Sin & Repentance

  • Sin & Repentance

    The Heaviness of Sin and the Hope for Forgiveness

    (Originally posted in 2005–I’m out of Internet contact for a few days!) The Heaviness of Sin & The Hope of Forgiveness Last night I had to have a serious talk with my husband, Fred. I had known for a long time that I needed to confess some things to him–but I was dreading it and didn’t want to face up to the blackness of my wicked heart. So I avoided the conversation and grew more burdened and depressed with each passing day. I had a hard time worshipping God. My time in the Word grew shorter and shorter. I felt disconnected from my husband and friends. (Wonder why?!) And I…

  • Sin & Repentance

    Mentally ill? “Normal”?

    Solo Femininity just posted a beautiful article about mental illness and what is “normal.” I thought it might particularly bless some of you who (like me) struggle with depression and have a family history of people who define themselves by their “mental illnesses.” (You know … I think I’m very nervous to head into all of these family dynamics over the course of the next seven days. This article was a sweet reminder and encouragement by a truly gifted and godly woman.) 4:00AM now. I’m going to try to get a couple of hours of sleep.   Love, Tara B.  

  • Sin & Repentance

    My tendency to judge …

    I absolutely cringed this weekend when I realized what a strong tendency I have to (silently of course! don’t want to look bad … ) judge certain women. (I do. I really do. Oh! This is such a graceless sin. I am really struck and disgusted by my heart.) I know that I am adopting a loveless attitude toward them because inwardly I hear this little voice: “What kind of a CHRISTIAN would …“ And then there is a list of “offenses” that really, are just opportunities for love, kindness, forbearance, friendship, patience … growth in grace. I hear this grace in the words of people around me who don’t…

  • Sin & Repentance

    Refusing to forgive …

    I just received permission from Robert D. Jones to include an excerpt from his wonderful book, Uprooting Anger: Biblical Help for a Common Problem, in my dvd study guide. Thought you might enjoy it too–so here you are! God bless, Tara B. Robert D. Jones lists a number of descriptors about people who hold grudges and refuse to forgive. Do any of these statements describe you? Someone you know? If so, how is God calling you to repent and forgive your offender from your heart (Mark 11:25)? 1. You are forgetting the size of the massive sin debt for which God forgave you (Matt. 18:21-35; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). 2.…

  • Sin & Repentance

    Do you ever get frustrated by SLOW service?

    Does it bug you to have to be on hold for five minutes? Or wait at the post office for ten? Enjoy this essay by one of my heroes of the faith, Ajith Fernando. (And please do continue to pray and financially support his ministry at Youth for Christ!) Yours, Tara B. ON WAITING IN A LONG QUEUE by Ajith Fernando As things go from bad to worse in Sri Lanka, we need to be looking for ways in which we can preserve the joy of the Lord amidst all the gloom around us, so that our demeanour exhibits the glorious good news of the gospel which we are called…

  • Sin & Repentance

    Gossip is …

    In his sermon this morning, our pastor defined gossip as: Sharing something that is true, but sharing only part of the information, with someone who has no right to know and no desire to help. I immediately began to think through a grid of my own speech and how often I fail to live out Ephesians 4:29 (to let “no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen”). How often are we tempted to gossip? To bear false witness? Slander and accuse? Breathe graceless, gospel-less, cross-less words of condemnation? (Especially when…

  • Sin & Repentance

    The scarlet “D” …

    This morning, Fred will again teach our church’s teenagers on the topic of financial stewardship. (I continue in my role of “color commentary” and “case study of what NOT do to as a young adult concerning money.”) To prepare, Fred not only prayed and studied Scripture, he spent a lot of time looking at online loan calculators, investment return resources, and other sites that might help him illustrate his teaching point. Looking at all of those topics related to DEBT truly reminded me of the old “Scarlet D” I used to wear on my chest … How, when I met Fred in grad school, in addition to the “Scarlet A”…

  • Sin & Repentance

    Giving it up because I don’t want to …

    So I’m convicted. UGH. There are two things in my life that, well, I just want TOO MUCH. Neither is sinful per se. (Though overindulgence in both IS.) Neither is particularly beneficial. (Though I find them both pleasant!) BUT … BUT … BUT … I am convicted that I need to give them up. Maybe not forever–but definitely for a season. And so I shall. One year. 365 days. Like the Mayor of Casterbridge (only that was for a LOT longer!) … I shall turn away. Fred is supportive.  I’m scared. (Another indicator that I need to say, “No thanks!”, eh?) I’ll be sure to let you know how things…

  • Sin & Repentance

    David Powlison & Ed Welch & CCEF & Anger …

    I woke up at 5AM again this morning–not quite ready to go back to the gym. (72 hours on antibiotics now–so it shouldn’t be long.) As I sat in the Christmas lights (SO nice! Don’t you miss them when they’re gone?), I picked up the latest issue of The Journal of Biblical Counseling. Friends, I just cannot more highly recommend this wonderful ministry (The Christian Counseling & Education Foundation). As soon as I begin to read ANYTHING by these authors (David Powlison, Ed Welch, Timothy Lane, Winston Smith), it is as though my heart SIGHS, my mind ENGAGES, and my spirit is immediately EDIFIED. I am drawn to worship CHRIST.…

  • Sin & Repentance

    Is it REALLY possible to CHANGE?

    I am deep into preparations for my new (“advanced” / “alumni”) women’s retreat. (A church in Texas has already had me teach my “standard” retreat and they asked me to come back next month for another event. So I’m preparing a new set of teachings on Becoming Who You Already Are: How the Gospel Transforms Our Lives and Brings Us Peace.) Does anyone else find it strange (hard? painful? frustrating?) that whenever we have to pray, study, and prepare to teach on a certain topic we invariably start to STRUGGLE regarding it? That has surely been my experience lately. As you may have picked up from some of my recent…