WE WERE CREATED IN HIS IMAGE REFLECTING HIS GLORY WHEN WE FELL WE LOST COMMUNION WITH HIM. OUR HEARTS HARDENED MAKING US LESS THAN HUMAN, MARRING HIS IMAGE BUT HE REDEEMED US BY HIS BLOOD TO BEGIN AGAIN: MELTING US, MOLDING US, MAKING US HUMAN AGAIN. WE CAN RESIST HIM OR YIELD TO HIM Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing into a heavenly creature or a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state … [Read More]
THE CHRISTIAN’S SECRET OF A JOYFUL LIFE (The Gospel According to Philippians)
REMEMBER HOW YOU FELT THE LAST TIME YOU GOT GREAT NEWS? YOU GOT THE JOB! YOU FOUND THE MAN! YOU LOST THE WEIGHT! We as children of God have news that outshines all earthly treasures. We have something that can never be taken from us. The one true God left paradise for us. He stumbled to His throne for us. We are His beloved. He woos, He wins, and one incredible day He is coming back to wed. He will put to death all enemies of His children and take us to be with Him forever. I never tire of Martin French’s drawings. This is my favorite, and when Kathy Troccoli and I commissioned him to draw this one from Revelation 19 for Forever in Love with Jesus, he was hesitant, feeling it was too holy to try … [Read More]
WICKED SISTERS BELOVED BY GOD (The Gospel According to Philippians)
It was in a prayer group of mothers that the fight began. One of the women had suggested that we come up with a list of standards on which we could agree for our children. “Wouldn’t it be great if we could all agree we wouldn’t watch R-rated movies in our homes? Then our children would know their friends had the same boundaries.” It seemed like a great idea! Within ten minutes we became like mother bears defending our cubs. The tension began immediately. Margaret said: “I’m surprised you mentioned R-rated movies. In our home we don’t watch PG-13 movies.” Quietly but firmly Hannah said, “In our home we don’t watch movies.” We each bristled a bit. I suggested, “Why don’t we try dating age? I was thinking not before sixteen.” “Sixteen! They are babies! They have no business dating … [Read More]
FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS ……? (The Gospel According to Philippians)
Paul said, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” But so often, if we are honest, we would have to say: For me to live is family. For me to live is health. For me to live is success. And when those things fail us, and we come to the brink of despair, it is a gift from God. For if we realize that Christ must be our life, then we can enjoy the gifts without demanding from them what they cannot give. Last week I was blessed with another gift. A grandson. Born to Beth and Seth. This child, plump with possibility, had been given to us. We were euphoric. But mountaintops are for a moment. We were told he was jaundiced. Had to go under the lights, a blindfold on his wee head. He … [Read More]
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PHILIPPIANS (New Study!)
I used to think of the gospel as the baby steps into Christianity. I was wrong. It isn’t just the baby steps. It is all of the steps. It is every step for every day. It isn’t just for the future. It is for the here and now. This is a new way of seeing. And so I am inviting you to a different kind of study. We are going to look at Philippians, but it will be through the lens of the gospel for the here and now. God has blessed us with a precious fellowship here — one I never imagined was possible through the internet. When Paul tells the Philippians that he thanks God every time he remembers them, he is remembering “their partnership in the gospel.” I feel that way about you who have come … [Read More]
LOVE SONGS FOR RECOVERING IDOLATERS
Our own Elizabeth wrote: I have noticed lately how often I lay in bed at the end of the day and feel guilt. Over words said or left unsaid. Actions I could have taken but didn’t, others I regret taking. But the Gospel has washed away all guilt. Perfect love casts out all fear. I have not only been pardoned, but have been given the gift, a new identity. I am no longer a guilty child, but beloved, though broken, I am His beloved. This is gospel transformation happening. This is intimacy with God. This is God singing “love songs” to Elizabeth in the night. Yet Elizabeth would be just as quick to tell you that it is elusive. The gospel is such amazing news that we believe it, and then we don’t. We are like a woman picking … [Read More]
WHEN GOD NAMES A CHILD
Perhaps He names every child. I know He knits every child together in his mother’s womb and has all his days planned out. I know it is a wise parent who seeks God on the naming of a child. And I absolutely know from Scripture and from life that there are times when He names a child. The stories fill you with awe and hope. (I am sensitive to the fact that some, and one who has just joined us, so wish they had a baby to name. My purpose in these stories is to show you how personal God is, and I pray this will encourage you too.) Many of you already know, my grand-daughter Lily Grace was born this Easter Sunday. We certainly didn’t anticipate an Easter birth — but God already knew, had her days planned out … [Read More]
EASTER TESTIMONIES
The men thought the women’s testimonies “were nonsense,” “an idle tale,” and they did not believe them. (Luke 24:11) Darrell Bock says that the Greek word that Luke the physician used to describe their incredulity means “the delirious talk of the very ill.”(I love this! Thank you Dr. Luke!) Tim Keller says if this was a fabrication, the fabricators never would have written women into it for women were not considered to be reliable witnesses. The reason women were recorded as the very first witnesses is because women were the very first witnesses. When the men heard the report, they couldn’t believe — but then, something stirred in their souls — and then, oh, how they ran. Artists have wonderful renditions of Peter and John running to the empty tomb. “Could it be?” Easter morning is often a time of … [Read More]
TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES (AT THE CROSS)
FOR THE CHILD OF GOD, THIS IS THE HOLIEST OF WEEKS, SO LET US TAKE OFF OUR SHOES FOR WE ARE STANDING ON HOLY GROUND It was thirty years ago when I was studying to write a book about friendship when I saw the pattern. Important things are said when time is running out. When Ruth thought Naomi was going to leave her and she would never see her again, she poured out her heart with her famous “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest…(Ruth 1:16) When Jonathan thought he might never see David again, for he had to send David away from his murderous father, David fell to the ground and wept, but Jonathan told him: “Go in peace, because we have sworn, both of us in the name of … [Read More]
GOSPEL TRANSFORMATION (MOVING TOWARD THE CROSS)
THE SAME POWER THAT BROUGHT JESUS BACK FROM THE DEAD CAN EMPOWER US TO LOVE WHEN LOVE IS LACKING. THE GOSPEL HAS POWER FROM GOD. Last week I was with my daughter Sally and her two daughters. Sadie, the two-and-a-half year old, has had intense feelings of sibling rivalry toward her new little sister, Claire. She kept asking her parents to take Claire back after she was born. If Claire gets into Sadie’s toys, Sadie gets very angry. When I was there, Sadie had to be disciplined for hitting Claire. I sat in the dining room praying while Sally was in the living room with Sadie, talking to her afterwards. Sadie was weeping and telling Sally she was sorry. Sally said, “Honey — you can’t help yourself. You feel angry with Claire. The only way that you will stop … [Read More]
