Lake of the Clouds in Michigan’s U.P.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
We see the disintegration of the family all around us: divorcing couples, rebellious children, absent fathers, abusive parents, siblings who haven’t spoken to each other in years. As we look around, things are not what they should be.
And we all contribute to the disintegration of God’s design for the family. We do it with our words when they are unkind, hurtful, mean, and cutting. We do it with our attitudes when they are angry, bitter, resentful, or grumpy.
At the end of all this disintegration is simply a failure to love. We are too often selfish people living as though it is all about us. But God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. And our closest neighbors are our own families. We need to truly love our families, and this love must be:
In the midst of all the disintegration, it is this other-centered, faithful, sacrificial love that will bind our families together.
Are you showing this kind of love for your family?
Before the next hurricane, tornado, or tsunami come, nail it down:
“Even the winds and the sea obey him” (Matt. 8:27).
– John Piper
To manage a life of pain, as a believer in Jesus,
remember: This is all the hell you will ever bear.
– Robert Murray M’Cheyne
The Lord makes his people sensible of the vanity of the present life,
by a constant proof of its miseries.
– John Calvin
There is a certain kind of maturity that can be attained
only through the discipline of suffering.
– D.A. Carson
Lake Superior near Copper Harbor
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
I’m preaching on love in the family tomorrow, so here are some good posts on family love:
22 Descriptions of Marital Love – Paul Tripp (via R. W. Glenn)
1. Love is being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of your husband or wife without impatience or anger.
2. Love is actively fighting the temptation to be critical and judgmental toward your spouse, while looking for ways to encourage and praise.
Leading in Love – Wayne Grudem (via Tim Challies)
Headship doesn’t mean selfishness. It means being willing to give of yourself for your wife and care for her as well.
Christian Husband’s Only Option: Love Your Wife – Jason Helopoulis
Every Christian husband knows that in Ephesians 5 the husband is exhorted to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. What many of us need to hear, especially in Western modern culture, is that an aspect of Christ’s love for the Church is that it endures. Christian husbands must take note that Christ’s love for the Church is not momentary or even for a season. It is a love that continues. It is steadfast and true. And these qualities are to mark a husband’s love for his wife. There is no other option.
When I Don’t Feel Love for My Spouse – Steve Cornell (via Gospel Coalition)
A woman once told me that she planned to leave her husband because she “just didn’t love him anymore.” I asked her to change the way she worded what she planned to do so that her decision could be understood accurately. I asked her to say it this way: “I am choosing to no longer value my husband and to break my commitment to remain faithful to him.”
If you are married, I hope these posts will help to strengthen your marriage. And as always, have a great Lord’s Day worshiping our Savior who loved his church and gave himself up for her.
Sunset over Lake Superior at Copper Harbor
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
As you prepare to gather with Christ’s church tomorrow, here are some good posts to consider:
We Weren’t Created For Isolation (Short Video) – Brad House (via Crossway)
We weren’t built for isolation, we were created for community. And community isn’t ultimately about us, it’s about God. The church should be the most compelling expression of community in our culture. It should stand in contrast to the counterfeit community that costs us nothing.
The Difference Between Church as Individual Divers and Church as an Organic Body – Richard Lovelace (via Justin Taylor)
No individual, congregation or denomination of Christians is spiritually independent of the others. . . .
Church as an Oasis of Grace – Trevin Wax
Our churches ought to be filled with people who have gospel-focused conversations, where we bring the gospel to bear on every inch of life, hold one another accountable, rebuke one another in love, and encourage one another in grace.
Can I Grow in Holiness Without the Local Church? (Short Video) – David Powlison (via Desiring God)
The role the local church plays in our sanctification….
May we approach church tomorrow in a more Biblical way as we seek to worship our great God together!
Rocky Beach at Lake Superior
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
From pole to pole let others roam
And search in vain for bliss
My soul is satisfied at home
The Lord my portion is
Jesus, who on his glorious throne
Rules heav’n and earth and sea
Is pleased to claim me for his own
And give himself to me
His person fixes all my love
His blood removes my fear
And while he pleads for me above
His arm preserves me here
His word of promise is my food
His Spirit is my guide
Thus daily is my strength renewed
And all my wants supplied
For him I count as gain each loss
Disgrace, for him, renown
Well may I glory in his cross
While he prepares my crown
Let worldlings then indulge their boast
How much they gain or spend
Their joys must soon give up the ghost
But mine shall know no end
– John Newton from Olney Hymns
(Can be sung to the tune of Am I Soldier of the Cross?)
Tree roots making a “natural staircase” (it was quite a climb up and down!)
in the Presque Isle area in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20
Brian J. Mikul 