Here are some good posts to help you review the past year and think about the new year:
End of Year Check-Up Questions For Christians – David Qaoud
9 Questions to Help You Steward All of Your Life for God’s Glory – Brad Hambrick
Resolution Principles – Brian Mikul (that’s me…)
How to Make Your Resolutions Stick – Mike Cosper (TGC)
10 Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year (pdf) – Donald Whitney
Here are helpful thoughts and plans for reading the Bible personally and as a family in 2019:
Infographic: You Have More Time for Bible Reading than You Think (Crossway)
10 Suggestions For Your Personal Devotions in 2019 – Tim Challies
Reading The Bible Fast And Slow In 2019 – Paul Carter (Challies)
How to Read Through the Bible in a Year With Kids– J. R. Briggs (ABS)
10 Ideas and 10 Tips for Family Devotions in 2019 – Tim Challies
Here are some good posts for Christmas:
God’s Passion for God at Christmas – John Piper (Crossway)
Even as a Secular Holiday, Christmas Makes the Gospel Accessible – Tim Keller (TGC)
How to Love Hard People at Christmas – David Mathis (DG)
An Open Letter to the Depressed Christian at Christmas – David Murray (Crossway)
Christmas for the Weary– Sam Allberry (TGC)
Far as the Curse Is Found Nancy Guthrie (DG)
Hope you have a merry Christmas!
Presque Isle River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
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
Sunset over 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
He is risen, so we can have:
Forgiveness of Sins
Removal of Guilt
Cleansing from Shame
Righteousness in Christ
A New Life in Christ
A Relationship with God
Victory over Sin
Victory over Satan
A Mediator with God
Intercession by Christ
The Sending of the Holy Spirit
The Way to Heaven
The Return of Christ
Personal Resurrection
Hope in Death
Confidence in God’s Word
Mercy or Grace
A Strong Basis for Our Faith
Numerous Reasons to Sing
If Jesus is dead and gone, we have:
No Forgiveness of Sins
No Removal of Guilt
No Cleansing from Shame
No Righteousness in Christ
No New Life in Christ
No Relationship with God
No Victory over Sin
No Victory over Satan
No Mediator with God
No Intercession by Christ
No Sending of the Holy Spirit
No Way to Heaven
No Return of Christ
No Personal Resurrection
No Hope in Death
No Confidence in God’s Word
No Mercy or Grace
No Basis for Our Faith
No Reason to Sing
Here are some good posts for your reflection today:
It Was My Sin That Held Him There: Weeping at the Foot of the Cross – Greg Morse (DG)
We Are Barabbas – Dave Furman (Crossway)
Let Us Never Grow Weary of the Cross – Kevin DeYoung
10 Things You Should Know about the Cross – Patrick Schreiner
Banded Chert
As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—
the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice
for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying,
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,
“Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered,
“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
– Luke 19:37-40
And the stones do cry out – proclaiming the glory and beauty of our Creator!
Brian J. Mikul 