Tag: Christianity

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

The best laid plans….  I had every intention of blogging daily using the schedule I mentioned a few weeks ago, but it has been a busy week.  We’ll see how next week goes.  In the meantime, here are some good posts from around the web:

Glorifying God

Kevin DeYoung considers how being part of a local church glorifies God.

Jeff Brewer suggests 15 ways that college freshmen can seek to glorify God.  With slight re-application this list would be useful for all of us!

Passion for Christ

A great excerpt from J. C. Ryle on what loving Jesus looks like.  Challenging!

Justin Taylor quotes John Piper and Ryle considering how our love for Christ should intersect with our desire for heaven.

God’s Blessings

Mark Altrogge reminds us of our incredible blessings in Christ.

Mark then shares a great story from Spurgeon’s life of God’s daily care for us. 

Church

Finally, as you prepare to gather with your local church tomorrow, consider these helpful ideas for getting the most out of the sermon from Nancy Leigh DeMoss. 

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day feeding on God’s Word!

 

Family Quotes To Ponder

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

The Christian is supposed to love his neighbor,
and since his wife is his nearest neighbor,
she should be his deepest love.
– Martin Luther

Let the measure of God’s grace to you in the cross of Christ
be the measure of your grace to your spouse.
– John Piper

Which of you by being angry can add a single hour to his span of life?
Or any affection to your marriage?
– John Piper

God often disapproves of his children’s behavior.
But he never treats us with contempt.
Imitate him in your disapproving.
– John Piper

Happy is that family where the worship of God
is constantly and conscientiously maintained.
– John Newton

Declaring the Glory

On By BrianIn Declaring the Glory1 Comment

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Upper Peninsula, MI

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

Walking With God

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes1 Comment

I’ve started reading Gary Thomas’ challenging book, Holy Available.  Here are a few quotes so far that have caught my eye:

The grand point is not to wear the garb, nor use the brogue of religion, but to possess the life of God within, and feel and think as Jesus would have done because of that inner life.  Small is the value of external religion unless it is the outcome of a life within.
-Charles Spurgeon

Christianity is not merely a philosophical theory or a moral code, but involves a direct sharing in divine life and glory, a transforming union with God “face to face.”
– Kallistos Ware

If we don’t think about God, pray to God, listen for God’s voice, and consciously serve God, by definition we live an ungodly life.  We usually think of “ungodly” as being against God, but ungodly can also be a life that simply ignores God or – out of busyness, indifference, religiosity, or apathy – simply doesn’t tap into God.”
– Gary Thomas

So are we just going through the outward motions, or are we really walking with God?

Even the Waves Obey Him

On By BrianIn God & His Glory

Last night I read with my children how Jesus and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat (see Mark 4:35-41).  Jesus was sleeping as a gigantic storm came up.  The wind began to blow.  The waves began to rise.  The boat began to fill.  The disciples began to panic.  And Jesus was still sleeping.  The terrified fisherman woke Jesus.  Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, “Peace! Be still!”  The wind became still.  The sea became still.  And the fisherman were still terrified – but now for a different reason.  “Who is this who commands the wind and waves?”

I recently wrote about how Lake Superior gives me a glimpse of God’s power.  As I see the powerful waves, I am reminded of God’s greater power.  And yet this story from Jesus’ life reminds me that the powerful waves of Lake Superior are no match for God’s power.  The waves of Lake Superior at their greatest are nothing compared to God.  With just a word, Jesus could instantly calm the waves of Lake Superior.  With just a word, God could calm the wind and waves and water of the hurricane that just soaked the east coast.  Peace!  Be still!  This is real power.  No wonder the disciples were afraid.  No wonder we are told to fear God.  We would be fools not to fear.

Amazingly, this great power comes along side of us.  When we are weak and hurting, God’s great power that calms the wind and waves rests upon us, calming our hearts and giving us strength to endure (II Corinthians 12:9-10).  And that great power that terrified the disciples long ago is now transforming his disciples today, powerfully changing our hearts (Ephesians 1:19).  With such great power at work in our lives, anything is possible.

