The Best Place

With infinite care and forethought God has chosen the best place in which you can do your best work for the world. You may be lonely, but you have no more right to complain than the lamp has, which has been placed in a niche to illuminate a dark landing or a flight of dangerous stone steps. The master of the house may have put you in a very small corner and on a very humble stand; but it is enough if it be His blessed will. 

Springs In The Valley, Cowman

Successful Christianity

I hope that you are as profoundly disturbed as I am by this new definition of "successful" Christianity. Do you get the uncomfortable feeling that God is being used? The self-centeredness of our culture spawns a self-centered religion. The most common question in evangelism today is, "What can Jesus do for me?" Potential converts are told that Jesus can make them happier, better adjusted and more prosperous. Jesus quickly becomes the supreme product, attractively packaged and aggressively sold to a consuming public.

The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning

Rescuing women from sexual exploitation in Atlanta

In the state of Georgia alone, approximately 250 girls are recruited into prostitution on a monthly basis. Many of these girls end up in Atlanta which has a significant sexual exploitation industry. But Redeemed Love, an Atlanta based organization, is working to stop all that. Dedicated to rescuing women and girls out of prostitution, their mission is to provide victims a new life free of sexual exploitation.

One driving force behind Atlanta's sexual exploitation industry lies in the transient nature of the city. As one of the busiest airports in the world, Hartsfield Jackson International Airport draws in many "buyers" of sexual services. Another factor contributing to the rise of sexual exploitation in Atlanta is the number of major events and conventions held in the area. 

Read More Here.

Rest

What is rest? To step out of self-life into Christ-life; to lie still, and let Him lift you out of it; to fold your hands close, and hide your face on the hem of His garment; to let Him lay his cooling, soothing, healing hands upon your soul, and draw all the hurry and fever from its veins; to realize that you are not a mighty messenger, an important worker of His, full of care and responsibility, but only a little child, with a Father's gentle bidding to heed and fulfill; to lay your busy plans and ambitions confidently in His hands, as a child brings its broken toys at its mother's call... to cease to hurry, so you may not lose sight of His face; to learn to follow Him, and not to run ahead of orders; to cease to live in self and for self, and to live in Him and for Him; to love His honor more than your own; to be a clear medium for His life-tide to shine and glow through. This is consecration, this is rest.

Springs In The Valley

Choosing Gratitude

Even in the most turbulent waters, choosing gratitude rescues me from myself and my runaway emotions. It buoys me on the grace of God and keeps me from drowning in what otherwise would be my natural bent toward doubt, negativity, discouragement, and anxiety.

Over time, choosing gratitude meanings choosing joy. But that choice doesn't come without effort and intentionality. It's a choice that requires constantly renewing my mind with the truth of God's Word, setting my heart to savor God and His gifts, and disciplining my tongue to speak words that reflect His goodness and grace - until a grateful spirit becomes my reflexive response to all of life. 

Choosing Gratitude, Nancy Leigh DeMoss

This Week

Try as I might to come up with something, I am fresh out of blog material. Or maybe I just don't have the energy to sit and write write write these days. There are a lot of things I am pondering over and meditating on that I could translate into article form, but I am just struggling with doing so right now.

I have been reading a lovely new book Choosing Gratitude that I would highly recommend. I will comment more on it later or post a review, but in the meantime, if you need something convicting or something to help you refocus, it is a great book.

The Journey of Our Lives

The journey of our lives is a double journey. There is an outward journey into external confrontations, discoveries, and relationships, and there is an inner journey into self-knowledge and the discovery of what constitutes my individual self-expression, self-fulfillment, freedom, and contentment within. For the Christian, the outward journey takes the form of learning to relate positively and purposefully to the world and other people (to all God's creatures) for God the Creator's sake, and the inward journey takes the form of gaining and deepening our acquaintance with God himself and with Jesus the Son.

In God's Presence, JI Packer

Finding Favor With Children

It is common these days to hear parents say that their children, especially during the teenage years, do not like them. It is considered normal for adolescents to be mad, huffy and rebellious toward their parents and often it is expected as a normal phase of family life.

With all the emotional and physical changes kids endure during their adolescent years, maybe bad attitudes or unhappiness from teenagers is inevitable, particularly when they do not get their way or what they want. But for some families, the teenage years are so difficult that it is hard for parents not to feel as though God has left them on their own to struggle through. 

I often wonder if this period of family life is at times worse than it needs to be. Is it just the way things are with teenagers or have parents missed something that could help prevent or dull their negativity and defiance? 

Read More Here.

On Duty

Every Christian is called to be on duty twenty - four hours every day in 'the king's business.' Your office, your school, your kitchen, your drawing room, your factory, all are a mission field. Jesus still says, "Give the hungry something to eat."

Plenty For Everyone, Corrie Ten Boom

God Weighs The Motive

Praise adds nothing to your holiness, nor does blame take anything from it. You are what you are, and you cannot be said to be better than you are in God's sight. If you consider well what you are within, you will not care what men say about you. They look to appearances, but God looks to the heart. They consider the deed, but God weighs the motive.

The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

Pat Robertson seems to have forgotten the verse "Do Unto Others."

During the Sunday evening service, my church asked for donations to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Turns out, my church has been involved for a number of years with ministries in Haiti and as a result already has relationships and partnerships in place that will be able to quickly bring aid to those in need.

