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Shame Interrupted: How God Lifts the Pain of Worthlessness and Rejection (Ed Welch)
I’ve received such a gift! New Growth Press/CCEF just emailed me the manuscript for Ed Welch’s newest book, Shame Interrupted: How God Lifts the Pain of Worthlessness and Rejection. I can’t wait to dig into it this weekend. Then, I may have the privilege of being included on its list of endorsers. But even if they don’t use my endorsement, what a joy it is to have this advanced sneak-peak! Fred and I have literally been praying for Dr. Welch specifically about this book for years now. I’m so excited that it is done and will be available soon. (You can pre-order now, but it won’t be available until April…
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How Do I Know If I’m Ready to Marry?
One of my all-time favorite things to do is spend time with couples who are considering marriage. I love to hear their stories, honestly answer their questions, encourage them, ask them hard questions, pray with them, enjoy them. With these dear friends in mind, I am definitely going to bookmark this article for future reference. It’s a keeper! How Do I Know If I’m Ready to Marry?
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According to the abundance of his steadfast love …
“I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” Isaiah 63:7
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Such a Good Thing that God’s Kindness Does Not Depend on my Faith
Today I received some relatively scary news for our family. (I hesitate to use the term “scary” because a) it wasn’t a diagnosis of fatal disease or the loss of a loved one; and b) my coauthor, Dave Edling, hated that word and always called me on it whenever I accidentally used it in our work on Redeeming Church Conflicts. I believe his exact words were, “I only use the word scary when I’m reading a nighttime story to my grandchildren.” Hah. I guess that’s what active deployment in two wars AND 20 years as a pastor will prepare you for.) Nevertheless, my heart raced. My mind began to spin.…
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Women Going with Women Before Church Leaders — “It’s just the right thing to do.”
I received this question from a blog reader and thought it might be of interest to some of my other readers, so with all identifying information removed or changed, here it is: “Dear Tara, Somewhere on your blog a while back, I read something about you working with the Session to help them help women. So, I thought you’d be a good person to ask … Our women’s council would like to volunteer to work with the Session any time a woman is called before the Session. Our goal would be what I (coming from a legal/court advocacy background) consider advocacy. Some of the ladies are afraid that might sound…
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Forgiveness (aphiemi) — To Let Go
From Philip Ryken’s, When You Pray: Making the Lord’s Prayer Your Own: “Forgiveness brings great joy, not only to the forgiven, but especially to the forgiver. The Greek term “forgiveness” (aphiemi) comes from a word that means “to let go.” Forgiveness is a release, a letting go of self-destructive feelings such as anger, bitterness, and revenge. Those attitudes poison intimacy with God and harmony with human beings … Mission founder Richard Wurmbrand once met a man who had experienced the divine release that comes through forgiveness. Wurmbrand was in a Communist prison in Romania at the time, lying in a prison cell reserved for those who were dying. In the…
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When Soul Storms Meet Their Master
I re-read this article with a friend in mind. But of course it ended up speaking to my heart too: “Peace, Be Still” — Learning Psalm 131 by Heart (by David Powlison) I could restate the entire article, but instead I’ll just share one snippet: “How do you purify your heart? How does a proud heart become a humble heart? You do not wrestle yourself down by doing penance. You can beat on yourself, resolve to mend your ways, wear a hair shirt, and still be proud. You do not destroy the tumult of self-will by sheer will: ‘I will stop being irritable. I will stop being fretful. I will…
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Rescue the Weak and Needy
HT: Z
