The Holiday Blues
It’s inevitable for most people. We break out of the routine and spend lots of time doing little more than anticipating and preparing for the biggest holiday in our culture. Some of us get energized (and rightfully so. It does celebrate the birth of Jesus and a fulfillment of a promise made so long ago!). But some of us fall prey to sadness on multiple levels. Perhaps this is your first Christmas without a loved one. Perhaps it’s another Christmas without a spouse or a pregnancy. Maybe you’re an empty nester and the silence of your house is the loudest part of your day. Or perhaps...
Read MoreThe Awe of God
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Caregivers of God’s People “What things does the awe of God produce in the heart of a pastor that are vital for an effective, God-honoring, and productive ministry?” page 121 When was the last time you saw something or experienced something that truly amazed you or actually took your breath away? Perhaps it was standing on a beach and seeing the curvature of the earth. Or maybe it was witnessing the Northern Lights in person. Maybe you are drawn to art and stood before a masterpiece that created...
Read MoreDoing versus Being
“The Spirit of the Father and the Son would never be interested in merely empowering us to “do good.” His desire (which is the desire of the Father and the Son) is to bring us to such a hearty enjoyment of God through Christ that we delight to know him, that we delight in all his ways, and that therefore we want to do as he wants and we hate the thought of ever grieving him.”[1] We sometimes get caught up in doing, doing, doing. Doing things for God can have a very noble sound to it and quite honestly there is much about it that is true. James says that faith without works is dead and...
Read MoreA Satisfied Heart
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Care Takers of God’s People “Every day there is a war fought for control of your heart. But your jealous Savior, with the zeal of gorgeous redemptive love, will not share your heart. He will not rest until your heart is ruled by him and him alone.” Page 108-109. It can sound kind of strange to hear that Jesus is jealous. It feels awkward to say and to think about. Even wrong. The word jealous gives off the scent of insecurity and fear. We’ve all been jealous at one time or another and...
Read MoreBiblical Maturity is Never Just About What You Know
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Care Takers of God’s People “Biblical maturity is never just about what you know; it’s always about how grace has employed what you have come to know to transform the way you live.” P. 26. It has always been easy to agree with the idea that God wants to conform us to his image. That is, the “good” that Romans 8:28 is speaking about is the process and the result of our becoming more Christ-like. In his thoroughly redemptive ways God uses all the events and circumstances in our lives in ways...
Read MoreThe Blinding Ability of Sin
Counselors Reflect on Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp A Series to Care for the Care Takers of God’s People “The blinding ability of sin is so powerful and persuasive that you and I literally need daily intervention.” Paul David Tripp–page 73 The tactic Satan used to tempt Jesus in the desert has always amazed me. The approach he used was gutsy and bold, but above all it was devious. With anyone else it might have worked. But with Jesus it was bound for defeat before it happened. Each time Satan tempted Jesus he audaciously used Scripture to distract him from his mission. Part...
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