I did not hear any words of condemnation or any insinuation that Haiti was being judged or punished by God at my church last night. The only thing that mattered was that there is a desperate need for aid in Haiti and the people sitting in the audience should help financially if they could. It was a far cry from the words spoken by Pat Robertson this past week about the devastation in Haiti.

Read More Here.

Fellowship With God

If fellowship with God is our first concern, then we can have fellowship with Him in the kitchen, in sickness, in any kind of trying and difficult situation. Whatever lies across our path to be done, even the most irksome chore, is there to be done for God and for His glory. Gone will be the former striving, bondage and frustration. We shall be at peace with our God and ourselves.

We Would See Jesus, Roy and Revel Hession

The Atlanta Examiner

My new article, "Listening to President Obama is like listening to an alcoholic," is up at the Atlanta Examiner if you want to check it out!

God Is Love

Every single thing that happens to the Christian expresses God's love and furthers God's purpose for him. Thus, so far as he is concerned, God is love to him - holy, omnipotent love - at every moment and in every event of everyday life. Even when he cannot see the why and wherefore of God's dealings, he knows that there is love in and behind them and so he can rejoice always; even when, humanly speaking, things are going wrong, he knows that the true story of his life, when known, will prove to be "mercy from first to last' - and he is content.

In God's Presence, JI Packer

Book Review: Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade

It is hard for many of us to imagine, but there is a slave trade that is alive and thriving all over the world. In almost every major country, human trafficking is occurring. The poor and vulnerable, widows and orphans, and at times entire families are being lured and trapped into a life of servitude and slavery. 

David Batstone, in his book Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade, chronicles the rise and return of the global slave trade as well as the hot beds for slavery around the world. The book is full of statistics, thoroughly researched, and includes real life accounts by former victims of their time in slavery as well as how they escaped in places such as Thailand, Uganda, Europe, and the USA.   

The victims stories are chilling and tragic, but Batstone also profiles the every day people and heros who have dedicated their lives to rescuing slaves. Not For Sale is an excellent resource for readers to learn about modern human trafficking and how they can help stop it. 

My Stack 2010

As I have stated in previous posts, I have a little bit of a book problem. Meaning, I love books, so I read a lot, particularly when I should be doing other things, like sleeping.

This is what my bedside table looks like.

These are some of the books I am looking forward to reading this year...

On Writing
The Israel Test
Deep Survival
Choosing Gratitude
Baby Wise
What's So Amazing About Grace
The Importance of Being Foolish
Patched Together
Superfreakonomics
Wrapped in Rain
The Mission Of Motherhood
Master And Commander
Master Your Metabolism
The Shaping Of A Christian Family
Homeschooling For Excellence
Experiencing God Through Prayer
Springs In The Valley
My Grandfather's Son
The Defector
Boundaries With Kids
HMS Surprise
Post Captain
The Mauritius Command
Desolation Island
The Fortune Of War
Praying
Dear John
Jayber Crow
Parenting by the Book
Not For Sale
Louder Than Words
The Road
Crazy Love
Moscow Rules
Potluck
Churchill
The King Must Die
Getting Out Of Our Kids Faces and Into Their Hearts
The Surgeon's Mate
The Ionian Mission
Treason's Harbor
The Far Side of the World
The Reverse of the Medal
The Letter of Marque
The Fat Smash Diet
The Remebrant Affair
Ragamuffin Gospel
The Ministry of Motherhood
What Is A Family
Toddler Wise
Child Wise
World War IV
Tinkers
Queen Elizabeth
Guilty
Damaged But Not Broken
Cool It
The Butterfly Garden
The Last Days Of The Romanovs
The Afghan Campaign
The Discipline of Grace
Raising Great Kids
The Bin Laden Family
Christ of the Indian Road
The Help
Traitor To His Class: The Story Of Franklin D Roosevelt
Twelve Christian Beliefs That Can Drive You Crazy
Jesus Creed
The Scarlet Letter
The Second World War
The First World War
A History of the Jews
The 4:8 Principle
Grace Based Parenting
Ruthless Trust
Liberal Fascism
The History Of The American People

The Ministry of Small Things

The unglamorous and little publicized words of mercy, the ministry of small things, feeding and sheltering, visiting the sick and incarcerated, educating, correcting, speaking a healing word, bearing wrongs, listening creatively, counseling, washing dirty feet, praying with people, are all ways of living the life of compassion. This is no minor matter. When Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect... as your heavenly Father is perfect," the same commandment is translated in Luke 6:36: "Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate."

The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning

The Purpose of Sorrow

When sorrow comes under the power of divine grace, it works out a manifold ministry in our lives. Sorrow reveals unknown depths in the soul and unknown capabilities of experience and service. Gay, trifling people are always shallow, and never suspect the little meanness in their nature. Sorrow is God's plowshare that turns up and subsoils the depths of the soul, that it may yield richer harvests.

Streams in the Desert, January 20

Growing in grace through Christ centeredness

There are several external signals that indicate a believer is growing in his relationship with God. A greater faith, deeper humility, and a willingness to accept insecurity are all indicators a Christian is walking with God. But one other important indicator is the Christ centeredness found in a believer's life.

While the term "Christ centeredness" can refer to a variety of characteristics in a believer's life, it is a desire for the Savior that best defines Christ centeredness. A Christ centered believer desires to...

Read More Here.

