As Mary DeMuth begins Chapter 4 (“May Your Kingdom Come Soon: Walk in the Great Right Now”) of The Wall Around Your Heart, she relates her own tendency to “react to the past rather than be wooed toward the future.” Although Mary existed off the fumes of her reaction to her past for awhile, eventually she […]
“Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”- Romans 12:16-18 Mary DeMuth concludes Chapter 3 of The Wall Around Your Heart with her discussion of […]
“I make a terrible Jesus.”- Mary Demuth’s friend Stacey In today’s post, Mary DeMuth (The Wall Around Your Heart) continues her discussion of ways to revere God in the way we handle adversity. 3. Don’t make people or their opinions idols. Mary notes that some people believe the fundamental point of life is for others […]
Today’ Mary DeMuth continues her discussion of what we can do to revere God in the way we handle difficult relationships (Chapter 3, The Wall Around Your Heart). 2. Lament when you’re hurt. Mary explains that to get beyond the pain of adversity, we must acknowledge the pain first in order to move on later. […]
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”- Matthew 5:43-45 In Chapter 2 (“Our Father in Heaven: Live in Your Father’s […]
Not a Fan (Zondervan, 2011) Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus is the first book by Pastor Kyle Idleman. His second book, Gods at War, previously was annotated in Crown’s bibliography. Pastor Idleman begins by observing that whenever Jesus spoke to a large crowd, most often the message He preached would […]
As Mary DeMuth concludes Chapter 1 of The Wall Around Your Heart, she asserts that the most important thing we can do to help our relationships is to be obedient to God in whatever He asks of us. There is power in obedience. God often uses difficult people to shape and conform us to Jesus. […]
“This God- his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”- Psalm 18:30 Several years ago my wife Vicki and I were driving home from the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, WI. Vicki’s favorite shortcut between Baraboo and Madison is the […]
“Now that we know what we have- Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God- let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all- all but the sin. So let’s walk right […]
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”- Luke 9:57-58 In commenting on this passage at the beginning of […]
Jesus said to him (the rich young man), “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”- Matthew 19:21-22 Illustration #1: author Kyle […]
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”- Luke 9:23 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”- […]