During your early years of marriage, you will discover that developing a good marriage is a lot like cultivating a garden (recall Tim Keller’s talk on “Cultivating a Healthy Marriage"). A garden takes a lot of work and it costs more than you figured, it is messier than you anticipated, and it requires greater determination … Continue reading Cultivating a Healthy Marriage – Clothed with Humility
Author: 2cherish2commend
Wise Words on Loving the Right Woman Well
Desire after forbidden enjoyments naturally springs from dissatisfaction with the blessings in possession. Where contentment is not found at home — drinking out of our own cistern — it will be sought for, however vainly, abroad. Marital love is chief among the earthly goods in mercy granted by God to his fallen and rebellious creatures. … Continue reading Wise Words on Loving the Right Woman Well
The Majesty of a Forgiving Father
Psalm 130:4 sets forth one of the greatest discoveries that we can ever make: “With you (the LORD) there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” According to John Stott, this verse “contains a beautiful balance because its first part brings assurance to the despairing, while its second part sounds a warning to the presumptuous.” How … Continue reading The Majesty of a Forgiving Father
The Power of a Joyful Pastor
Phillip Brooks, an Episcopalian rector in Boston over 100 years ago, and author of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" wrote this about how pastors are to serve Christ's church. His main thesis here can be extrapolated to any job: I think, again, that it is essential to the preacher's success that he should thoroughly enjoy his work. … Continue reading The Power of a Joyful Pastor
Facing Our Long Battle with Terrorism
This morning I was reading again a journal article by James I. Packer entitled "Wisdom in a Time of War: What Oswald Chambers and C.S. Lewis Teach Us about Living Through The Long Battle with Terrorism." He wrote this for the January 2, 2002 edition of the periodical Christianity Today. One of the first points he makes … Continue reading Facing Our Long Battle with Terrorism
When Weakness Appeals to Strength
A dear friend of mine, who was quite a lover of the chase, told me the following story: Rising early one morning, he said, I heard the baying of a score of deerhounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making … Continue reading When Weakness Appeals to Strength
The Beautiful Shepherd Psalm
'I shall not want' is the theme of Ps. 23. I shall not lack for: rest and refreshment (v. 2), restoration and righteousness (v. 3), protection in trouble (v.4), provision in the wilderness (v. 5), and a home to go to at the end of the days (v. 6). More is implied than is expressed, … Continue reading The Beautiful Shepherd Psalm
Dealing with Temptation
Thomas Brooks, a Puritan pastor, counsels believers to confront all temptations (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the boastful pride of life) with the words of the Psalmist: “The LORD is my portion” (16:5; 73:26; 119:57; 142:5). He exhorts: Luther counsels every Christian to answer all temptations with the short … Continue reading Dealing with Temptation
Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled
Let not your hearts be troubled for Jesus promises… Light after darkness, gain after loss; Strength after weakness, crown after cross; Sweet after bitter, hope after fears; Home after wandering, praise after tears; Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain; Sight after mystery, peace after pain; Joy after sorrow, calm after blast; Rest after weariness, sweet … Continue reading Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled
Gazing Upon True Beauty
Religious people find God useful for obtaining things in life. Christians find God beautiful and knowing Him is the chief good they seek. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 27:4 - “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days … Continue reading Gazing Upon True Beauty
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