When Jesus Is Near

When Jesus is near, all is well and nothing seems difficult. When he is absent, all is hard. When Jesus does not speak within, all other comfort is empty, but if he says only a word, it brings great consolation.

The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

Taking Risks For God

Although the Holy Spirit is the great agent of change in a believer's life, a follower of Christ is partly responsible for making sure that he is maturing and growing in grace. There are several exterior indicators in a believer's life which signify he is growing in his walk with Christ. 

One indicator is a person's faith in God. All of God's followers begin their journey with him by taking a step of faith and believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and trusting him as Savior. But over time, as a believer grows in his relationship with Christ, his faith in God should be increasing as well. This can be seen in a believer's willingness to...

Read More Here. 

God's Promises

Every one of God's promises is backed by the golden reserves of the bank of heaven, with God watching over His word to perform it. If we stand before the 'plenty' of God's great riches, our amazement is more at the grace of God which enables us to be channels of all His love and goodness.

Plenty For Everyone, Corrie Ten Boom 

A Steadfast Spirit

The more recollected a man is, and the more simple of heart he becomes, the easier he understands sublime things, for he receives the light of knowledge from above. The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not distracted by many labors, for he does them all for the honor of God. And since he enjoys interior peace, he seeks no selfish end in anything. What, indeed, gives more trouble and affliction than uncontrolled desires of the heart?

The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

Growing In Grace

As children of God, believers are called to grow and mature in their faith. It is a life long journey often consisting of three steps forward followed by two steps back. Nonetheless, a believer's walk with God should be marked by gradual forward motion. 

While only God knows each man's heart, there are exterior indicators that reveal if a believer is growing in God and in his grace. One test is...

Read More Here.

Peace With Others

Once a person knows that God has forgiven and accepted him and will keep him right to the end of his life and then receive him into heaven to be with his Lord forever, he can enjoy peace with himself (if God has forgiven you, you have to forgive yourself!), and he can also be at peace with his situation. This will lead to peace with his fellow men. The deepest cause of tension between people is their own inner lack of peace. We denigrate and crush others because we feel insecure and discontented ourselves. When Jesus gives peace within, our attitude to others changes completely.

In His Presence, JI Packer

Connected to God

The holidays are my favorite time of year and in preparation, I have made my shopping lists, placed food orders, and am knocking projects off my to do list. I feel ready for a house full of people and food this week.

On the other hand, I am also very tired. I have been waking up in the mornings wiped out and feel that way all during the day. But the truth is that I am a more than just tired. I am irritable and impatient and about things that should not cause me to be irritable or impatient. 

I wish I could blame all my irritability and impatience on some of the other stressful things going on in my life, like sick relatives and long work hours, but deep down I know that it is just me being an unpleasant and selfish version of myself. 

It is the me I am when...

Read More Here.

In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God's ministry to others.

My Utmost For His Highest, June 10

Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step.

My Utmost For His Highest, January 20

Sit Walk Stand

The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by him and standing in him. We begin our spiritual life by resting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus. That rest is the source of our strength for a consistent and unfaltering walk in the world. And at the end of a grueling warfare with the hosts of darkness we are found standing with him at last in triumphant possession of the field.

Sit Walk Stand, Watchman Nee

Suffering For Christ

With good reason, then ought you to be willing to suffer a little for Christ since many suffer much more for the world. Realize that you must live a dying life; the more a man dies to himself, the more he begins to live unto God.

The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

With Halloween over, the holiday season is now upon us and there is nothing I look forward to more during this time of year than the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which is coming to the Fox Theater in Atlanta November 19 - December 6. 

A wonderful event for the entire family, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular features the world famous Rockettes, as well as...

Read More Here.

Our Expectations

Our expectations are our greatest obstacle to union with God in the present moment. It is Jesus who writes all the lines, all the words, and all the letters of our lives. Do I really know what is best for me? My vision is so shortsighted, my horizon so limited. Surrender is a practical application of confession - what we pray each day in the Lord's prayer, "Thy will be done." Abandonment is the triumph of trust in our lives.

The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning

Jon Gosselin: A man of many women and many faiths

Jon Gosselin has rediscovered his Jewish roots. In a recent interview with ParentDish.com, Jon discussed his girlfriend Hailey Glassman and claimed to be half Jewish. "Hailey is Jewish. Everyone in my life now is Jewish, my attorney. I love it. I am now half Jewish and half Korean."

As a fan of Jon and Kate Plus Eight, I can't help but remember the many references on the show by the Gosselins to their Christian faith. There were the bible verses taped to the walls of their home and the episodes chronicling them attending church as a family. Several of their daughter's middle names are even fruits of the Holy Spirit. 

Throughout the first four seasons, Jon and Kate appeared to be committed Christians. Their marriage wasn't perfect (anyone could see that) and their life wasn't perfect. It was full of stress and tension, but also joy and happiness, which is part of what made Jon and Kate so popular. They seemed to be like the rest of us...

Read More Here.

Laboring in Prayer

There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person's work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God's perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.

My Utmost For His Highest, October 17

Dare To Discipline

Dare to Discipline, the famous parenting book by James Dobson, is a book I have avoided reading for the past few years. Many other parent friends even highly recommended it and yet I still did not want to read it. Because it was written by a such a well-known conservative christian leader, I imagined it would be extremely conservative in message with a strong emphasis on strict disciple and corporal punishment and I simply did not want to read another christian parenting book like that.

