Goodness vs. the Cross

Think

Prayer

Indwelling Sin

Darkness, Fire, and Chains

O Great God: by Sovereign Grace Music from Lumbrera on Vimeo.

Christ, The True Vine I Paul Washer I John 15 from Radford Fellowship on Vimeo.

Abbott and Costello Meet The Church

                                  

God-Centered or Child-Centered?

You will see many in this day who allow their children to choose and think for themselves long before they are able, and even make excuses for their disobedience, as if it were a thing not to be blamed. To my eyes, a parent always yielding, and a child always having its own way, are a most painful sight – painful, because I see God’s appointed order of things inverted and turned upside down – painful, because I feel sure the consequence to that child’s character in the end will be self-will, pride, and self-conceit. You must not wonder that men refuse to obey their Father which is in heaven, if you allow them, when children, to disobey their father who is upon earth.

J.C. Ryle

A good husband...

A good husband will either make a good wife, or easily and profitably endure a bad one.

Richard Baxter

Are you reflecting Christ in your marriage?

To be like Jesus Christ in relationship to your wife is an enormous order to fill.  You are to be the head of your home, including your wife, just as Christ is the head of the church.  When you fail, you not only fail your wife, you also fail to represent your Lord’s love for His church.  That is why your task is such a solemn one.  When you fail to reflect Him in your marriage, you damage His name.  You are called to show forth Jesus Christ by the leadership that you exercise in your home.

Jay E. Adams

Where a man belongs...

A famous cigarette billboard pictures a curly-headed, bronze-faced, muscular macho with a cigarette hanging out the side of his mouth.  The sign says, "Where a man belongs."  That is a lie.  Where a man belongs is at the bedside of his children, leading in devotion and prayer.  Where a man belongs is leading his family to the house of God.  Where a man belongs is up early and alone with God seeking vision and direction for the family.

John Piper

A prayer that changed history...

"Oh Lord, purify my soul from all its stains. Warm my heart with the love of thee, animate my sluggish nature and fix my inconstancy, and volatility, that I may not be weary in well doing," - William Wilberforce

How Precious is Your Steadfast Love

A meditation on...


PSALM 36 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. 4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

Notice what characterizes the wicked and what direction we have to stay clear from their path.

• Transgression speaks deep in their heart
• They do not fear God - that is they could care less of offending him
• They flatter themselves
• Their words are full of trouble and deception
• They live outside of biblical wisdom and morality
• They ponder how to sin and act on it
• They do not reject evil

"O God may you grant me grace to flee their vices. Let not sin control my hearts affections and the thoughts of my mind. Even as I type this I am tempted to run from the fear of you. May your grace cause me to reject evil."

⁵ Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
⁶  Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
     your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you save, O Lord.

How do you see the steadfast love and faithfulness of God, O my soul? What do you think of? How do you feel about it? "...to the heavens...to the clouds"; that is it can not be measured. You can not plumb its depths. You can not see its limits. There is enough for me. This sinner! God has enough love and faithfulness in Jesus Christ to cove all of my screw ups! I can run to him in all my sin and weakness.

His righteousness, like a mighty mountain, is immovable. His judgments are beyond my ability to figure out. They are deeper than the ocean. He saves both man and beast.

⁷  How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
     in your light do we see light.

His love. His love is steadfast; constant, unwavering, unfaltering, resolute, persistent, committed, dedicated.

His love. His love is precious; valuable, priceless, a great treasure. Is his love precious to you, O my soul? Is your hearts cry - "God's love is worth more to me than anything else!"? Here is the root of all my problems; even my sins - it is not. I am ashamed. 

"How wicked am I O Lord to not have you as my soul affection. My heart is often divided between this and that. Yet I cry to you O my God; Make your steadfast love precious to me!! Make me to value your love so that I to may joyfully take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Make me to feast with delight in the abundance of your grace in Jesus Christ!"

Do you cry out to God for delight dear reader? Why all this dependence? Why not just 'choose' to delight in God? What does David say here my friend? Read carefully...

They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights

Where does this delight come from? "and you give them drink from the river of your delights". Are you totally dependent on God to give you delightful thirsts in himself that you may drink of his delights? How else are we to feast on the abundance of his house? 

"God may it be so for me and mine. May you give me light to see the light of Jesus Christ. May you continue in your mercy to this sinner to well up in me living waters that spring forth from the fountain of life pouring forth from your Holy Spirit."

By This We Know Love