December 2010
55 posts
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“A gospel which is only about the moment of conversion but does not extend to...”
– Fred Sanders, The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 106.
(HT: Of First Importance)
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“If I were to write about the burdens of the preacher as I have experienced and...”
– Martin Luther
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My Beloved
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds...
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My Daily Treasure
This last Sunday, I preached on pursuing God through the reading of His Words, given to us in the Holy Scriptures. One of the tools I offered (that we are offering at Calvary) was a daily Bible reading program. It provides readings in an Old Testament and New Testament passage each day, conveniently listed out so you can keep track of your progress. You may download it here.
One other thing I...
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“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory...”
– John 1:14-18, ESV
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Stregthened By Grace
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, in 2 Timothy 2:1)
“First, then, there is a call to be strong. Timothy was weak; Timothy was timid. Yet he was called to a position of leadership in the church – and in an area in which Paul’s authority was rejected. It is as if Paul said to him, ‘Listen Timothy, never mind what...
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Growing In Grace
Given the name of this blog, and the topic for the sermon this coming Sunday (The Disciples Prayer), this seemed a very appropriate quote to quote today ::
Would you be freed from the bondage to corruption? Would you grow in grace in general and grow in grace in particular? If you would, your way is plain. Ask of God more faith.
Beg of him morning, and noon and night, while you walk by the...
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“God wants us to find our primary joy in our objectively declared justification,...”
– - Jerry Bridges, ‘The Discomfort of the Justified Life,’ in Justified: Modern Reformation Essays on the Doctrine of Justification (ed. Ryan Glomsrud and Michael Horton; Modern Reformation, 2010), 94.
(HT: Of First Importance)
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WatchThe Sunday Preachin’
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For Your Sake
For your sake he became poor. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
“The Lord Jesus Chrsit was eternally rich, glorious, and exalted; but “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.”
As the wealthy believer cannot be true in his fellowship with his poor brethren unless from his wealth he ministers to their needs, so..it is impossible that our Divine Lord could have had fellowship...
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“My favorite thing about Christmas is that I can celebrate the birthday of Jesus....”
– - Ezra, my six-year-old.
So encouraged this is his favorite thing, rather than what I would have said at his age (presents!!).
(HT: Bella’s Musings)
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Exalt The Name of the LORD!
Praise the Name of the Lord Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! ...
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The Pleasure Of GOD
Yesterday morning I read Psalm 147. Since then, two verses from that song of praise have been fairly constant on my mind.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
(Psalm 147:10-11 ESV)
I don’t mean to overstate, but I...
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Is Music A Gift To You, Or Your god?
Bob Kauflin has done it again - an article that hits it out of the park on the topic of music in the church. I don’t do this often, but, because I am afraid you may not take the effort to give one little extra click to his blog, I am going to paste in his whole article below.
Please - read through this whole article thoughtfully. Say a prayer for God to remove your defensiveness, and all...
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You Wouldn't Be So Good, If...
“‘For myself,’ she continued, ‘… I believe that what’s right today is wrong tomorrow and that the time to enjoy yourself is now so long as you let others do the same. I’m as good, Mr. Motes,’ she said, ‘not believing in Jesus as many a one that does.’
‘You’re better,’ he said, leaning forward suddenly. ‘If you believed in Jesus, you wouldn’t be so good.’”
~ Flannery O’Connor, Wise...
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WatchThe Sunday Preachin’ ::
Text - John 6
Title - “Your Jesus Is Too Safe”
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The Object Of Divine Rejoicing
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is found in Zephaniah. I read it again this morning as I make my way these days through the minor prophets. There is just something deeply encouraging and happiness inducing at the thought that I am the object of God’s rejoicing, of His delight, and, of Him belting out a tune!
And not just any kind of singing - but “loud singing”! Take...
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Put Not Your Trust In Princes
Behold, the helping, making, keeping, executing, giving, setting, opening, lifting, loving, watching, upholding, reigning work of the LORD.
He is worthy of our trust!
Put Not Your Trust in Princes Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes,...
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“Our Father in heaven, please show me the difference between real faith and a...”
– — Rose Marie Miller From Fear to Freedom (Colorado Springs, Co.: WaterBrook Press, 1994), 73
(HT: Of First Importance)
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Goodbye For Now
I’ve been on a Twitter and Facebook fast for something like a week now. What I mean by “fast” is that I haven’t been going out and tweeting or posting, and I haven’t been checking those I follow or are “friends.” My only connection to the two social networking giants has been the auto-posts that my blog creates, so those folks connected to me there can...