But then Dare to Discipline was recommended to me again recently by a dear friend who I trust about parenting issues. Since I owned a copy of the book already, I figured I should at least skim it. After reading the first two chapters, I was hooked. Turns out, Dare to Discipline is one of the best parenting books I have read so far.

Dare to Discipline is full of common sense advice and emphasizes discipline with grace instead of punishment. Filled with real life stories, Dr. Dobson explains his parenting philosophy formulated from years of working in the medical field with families and children. Each chapter addresses a specific parenting issue and contains a question and answer section to help readers better understand what they are learning. As a result, parents can easily adopt Dr. Dobson's methods and create a plan for their own home. 

With over 3.5 million copies sold, Dare to Discipline is an excellent resource that teaches practical parenting tips and helps families to create solid foundations in their relationships, so they can face the future with joy and anticipation instead of fear or dread. 

 

The Importance Of Allowing A Child To Say No, At Times

"No." A child's favorite word. It may not be their first word, but eventually it becomes their most frequently used word. From the time a child learns to speak, it seems as though the word no is uttered more than any other.

All parents deal with hearing the word no differently. In some homes, it is not allowed to be spoken and results in a scolding. Some parents overlook the word no and try to negotiate a child into compliance. Other parents try to evaluate the child's tone of voice that accompanies the no being spoken in order to discern their child's attitude and the appropriate parental response.

Whatever a parent's philosophy about the word no, it is important to allow a child to say no at times...

Read More Here.

Jesus and Friendship

When Jesus talked to his disciples, he didn't give long discourses on friendship. He demonstrated friendship by being available, compassionate, self - sacrificing, and tender. His chosen friends responded! Yes, he called them to accountability; He rebuked them when they were wrong. But when He was finished, they still felt cherished by him. What a picture - another of His gifts to us - to be treasured, to be emulated.

We need not set out in search of a friend. Rather, we must simply set out to be the friend Christ modeled - anticipating the needs of others, wearing ourselves out at giving. Jesus dies doing it. The rewards are infinite and joyous!

A Gentle Spirit, September 28

Book Review: The Gentle Spirit Devotional

I was browsing in a christian bookstore one day and found a book entitled A Gentle Spirit. A 365 day devotional book, I was surprised to see it only cost $4.99. I scanned the description on the back and recognized some of the names of the contributing writers. Why not buy it, I thought? It only cost five dollars. If I didn't like it, I would not be out much money.

Turns out that was one of the best five dollars I have ever spent. A Gentle Spirit is a lovely book that seeks to help christian women grow deeper in their faith in Christ. It also shows them, in an encouraging and simple way, how to imitate Christ and understand how living connected to him can impact all the areas of their lives for good.

A Gentle Spirit is an excellent devotional book, with contributions from Ruth Bell, Patsy Clairmont, Sheila Walsh, Joni Erickson Tada, Elisabeth Elliot, Corrie Ten Boom, and many other well known christian women. I have read it for several years, and even now it still continues to challenge and change me. If you are looking for a great devotional book, A Gentle Spirit will not disappoint. 

The tenth commandment: Why shouldn't we covet?

"You shall not covet," is the tenth commandment God gives to Moses at Mt. Sinai. In this commandment, God's emphasis shifts away from man's actions and instead focuses on his attitudes and motives. By prohibiting covetousness, God reveals that he does not want it to be a motive for action found in the hearts of his followers.

 

This is because desires motivated by greed and covetousness are sinful and the opposite of godly qualities like peace and contentment. Contentment is important to God because...

Read More Here.

The ninth commandment: "You shall not bear false witness"

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor," is the ninth commandment given to Moses by God at Mt. Sinai. In this command, bearing false witness refers to anything that is untrue or insincere which may create false ideas about our neighbors. It also includes exaggerations and half-truths that hurt and damage others.

 

God gives this command to Moses because...

Read More Here.

The command "Thou Shall Not Steal" is about more than unlawfully taking physical objects

"You shall not steal," is the eighth commandment given by God to Moses at Mt. Sinai. In the Bible, stealing is defined as depriving another person of what is rightly his. This command is necessary because man is sinful and as a result tempted to steal at times. Stealing occurs because fallen man always wants more than he or the others around him have. 

But there are other forms of stealing than just the taking of a physical object or possession from someone else. One common area of theft in modern life is the theft of time...

Read More Here.

The Lord's Purpose

Our Lord's purpose is not the development of a person - His purpose is to make a person exactly like himself, and the Son of God is characterized by self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain but what he pours through us that really counts. God's purpose is not simply to make us into plump, beautiful grapes, but to make us grapes so that He may squeeze the sweetness out of us. Our spiritual life cannot be measured by success as the world measures it, but only by what God pours through us.

My Utmost For His Highest, September 2

Learning to love our children the way they need to be loved

There is a prayer I find myself praying over and over again. I pray it in the mornings after my child has gone to school and I have a quiet house all to myself. I sometimes pray it in the evenings when I put my child to bed and hug her goodnight. I always pray it late at night, when I creep in her room to check on her and take a minute to watch her sleeping. I pray that God would show me how she needs to be loved, and that He would help me to love her in the way she needs.

We all, adults and children alike, have a love language that we speak, and we feel most loved when someone...

Read More Here.

