Passion Points

On February 29, 2020 By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

9 Ways to Guard Your Personal Relationship with God – David Murray (Crossway)
Here are some things that have helped me to keep my personal relationship with God personal and avoid falling into the trap of relating to him only through my ministry to others.

Patterns of Providence – Warren Gage (Ligonier)
Like the underside of grandmother’s cross-stitch,the everyday of our lives may look to be knotted and hopelessly tangled. But when we turn the fabric over, we see design and beauty that was there all along but that we never foresaw. Joseph’s life is like that.

5 Habits to Practice the Presence of God at Work – Justin Whitmel Earley (TGC)
Here are my top five habits for practicing the presence of God in busy and tech-driven offices.

Church Should Be Your Excuse for Missing Everything Else – Grayson Gilbert (Patheos)
We convene with the local church each weekend because we are betrothed, not as individuals, but as a body, to our Lord, Jesus Christ. We assemble together because He has assembled us together. We gather while it is still called “today” because we will be gathered together in His great halls with the believers of all time.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!

Dwelling Place

On October 17, 2011February 23, 2017 By BrianIn God & His Glory

…you have made the Lord your dwelling place….
– Psalm 91:9

Psalm 91 calls us to make the Lord our dwelling place, to abide in the shadow of the Almighty. We can draw near and dwell with God. We can abide in his presence.

What a wonderful place to dwell!

Not only can we make God our dwelling place, but he has made us his dwelling place. In I Corinthians 6:19-20, we are reminded that our bodies are God’s temples. God’s Spirit dwells in us. He is always with us.

God’s Spirit dwells in us, and we can dwell in him. Indeed it is because God has drawn near to us, that we can draw near to him. What an incredible opportunity! Throughout each day, God is with us, and we can turn to him as our refuge in each trial. We can praise him for each blessing he showers upon us. We can commune with him each moment. We can walk with him each hour. We can draw near at any time. We can draw near all of the time.

Father, open my eyes to your presence with me today. Let me draw near and abide with you. As you have made me your dwelling place, may I dwell in you today. Amen.

Don’t Lose Heart

On October 11, 2011July 19, 2016 By BrianIn PASSION Resources

A few weeks ago I mentioned a pastor’s conference I attended. The sessions are now available on audio here.

The two sessions by Jim Grier would be great for any Christian who wants to think. In the first session he gives a helpful overview of God’s presence throughout the Bible. In the second, he paints the picture of God’s presence as we gather to worship from Hebrews 12:18-29. You may never approach worship the same! Highly recommended!

And if you are a weary pastor, there are some great messages of encouragement for you by Joel Beeke from Hebrews 12:1-3 and Steven Lawson from II Corinthians 4. Beeke also shares some lessons on perseverance from the lives of John Calvin and John Bunyan.

I Am With You

On January 17, 2011 By BrianIn God & His Glory

Jacob is leaving behind everything he knows. He has been sent by his parents to his mom’s family whom he has never met. On the way, God speaks to him. God repeats the promises he made to Abraham and Isaac now to Jacob. God will give him many offspring who will receive the land. And more – all the families of the earth will be blessed through him and his offspring. And then God promises, “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15).

Hundreds of years later, Jacob’s descendent Jesus will die on a cross to save people from their sins. In this Descendent, truly all the families of the earth are blessed. And this Descendent issues the same promises to his followers that God gave to Jacob: “Behold, I am with you” (Matthew 28:20).

God is with us. In the hustle and bustle of the day. At work, at school, at home, at the store, on the roads. In the trials and struggles of life. In the good times and celebrations of life. When we go to sleep tonight and when we wake the next morning. No matter what we face, where we go, or what we do, God is with us. His presence goes with us. The Sovereign Creator and Ruler of the world goes with us. What a comfort and strength this should be to us today!