Prayer Quotes To Ponder

On By BrianIn Prayer Quotes1 Comment

Prayer humbles us as needy and exalts God as wealthy.
– John Piper

 Whatever be the ground of one’s distress,
it should drive him to, not from, God.
– John Flavel

 When you stop trying to control your life and instead allow your anxieties and problems to bring you to God in prayer, you shift from worrying to watching.  You watch God weave his patterns in the story of your life.  Instead of trying to be out front, designing your life, you realize you are inside God’s drama.  As you wait, you begin to see him work, and your life begins to sparkle with wonder.  You are learning to trust again.
– Paul Miller

 Because God is the living God, He can hear;
because He is a loving God, He will hear; because
He is our covenant God, He has bound Himself to hear.
– Charles Spurgeon

 I put my prayers into Christ’s hands;
and what may I not expect from them,
when I have such an Advocate?
Oh, be sure not to ask a little from God!
– Thomas Adam

 The habit of spreading before God our soul’s needs
is an evidence that we have the spirit of adoption.
– J. C. Ryle

 If we do not delight on God’s presence and nearness here on earth, why would we want to go to heaven where he is the centerpiece of everything?
– Jim Cymbala

Glimpses of God’s Power

On By BrianIn God & His Glory

Every summer my family goes camping along Lake Superior.  I love this lake.  It reminds me of God.

It reminds me of God’s power.  There are days when the waves come crashing in ready to knock you over if you choose to wade out into them.  I see the power of the waves, and I think of God’s power.  I think of his power which made those waves, the lake, the earth, the entire universe.  I think of his power of which these waves give only a small glimpse.

I need that glimpse of God’s power.  In my weakness, I need to see his strength.  In my weariness, I need to see his great power that can renew my strength. 

As I see people hurting from great tragedies, I need to see God’s power which is sufficient in our weakness and is greater than anything that can come against us. 

As I see people wounded from their past, I need to see God’s power that can bring healing.

As I see people on the brink of despair, I need to see God’s power that can bring hope.

As I see people in turmoil, I need to see God’s power that can bring peace.

As I see people wrestling with depression, I need to see God’s power that can bring joy.

As I see people caught in the strong bonds of sin, I need to see God’s greater power which can break those bonds and bring freedom.

As I see people morning the loss of a brother or sister in Christ, I need see God’s power that will one day raise the dead. 

I need to see God’s power.  And I get a glimpse in the waves.

Blog Break

On By BrianIn Uncategorized

Last August I took a three week break from blogging.  It was a great time to recharge, and so I’ve decided to take another three week break this year starting tomorrow.  If you need something to read in the meantime, here are some of the top posts so far this year:

Blueprint for Maturity

Overcoming Idolatry

Be Still Before God

Our Joy

Who Needs Who?

I Am Not Worthy

Praying Together: Examples

Prayer and the Holy Spirit

Praying Together: God’s Expectation

Reflections on the Hell Issue

Hope to see you again August 29!

Passion Points

On By BrianIn Idolatry, PASSION Points

Here are some good reads for your weekend:

Gospel

Mark Altrogge ponders the suffering of our Savior.  Meanwhile, here is another post refuting the idea that we are worth dying for.  (See my post from earlier this week here.)

Idolatry

Here is a helpful interaction with Johan Herman Bavinck’s thoughts on three common idols – money, honor, and pleasure.

Family

Matthew Barrett gives us an interesting look at Martin Luther’s marriage to Katherine Von Bora as he brings out the idea that marriage is a context for growth in character.

Church

Finally, R.W. Glenn shares nine things you should pray for your pastor.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshipping the Lord with your church family!

Saved to Give Thanks To God

On By BrianIn Church Life, God & His Glory

…so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
– II Corinthians 4:15b

Why does God save us?  This verse tells us at least one reason.  He saves us so that we might give thanks to God.  He saves us for his glory.  As more people are saved, more thanksgiving is offered up to God – and he is glorified.  Here is a radical God-centered view of salvation.

A few questions follow:

Are we giving thanks to God?  Are we reminding ourselves and each other of our great salvation so that, continually amazed by his love, we can’t stop praising God?

Are we sharing the good news so more people can be saved and give thanks to God?

And tying those questions together, are we preaching the gospel in our churches?  The gospel needs to be preached because lost people need to be saved, and because saved people need to be continually reminded of what God has done for them so that they will give thanks to God.

If you are his child, his grace has extended to you.  You don’t deserve it.  You are not worth it.  But he loves you.  He chose you.  He died for you.  He forgave you.  He changed you.  He saved you.  So let us join the the Psalmist and:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
– Psalm 100:4-5