Book Review: Gabriel Allon spy series by Daniel Silva

For those of you out there who are big readers, and even if you are not, I have discovered an awesome series of books that I absolutely cannot put down. They are the Gabriel Allon spy novels by Daniel Silva. 

I happened to pick one up that was lying around a beach house I was staying at recently. Since then, I have been reading them non-stop. Last week, I loaned the first two to my father-in-law. He read and returned them to me within four days. He now has my copies of the next five books in the series. 

To say the least, Daniel Silva is an excellent writer. His stories are compelling, but not overly complicated or too simplistic. And his plot lines are unique, because they are based on actual past historical events and how those events now affect the decisions of his characters. The characters in the novels are very provocative as well, with Israeli spy Gabriel Allon being the star. 

If you are looking for a new novel that has a great story, with the added benefit that you will actually learn some history as you read, then Daniel Silva's books are for you. I recommend starting with The Kill Artist. Once you being reading it, you won't stop until you have read all nine books in the series. They are just that good.   

Book Review: Safe People

Have you ever been wounded by someone that you trusted or thought was your friend? Have you ever been in a relationship or friendship where you gave your best and only received the worst in return? If so, the book Safe People is for you. Written by Henry Could and John Townsend, the authors of the book Boundaries, Safe People is an excellent resource for people seeking advice about developing and maintaining healthy relationships. 

Safe People begins by explaining the 20 traits of unsafe people. It also helps its readers...

Read More Here.

The Fruit of Holy Obedience

The fruit of holy obedience are many. But two are so closely linked together that they can scarcely be treated separately. They are a passion for personal holiness and a sense of utter humility. God in flames the soul with a craving for absolute purity. But He, in His glorious otherness, empties us of ourselves in order that He may become all.

A Testament of Devotion, Thomas A Kelly. 

God's Glorious Harmony

We once saw a man draw some black dots. We looked and could make nothing of them but an irregular assemblage of black dots. Then he drew a few lines, put in a few rests, then a clef at the beginning, and we saw these black dots were musical notes... There are many black dots and black spots in our lives, and we cannot understand why they are there or why God permitted them to come. But if we let God come into our lives, and adjust the dots in the proper way, and draw the lines He wants, and separate this from that, and put in the rests at the proper places; out of the black dots and spots in our lives He will make a glorious harmony. Let us not hinder Him in this glorious work!

Streams in the Desert, July 23

The seventh commandment is about more than not cheating

"You shall not commit adultery," (Exodus 20:14) is the seventh commandment God gives to Moses at Mt. Sinai. This commandment prohibits the act of sex by a married person with anyone other than their spouse. The adultery addressed in this commandment is different than the act of fornication, which is defined as sex between single people and also prohibited by God. The seventh commandment refers to adultery as it relates to married couples.

By stating this command so clearly, God forces his followers to face the fact that...

Read More Here.

There is more to the command "You shall not murder" than the taking of another man's life

"You shall not murder," (Exodus 20:13) is the sixth commandment God gives to Moses at Mt. Sinai. The principle behind this commandment is that human life is holy, because it is a gift from God. This commandment defines murder as the malicious and unlawful killing of another man who has been made in God's image. 

Life is precious in God's sight. He alone creates it and ends it according to his will and plan. Because of this...

Read More Here.

How the commandment "Honor Thy Father and Mother" reveals God's love for family

"Honor Thy Father and Mother," (Exodus 20:12) is the fifth commandment God gives to Moses at Mt. Sinai. This commandment is significant because it reveals the importance of family to God. Since God is Jesus' Heavenly Father, he is also father to all those who profess faith in and follow his Son. Family life is important to God because he himself is a father and loves all his children dearly.

As a result, family life is part of God's plan for the world and for most individuals. It serves as the basic societal and spiritual unit of society. In societies and nations where family life is deteriorating...

Read More Here.

Keeping The Sabbath Holy

"Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy," (Exodus 20:8) is the fourth commandment given by God to Moses at Mt. Sinai. In our culture, Sunday is usually referred to as the Sabbath Day. Sometimes we think of it as a day of rest, but more often than not, we use it as a day to catch up on chores or work or errands before the work week begins again, with possibly church and some leisure activities squeezed in. Yet, we are commanded to keep it holy, but how?

Read More Here.

Not taking the Lord's name in vain

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain," (Exodus 20:7) is the third commandment given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Often when we hear this command, we assume it prohibits using God's name as a swear word, which it does, because to do so would be the opposite of worshiping and honoring God. 

But this command is about more than just bad language or using God's name in vain... 

Read More Here.

Following the second commandment: Is our image of God accurate or idolatry?

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth below," (Exodus 20:4) is the second commandment that God gives to Moses on Mt. Sinai. This commandment forbids creating and worshiping idols or images. 

But if we look deeper, this commandment is also addressing our own personal image of God. Believers and non-believers alike have a tendency to create an idea of God in their minds that, while partially true, may not be biblically accurate. If the image of God that we create in our imagination is the one we worship, could that be a form of idolatry?  

Read More Here.

How do we obey the first commandment?

The 10 Commandments were given by God as a blueprint for his children on how human life should be lived. When giving the 10 Commandments to Moses on Mt. Sinai, God did not start lightly or ease him into them. Instead, the first commandment sets the tone for all the others that follow. God tells Moses, "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) But what does it truly mean to have nothing before God in our life?

