Start out the New Year: Knowing God

You can download the audiobook for J.I. Packer’s Knowing God for free.

If you have never indulged in this classic, you are missing out! :o)

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His creative wisdom and beauty never cease to amaze me...

(Image taken by Hubble Space Telescope - Click to enlarge)

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"You can't really be so well-adjusted to your world if it ends by nailing you up to a stake of wood." 

-- C. S. Lewis, Four Loves

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"Desires"

Puritan prayer video

Desires

 

 

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"I Feel Distant From God"

At some point in our Christian walk, we've all experienced this.

Here is some wise counsel from David Powlison on how he would respond to that statement and what questions should be asked before dealing with the issue.

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"The Attributes of God" - Shai Linne

Shai Linne released his newest album The Attributes of God on November 1st. I just finished listening straight through the entire album... uninterrupted... my reaction?

WOW. I'm speechless. Seriously, this album is soooo worth getting. The MP3 album download is only $7.99 on Amazon. I also recommend reading the lyrics along with the songs here (scroll down, lyrics list is on the right side). I'm still rocked.....

Get the album here.

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A Prayer about Stuff and Contentment

I like this prayer by Scotty Smith asking God for a heart of contentment:

Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. (Prov. 23:4-5)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Tim. 6:6-8)

Loving Father, we continue to live in a difficult economic season. Some of us who thought we’d be retired in a couple of years are now thinking it’s ten, if ever. Some of us have lost jobs, even homes. Some of us are selling stuff and downsizing out of necessity, not choice. Some of our marriages are being stressed to the point of breaking. Some of us are actually being tempted to steal for the first time. Lord, we need wisdom, we need a work of your Spirit, and some of us really do need jobs.

Father, we look to you. Give us the perspective and power of the gospel as we make hard decisions, and reflect on our relationship to money and “stuff.” Free us from an attitude of entitlement and place within us a Spirit of contentment. When did we first assume the right to excess? When did abundance get relabeled as need? Why did we think only first-century disciples of Jesus would ever actually have to pray for daily bread?

In our “iWorld” of new gadgets and cool widgets, help us ponder the fact that over half of the population on the earth exists on three of our American dollars, or less, a day. Free us to share with others from the much or little that we have. Help us to raise our children not to love money as much as we have. Don’t let us grow bitter, shame-filled or fearful.

Father, if we would wear ourselves out for anything, let it be to become rich toward you (Luke 12:20-21)—to have the gospel so penetrate our hearts that we cry out with spontaneous joy, “Who do I have in heaven but you, O Lord, and being with you I desire nothing on the earth . . . You are my portion, sovereign Lord.”

Lord Jesus, you who were immeasurably rich in all things became incomprehensibly poor for us, so that we, who were desperately poor in sin, might be made inconceivably rich in grace. We worship and adore, with humility and gratitude. We thank you for the daily bread of both wheat and the gospel. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and gracious name.

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TRUE KING

Based on Isaiah 6, this is a spoken word piece by the hubby called "True King" set to music and video. Just thought I'd share because I ♥ it :)

 

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Spurgeon on a Stupid Way to Read the Scriptures

From Charles Spurgeon’s 1867 sermon “A Song at the Well-head”:

You are retired for your private devotions; you have opened the Bible, and you begin to read.

Now, do not be satisfied with merely reading through a chapter. Some people thoughtlessly read through two or three chapters—stupid people for doing such a thing!

It is always better to read a little and digest it, than it is to read much and then think you have done a good thing by merely reading the letter of the word.

For you might as well read the alphabet backwards and forwards, as read a chapter of Scripture, unless you meditate upon it, and seek to comprehend its meaning.

Merely to read words is nothing: the letter kills.

The business of the believer with his Bible open is to pray, “Lord, give me the meaning and spirit of your word, while it lies open before me; apply your word with power to my soul, threatening or promise, doctrine or precept, whatever it may be; lead me into the soul and marrow of your word.”

Also, it is not the form of prayer, but the spirit of prayer that shall truly benefit your souls.
That prayer has not benefited you, which is not the prayer of the soul.

You have need to say, “Lord, give me the spirit of prayer; now help me to feel my need deeply, to perceive your promises clearly, and to exercise faith upon them.”

In your private devotions, strive after vital godliness, real soul-work, the life-giving operation of the Spirit of God in your hearts.

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"Need of Grace"

Puritan prayer video:

Need of Grace

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The Cross and Criticism

I stumbled across an EXCELLENT essay called "The Cross and Criticism" by Dr. Alfred J. Poirier on how Christians should receive, give, and view criticism... the biblical way. I highly recommend reading it - you will be convicted, rebuked, challenged, encouraged and comforted all at the same time. Here's a small excerpt:

In light of God's judgment and justification of the sinner in the cross of Christ, we can begin to discover how to deal with any and all criticism. By agreeing with God's criticism of me in Christ's cross, I can face any criticism man may lay against me. In other words, no one can criticize me more than the cross has. And the most devastating criticism turns out to be the finest mercy. If you thus know yourself as having been crucified with Christ, then you can respond to any criticism, even mistaken or hostile criticism, without bitterness, defensiveness, or blameshifting. Such responses typically exacerbate and intensify conflict, and lead to the rupture of relationships. You can learn to hear criticism as constructive and not condemnatory because God has justified you.

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Are you a FAKE, a FOUL, or a FAITHFUL friend?

Kevin DeYoung, writer of "DeYoung, Restless, and Reformed" blog, has some insight on what the Bible has to say about friendships.

Read the full article HERE. 

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