“Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”- Romans 8:1-2 In Chapter 8 (“Forgiving Yourself”) of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, Sara Horn begins by distinguishing between conviction […]
Sara Horn begins Chapter 7 (“Getting Over It and Other Myths”) of How Can I Possibly Forgive? by discussing five myths we fall for when it comes to forgiveness. The first two forgiveness myths are presented in today’s blog. 1. Myth: Forgiveness should be easy. Sara astutely observes that “when we need it, forgiveness seems like […]
In Chapter 6 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?, Sara Horn offers three practical steps for overlooking a specific offense. 1. Stop putting words of value to your hurt. Every time we bring up the subject of what’s bothering us or who’s hurting us by their words or actions, we are sustaining and strengthening the […]
“Wherever the soul of man turns, unless towards God, it cleaves to sorrow, even though the things outside God and outside itself to which it clings may be things of beauty.”- Augustine, Confessions As Timothy Keller begins Chapter 12 of Prayer, he states that another reason for the primacy of praise is that it has great […]
Continuing his reflection on Ephesians 3:14-19 in Chapter 11 of Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, Timothy Keller states that the word grasp means “to wrestle”- to jump on someone, wrestle that person to the ground, and knock the person out. The word grasp might seem, Pastor Keller notes, a very strange word to […]
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the […]
“One thing have I desired of the Lord, one thing will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord to behold the beauty of the Lord.”- Psalm 27:4 In today’s blog, Timothy Keller discusses St. Augustine’s three remaining principles of prayer. 2. Pray for a happy life. As Augustine previously […]
“For we who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit […]
“To encounter the words of the Scripture is to encounter God in action.”- Timothy Ward, Words of Life (2009) In Chapter 5 (“Encountering God”) of Prayer, Timothy Keller states that although prayer is a conversation with God, such conversations can remain at a superficial level, never rising to true personal encounter and relationship. It’s the […]
Max Lucado references and discusses Mark’s account where Jesus heals a sick woman and Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:25-34) in Chapter 4 (“The Hand God Loves to Hold- Desperate People”) of Next Door Savior. Both the woman and Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, find themselves on the same path in the village, even though they […]
“Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.”- Hebrews 2:11 In Chapter 2 “Christ’s Theme Song-Every Person”) of Next Door Savior, Max Lucado observes that most families make an effort to keep their family secrets a […]
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”- 2 Corinthians 3:18 Author and pastor Max Lucado begins Next Door Savior with the statement that Jesus is near […]