 

When I think of the first commandment...

Read More Here.

Losing Our Children's Literature Heritage

I have just learned about the new law banning all children's books printed before 1985 because they may be unsafe and lead to lead poisoning. All ideological and political positions aside, how absurd. Vintage children's books are unsafe for children? Right.

The heartbreaking thing is that none of these books can now be sold, and will be disposed of as trash. A wealth of literature and reading material that would be wonderful for children to read will be destroyed. Books that are out of print will be lost forever if they happen to be published before 1985. And the effect of small book dealers and libraries will be tremendous. Many wonderful and charming books will be removed and lost from our local libraries forever. 

There are many books that I loved as child which are now out of print that I look for in thrift and antique stores. No longer. These books are so dangerous and toxic that the government must step in and keep them away from our children, and in the process it will destroy our nation's long heritage of children's literature. 

The Ugandan American Partnership Organization

Have you ever felt like the world was too big and you were too small to make a difference? Have you ever thought that you were just one person, so what could you do to significantly help others?

Brittany Merrill, a local Atlanta woman, proves that even one person can make a difference. While teaching literature in the summer of 2004 in Uganda, she had the opportunity to travel to nearby villages. Brittany met local people and learned of their struggles to provide for the many orphans in their country. Based on this experience, she founded the Ugandan American Partnership Organization. 

Read More Here.

Not Affecting Wisdom

The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely you will be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you. If you think you know many things and understand them well enough, realize at the same time that there is much you do not know. Hence, do not affect wisdom, but admit your ignorance.

The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

Are the 10 Commandments relevant today?

One of the most well-known passages of the Old Testament is the 10 Commandments. Many of us learned about the 10 Commandments in Sunday school children, but can you think of a time, as an adult, when you heard a sermon or received instruction on the 10 Commandments? It makes one wonder if the 10 Commandments really matter very much anymore. Do they matter in our daily Christian life, or did Jesus, his words, and his teachings push aside the 10 Commandments and make them insignificant?

Read More Here.

Growing In Humility

The Gospels are full of stories about Jesus and the remarkable and selfless humility he demonstrated in his life, toward God and his fellow man. As followers of Christ, we are to imitate Christ and his humility and follow his lead. But how do we know if humility is increasingly present in our life? If we feel confident that we are growing in humility or think humility to be one of our strong points, then we are probably not as humble as we believe ourselves to be. So, how do we know if we are truly growing in humility?

 

Read More Here.

A Hunger For Humility

Christian believers are called to be imitators of Christ. One quality that marked Jesus' life in its entirety was his humility. The Scriptures describe him as being gentle and humble of heart. 

 

But humility is something that is in short supply these days, even among Christians. We often get so upset and angry over the smallest trifles in our daily lives, particularly when we feel that our person or reputation is being impugned in the slightest way. But Jesus showed us a better way...

Continue reading Here.

Book Review: In God's Presence by J.I. Packer

I have been reading In God's Presence by J.I. Packer this year. Packer is most well known for his timeless work Knowing God. He has authored countless books, and was named by Time magazine one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America. Packer is an excellent writer, but I think he is so influential because he has the unique ability to simplify complex theological issues so they are understandable to the average lay person. 

 

His devotional book, In God's Presence, accomplishes exactly this. Packer tackles what it means, over 365 days, to be a member of the family of God. The daily readings are full of Packer's brilliant insights and formatted so that readers are able to better comprehend a piece of biblical or theological truth, before moving onto the next day's reading. Each daily devotional includes a prayer as well as meditation questions to spur the reader on to deeper thinking about the topic of the day.

 

As Packer himself has said, "As a writer, part of my job is to case the world of scholarship, like a woman bargain-hunting, to find what would be worthwhile for the thoughtful layman to know." In God's Presence is well written and full of logical and practical biblical truths to help followers of Christ grow in their walk with God. 

The Secrets Of Spiritual Joy

The Scriptures tell us to "Rejoice in the Lord always." The word rejoice is synonymous with joy, so the bible means that we are to have joy in the Lord always. But what is joy exactly? Joy is not about having a cheerful disposition or a life that is always full of fun and laughter. Instead, joy is a state of being in which contentment reigns. And God has revealed that there are sources of spiritual joy accessible to all His children.

The first source of joy is loving God. Our love for God is possible because...

Read More Here.

Rooted In God

It is good for us to have trials and troubles at times, for they often remind us that we are on probation and ought not to hope in any worldly thing. It is good for us to sometimes to suffer contradiction, to be misjudged by men, even though we do well and mean well. These things help us to be humble and shield us from vainglory. When to all outward appearances men give us no credit, when they do not think well of us, then we are more inclined to seek God, who sees our hearts. Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men. 

The Imitation Of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

How do we make our homes spiritually healthy places?

A few days ago I hit the one year mark of living in my current home. A year ago I was unpacking boxes after an 18 month long process of trying to sell my previous house. 

 

During that year and a half, I experienced some great disappointment, like when the first contract fell through just days before the closing date. My family and I waited for almost an entire year before we received another offer, and most days I wondered why God was making us wait so long.  

 

But God had some lessons to teach me during that period of waiting...

Read More Here.

Going Into The Great Depths Of God

If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself - begin to have spiritual discernment.

My Utmost For His Highest, June 8

I want God's light to shine from me, but I am not sure it does. Will it ever?

