I’m a follower of Jesus, wife, mom, and Mimi to 8 grandbabies here and 5 grandbabies I’m waiting to meet in in heaven. I live in the Twin Cities and serve as the Minister for Women‘s Ministry at The North Church in Mounds View, MN.
As we start the book of Isaiah this month, here is some encouragement from Ray Ortlund, Jr, Pastor of Immanuel Church in Nashville. He posted this at his blog, “Christ is Deeper Still” “The books of Israel’s prophets are among the most difficult in the Old Testament, and probably among the most difficult books ever … More Ray Ortlund, Jr: God did not give us a comic book.
John Piper, in a sermon, “Wonderful Things From Your Word” You can see many things when you come to the Word without God’s opening the eyes of your heart. You can see words and grammatical constructions. You can see logical connections. You can see historical facts. You can see an author’s rational intention. You can … More Knowing God vs Knowing ABOUT God
From Spurgeon’s sermon, “Fear Not”, posted at “Grace Gems” Lift up your eyes, behold the heavens, the work of God’s fingers– behold the sun guided in his daily march; go forth at midnight, and behold the heavens; consider the stars and the moon; look upon these works of God’s hands, and if you be men of sense, and your … More Contemplating God’s greatness!
If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. —Philemon 18-19 John MacArthur, in “The Motives of One Who Forgives” But then notice what he says … More Debt, repayment and forgiveness
Luke 20:20-26 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but … More Imposters
Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Exodus 15:26 “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of … More Good Medicine
Bob Deffinbaugh comments: A slight shift in the events recorded in Esther would have doomed the Jews, except as Mordecai said, “help would come from someplace else.” Nevertheless, success in the small details mattered. As an Agagite, Haman may well have used his position against the Jews at the first provocation, whether it came from … More Web of providence, grace and mercy
John MacArthur, in his introduction to Philemon: You ask yourself the question: of all of the subjects that Paul could have written about, why in the world did he pick the subject of forgiveness? This is this just this little isolated kind of odd, out of sync, obtuse tangential little letter stuck in the middle … More Why all the fuss over forgiveness?
John MacArthur on Luke 20:9-19 The parable has ended. The end is tragic for the vine-growers. It’s tragic for those who follow the vine-growers. It’s tragic, at this point, for the son, he’s dead. But the death of the son can’t be the end of the story. So he looks at them and says, “In … More Rejected Stone
Proverbs 17:3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. God tests us, tests our hearts. Repeatedy in the Bible, we read that HE refines us, tests us, just as precious metals are refined to remove impurities. Read these other passages, and ask yourself what remains after going … More Kindling or gold?
