow . . . have lighted fools/ The way to dusty death.”- William Shakespeare, Macbeth Zaccheus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times […]
In Chapter 11 (“Procrastination- I’ll Get Back to It Later”) of AHA, Kyle Idleman notes that if we tell ourselves “I’ll get to it later” often enough, the urgency to act evaporates and our procrastination has consequences. The Prodigal Son’s action, by contrast, was immediate. Pastor Idleman states that it is best to understand Luke […]