I have been taking some time recently to reflect on the topics I have written on lately. Usually, the topics I write on are things that God is currently teaching me, which often makes it a challenge to write in the third person. Third person makes it sound as though I am an authority on what I am writing, when really God is challenging me and working on me about my writing topics.

 

One issue I have been reflecting on this week comes from my article, The defining characteristics of Christ's church. I describe how people in Christ's church are to be full of joy and radiate God's presence. Since I wrote that article, I have been thinking, "Do I radiate God's presence, and am I really full of joy?"

 

I can fairly confidently answer "no" to both of those questions....

Read More Here.

Too often I take the Cross for granted. But why?

The cross of Jesus Christ was a remarkable event in history. Sometimes, when I think about the cross, I take it for granted because it is part of the story of Jesus that I know so well. But every once in awhile, when I stop and think about the significance of the cross, and the magnitude of what God did for me on the cross, I am stunned.

 

From the very beginning of history, God had a problem...

Read More Here...

What characteristics define Christ's church?

Following Jesus is not an individual experience. When a person comes to Christ, following repentance for his sins and a profession of faith in God's Son, he enters into a new family and community, also known as the church. In this community, all the members are surrendered to God and acknowledge his lordship over their lives. But what did Jesus say his church should look like? What defining characteristics should mark the lives of the people in the church?

Read More Here...

What is a true disciple of Jesus like?

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Webster defines the word disciple as "one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another." People who follow Jesus are to do more than just confess their faith in Him. Christians who follows Jesus are to be His present day disciples, just like the twelve disciples in the Gospels. But what characteristics mark the lives of true disciples of Jesus?

Read More Here....

The Importance Of Imitating Jesus

Christ's followers are called to be imitators of Him. But some christians' ideas about imitating Jesus seem to include some very un-Jesus like behavior. They are angry and condemning and self-righteous which can turn non-believers away from the Gospel message. But is this how Jesus was? What does the Bible say about Jesus and the ways in which His followers are to imitate Him? 

Read More Here...

What makes Jesus so different?

Jesus was a revolutionary figure. Not in a political or military sense, but He was revolutionary in a religious sense. Yet many people view Jesus as divisive, condemning, and judgmental. But is this how He truly was or just how some people imagine Him to be? Could someone so unattractive have changed the religious landscape of the world so dramatically? Probably not. What was it that made Jesus irresistable to so many people throughout the centuries and enabled His teachings take root?         

Continue reading here...

Meditating vs. brooding

Many people, christian and non-christian alike, are brooders. Usually the term brood has a negative connotation attached to it because often people brood in selfish ways. As they selfishly brood, people indulge in ugly and unattractive thoughts and feelings toward another person or situation. 

But brooding can be beneficial. If it is done to analyze problems, discover solutions to difficult situations, or create positive strategies, brooding can be a healthy activity. And just as healthy brooding is important in a person's life so also christian brooding is important in a christian's life. This is because christian brooding is another term for meditation, which is a vital element in a believer's relationship with God...

Continue Reading Here.

The Humble Man

It is the humble man who God protects and liberates; it is the humble whom He loves and consoles. To the humble He turns and upon them bestows great grace, that after their humiliation He may raise them up to glory. He reveals His secrets to the humble, and with kind invitation bids them come to Him. Thus, the humble man enjoys peace in the midst of many vexations, because his trust is in God, not in the world. Hence, you must not think that you have made any progress until you look upon yourself as inferior to all others.

The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

Money In The New Testament

It is no surprise in these difficult economic times that the topic of money is constantly being discussed. With unemployment at almost 10%, and with many families and individuals struggling, everyone is talking about money. Talk show hosts, news anchors, analyst, and politicians all have an opinion on how the American people should save, use, spend, or invest their money.

But did you know that Jesus discussed money more than any other topic in the New Testament? He did not discuss where to invest or how much to save, but he did repeatedly explain why money is important. According to Jesus, money is important because how it is used is an indicator of... Read More Here.

The Fruit Of Love

Only the Holy Spirit can create in us the kind of love toward our Savior that will overflow in imaginative sympathy and practical helpfulness toward his people. Only the Holy Spirit can train us in love....

In God's Presence, March 3

Surviving The Cross

Nothing ever survives the Cross but what is wholly of God in Christ. God never asks us to do anything we can do. He asks us to live a life which we can never live and to do a work which we can never do. Yet, by His grace, we are living it and doing it. The life we live is the life Christ lived in the power of God, and the work we do is the work of Christ carried on through us by His Spirit whom we obey. Self is the only obstruction to that life and to that work.

Sit Walk Stand, Watchman Nee

A Christ-like Vocation

Everybody has a vocation to some form of life work. But behind that and deeper than that, everybody has a vocation to be a person, to be fully and deeply a human being, to be Christ-like. And the second is more important than the first. It is more important to be a great person than a great teacher, butcher, or candlestick maker. And if the only chance of succeeding in the second is to fail in the first, the failure, from God's point of view, is fruitful.

The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning

Scared: A Novel At The Edge Of The World

Scared, the new novel by Tom Davis, follows the merging life paths of two people separated by age, skin color, and continents who are unexpectedly brought together by God's hand.

Stuart Daniels, an award winning New York Times photographer, is haunted by his most famous photo taken during a rebel attack on a village in the Congo. The violent image disturbes him so deeply.... Continue reading here.

