What do you daydream about? Your idols are the things that, in reality, you most care about having, increasing, or keeping. What do you fear losing or can’t imagine living without? What do you pray about? Often, what we pray about most is a functional god in our life. What do you need in life…
I found this podcast very encouraging. It’s only 20 minutes or so. Here’s some principles they share: A good pastor knows when to keep silent. A good pastor “promotes” people who have the good of the group in mind not those who flatter him. A good pastor uses shock statements (hyperbole) sparingly. A good pastor…
Carson’s statement begs the question, “how do you give a rebuke in loving humility?” David Mathis in his book Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus Through the Spiritual Disciplines gives seven steps we can work towards giving a rebuke that is biblical/Jesus-honoring. Check your own heart first. Seek to sympathize. Pray for restoration. Be quick. In my opinion,…
The young hero and the horrible giant David and Goliath, from 1 Samuel 17 GOD’S PEOPLE HAD SOME scary enemies, but the Philistines were the scariest of them all. And now the Philistines had come to fight them. The young hero and the horrible giant David and Goliath, from 1 Samuel 17 GOD’S PEOPLE HAD…
1. Meditation and memorization keep you from sin. “I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119: 11). 2. Meditation and memorization transform your thinking. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12: 2). 3. Meditation…
1. Meditation and memorization keep you from sin. “I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119: 11). 2. Meditation and memorization transform your thinking. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12: 2). 3. Meditation…
List 1 Rebuke, reprove, admonish, exhort, confront, judge fairly, warn, talk directly and righteous indignation List 2 Attack, criticize, accuse, moralize, condemn, be judgmental, threaten, talk aggressively and self-righteous hostility. David Powlison in Good and Angry says, Do these lists sound rather similar? How are they alike? How are they different? In fact, they are as different as heaven…
List 1 Rebuke, reprove, admonish, exhort, confront, judge fairly, warn, talk directly and righteous indignation List 2 Attack, criticize, accuse, moralize, condemn, be judgmental, threaten, talk aggressively and self-righteous hostility. David Powlison in Good and Angry says, Do these lists sound rather similar? How are they alike? How are they different? In fact, they are as different…
David Powlison in Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness, gives the following examples that I found helpful regarding the “good fruit” of wisdom. Keep your mouth shut, when you used to blurt out a reaction. Listen, when you used to be busy crafting a comeback. Speak up courageously, when you used to get intimidated. Embed any specific…
Peaceable people lay aside warlike traits: defensiveness, aggression, criticism, self-justification, scoring points, touchiness to offenses. These moral weeds — the ‘filthiness and rampant wickedess’ that comes from the anger of man (James 1:20-21) — get plucked up by the roots and begin to wilt. Sweet fruit begins to grow as the Word of God and…