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Great Is The LORD!
Great Is the Lord A SONG OF PRAISE. OF DAVID.
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your...
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A New Song Of Blessing For God's People
I love the exaple that David sets for us in this song of prayer for the morning. He recognizes GOD as his Rock and his Fortress, the supplier of all our needs. He is very aware of his own humanity in light of this GOD: man is a mere “breath” and “passing shadow.”
And it is these reflections that move him to sing and pray a new song. A song of salvation. A song of rescue....
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Of Salvation And The Belly Of A Fish
I was working my way through Jonah 2 this afternoon, and was gripped by this prayer of Jonah.
It is remarkable to me that despite my own skill at getting myself into trouble, God doesn’t desert me. Even in the midst of His gentle and loving correction, He is still present and attends to my call. This is the message of, the reminder in, Jonah’s prayer. Our habit must be moving toward...
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Let Me Hear In The Morning Of Your Steadfast Love
My Soul Thirsts for You A PSALM OF DAVID.
Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in...
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A Song of Prayer for the Morning
You Are My Refuge A MASKIL OF DAVID, WHEN HE WAS IN THE CAVE. A PRAYER.
I cry out loudly to GOD, loudly I plead with GOD for mercy. I spill out all my complaints before him, and spell out my troubles in detail: “As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away, you know how I’m feeling, Know the danger I’m in, the traps hidden in my path. Look right, look...
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Your Jesus Is Too Safe
In preparation for the sermon this Sunday (from John 6), I am dipping into the above book by Jared Wilson. While at times I think he tries a bit too hard and too often at humor, it is a wonderful read.
He succeeds at pointing us to the radical, beautiful, demanding Jesus that we want to trade in for our feel-good, tell-us-what-we-want-to-hear, give-us-what-we-want-to-have Jesus. Just a taste...
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A Morning Prayer
Give Ear to My Voice A PSALM OF DAVID.
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy...
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Book Review
A great encouragement from a good friend to read a good book about a great man.
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Advent Musings →
A thoughtful post from Bella on clearing the clutter from our hearts at Advent.
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WatchThe Sunday Preachin’
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Forgiveness
Micah revealed something to me this morning - I am still learning about forgiveness.
I tend to assume it, when I want to look quickly past my sin.
I tend to forget it, when I can’t look past my sin.
I tend not to celebrate it, is the schedule that full?
I don’t fully understand the stunning nature of my forgiveness, from God, through Jesus, applied by the Spirit to my life. Just...
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Scripture Memory Passage This Week
“I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
(Isaiah 43:25, ESV)
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“Jesus is Emmanuel, so there is never a situation, location or experience where...”
– Paul Tripp
(HT: Of First Importance)
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“You will never find a bundle of affliction that does not have in it somewhere...”
– CH Spurgeon, “Morning by Morning,” 14 December
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“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but...”
– ~ Isaiah 40:30-31
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Bella's Musings →
Isabella’s blog just received a face-lift. And, she tells me she is back to posting regularly again.
Check her out.
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Pastor...You Are Not
The following is a post from the Redeemer City to City blog. City to City is a sister minister to Redeemer Presbyterian Church, where Tim Keller is the main preaching pastor. It is a particularly good reminder for me..oh..shall we say every Sunday afternoon?
But it applies to you too. The point is - your identity rests in Jesus.
Pastor :: You are not…
You are not the size of your...
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“Better to be in danger,
with Christ,
than in quietness,
without Him.”
– ~ A quote from the blog post of our dear friend, Leah Heinsch, after eight days in hospital due to ongoing Dengue and Rheumatic fever. She returns home to the States Tuesday to continue the process of recovery.
Read more.
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The Fruitful One
Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord A SONG OF ASCENTS. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table....
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“Nothing puts life into men like a dying Savior.”
– ~ Charles Spurgeon
(HT: Of First Importance)
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“Whether I see it scattered down among the tangles woods, or beaming broad across...”
– ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne, Sunday at Home, quoted by Judith Shulevitz, in The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time
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“Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them,...”
– Take a few moments, right now, and really let these words from our Beloved Savior sink in. God the Father, and God the Son, will come and make their home with those of us who believe, love, and follow.
Astonishing.
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WatchThe Sunday Preachin’