Taking The Lowest Place

Always take the lowest place and the highest will be given to you, for the highest cannot exist apart from the lowest. The saints who are greatest before God are those who consider themselves the least, and the more humble they are within themselves, so much more glorious they are. Since they do not desire vain glory, they are full of truth and heavenly glory. Being established and strengthened in God, they can by no means be proud. They attribute to God whatever good they have received; they seek no glory from one another but only that which comes from God alone. They desire above all things that He be praised in themselves and in all His saints - this is their constant purpose.

The Imitation Of Christ, Thomas A Kempis.

The Penalty of Sin

One of the penalties of sin is our acceptance of it. It is not only God who punishes for sin, but sin establishes itself in the sinner and takes its toll. No struggling or praying will enable you to stop doing certain things, and the penalty of sin is that you gradually get used to it, until you finally come to the place where you no longer even realize that it is sin. No, power, except the Holy Spirit, can change or prevent the inherit consequences of sin.

My Utmost For His Highest, March 16.

Our Body For Christ

Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to love out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and your are the hands with which He is to bless us now.

St. Teresa of Avila

Feed The Forgotten

How can we creatively find ways to give food to these families who are hungry and weak? Thanks to Children's Hope Chest we can all take part in bringing meals to people who desperately need them - what a great way to spend a weekend! We get to Feed The Forgotten.

I know...there may be many of you out there like me who have already given financially to this and other projects and are feeling like there might not be much left to give. But since we can provide a meal for only $.14 for someone in Uganda I suggest we swap something we have planned for this weekend in order to feed these precious, hungry people. Are you in? Here are some ideas:

Who has plans to go out for lunch or dinner? Would you consider swapping your meal to Feed The Forgotten. Get this: The $30 dinner that you swap can provide 214 meals for Ugandans! (When you swap your meal please remember to note "Feed The Forgotten" in the notes section.)

Who is planning on shopping for new summer clothes? Would you consider swapping one of your items to put food in the bellies of hungry people? Giving up that $25 shirt will provide 179 meals for people in Uganda!

Whose children are anxious to do their first lemonade stand of the year? How about talking to your kids about swapping their profits from the lemonade they sell to Feed The Forgotten? One $.75 lemonade can feed 5 children a meal. What a great way to show your children that they CAN do something too!!

Who is planning on paying a babysitter so you can go out this weekend? How about swapping babysitting services with a friend so that you both can donate the money you saved to Feed The Forgotten? A $40 savings in babysitting can provide285 meals for Ugandans!!

Who is looking forward to that Saturday morning coffee at the coffee shop? How about swapping your $4.00 coffee drink for 29 meals for hungry people? It doesn't take much!

Who has plans to catch a movie this weekend? How about swapping one movie ticket (about $9.50) for 68 meals?? Hard to believe that sacrificing one movie can give so many people food!

Who is planning a trip to the local ice cream shop? How about swapping your $10 ice cream visit to fill up 71 peoplewith a meal?

We CAN do something and we can do it together this weekend! When you give (being sure to identify "Feed the Forgotten" in the notes section) please pray for these people who are suffering and have such tangible needs. It's humbling that God chooses to use US to be His hands and feet. These people will NOT be forgotten this weekend!!

$0.14 will provide 1 meal
$2.86 will feed someone for 20 days
$1 will feed a family
$20 will feed a family for 20 days

YOU can Make a Difference

*Originally posted by Brandi

Stand In The Door

When Charles Spurgeon was once asked if the heathen who had never heard the Gospel would be saved, his reply is reputed to be, 'Will you be saved when you do not bring them the Gospel?' What a responsibility we have to every creature in every place: even the unexpected.

Plenty For Everyone, Corrie Ten Boom

'Stand in the door' means that we must be obedient and go where God tells us, whether it be a call to the mission field or a call to work for Him at home. He can use us only when we are in the place where he wants us to be.

Plenty For Everyone, Corrie Ten Boom

Change Agents For Christ

You and I are not meant to act like pre-resurrection disciples, racked with fear, doubt, and timidity. We are post-resurrection disciples, and if we are to live like post-resurrection disciples, everything in our lives must change. The question for us is whether we are willing to make that commitment - to live and act differently, and to repair the hole in our own gospel. If we are, then God will use us as parts of His amazing plan to change the world. 

But becoming this kind of disciple, one who is determined to be the gospel to the the world around him, involves intentional decision. It doesn't just happen. Any of us who have ever been on a diet or embarked on an exercise regimen know that fitness and weight loss don't just happen. They require us to make a choice and then change our behaviors in deliberate ways - it cannot be "business as usual." And it's not easy. The same is true of discipleship. We won't really become change agents for Christ just by going to church every Sunday. We will have to make some "on purpose" life choices and then change our priorities and behavior. Only then can God transform us and use us to change the world. 

The Hole In Our Gospel, Rich Stearns

Taking Up Our Cross

Jesus never explained the "why" of suffering... He simply made it the indispensable condition for discipleship. Never once did Jesus ask those who wanted to join the company of His friends if they were chaste, honest, sober, or respectable. Never once did He attempt to charm anyone to His service with fair promises of happiness. On the contrary, with uncompromising honesty, He said, "If anyone will come after Me, let him take up his cross daily. And whoever does not take up his cross daily (not weekly or monthly) and come after Me cannot be My disciple."

The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, Brennan Manning