Talking with someone about an apparent sin or temptation has to be one of the most difficult things to do in all of life. It’s one thing to do so in a conciliation case when you’re serving as a mediator. It can still be difficult, of course, but the people have invited you into their lives to serve you in this way (either by opening a case or being bound by a conciliation clause in a contract), so it’s a little more doable. But what about when it has to do with a parenting concern? (Dum DUMMMM! Cue scary music.) Who am I to speak with this person about how…

Challies.com linked to an excellent post over at HeadHeartHand—Leadership for Servants: The Pastor’s Worst Enemy Although particularly directed at pastors, his insights into the consequences and the cure are helpful for all  of us. Plus, this brief article gives us some great reminders for encouraging and praying for our own pastors. (And thanking God for leaders who lead with genuine humility and servant hearts.)  

In our women’s study last Wednesday, we discussed the hope, assurance, and confidence we have in this life because of our justification—that once and for all transaction (double imputation!) whereby our sins are put on Christ and His righteousness is apportioned to us by faith and we are born again! Passing from death to life, darkness to light—God justifies us once and forever, for always. And nothing—not angels or demons, anything in Heaven above or on the earth beneath, nothing can separate us from the love of God our Father. We are justified. ‘Course, the problem comes when we struggle with sin (again); we are lukewarm or even altogether apathetic…

One of the best teachers out there today: Paige Benton the actual problem at hand. Brown — The Responsive Heart (Thanks for this link, Nikki! 🙂 )

Well … apparently I have an inappropriately strong (idolatrous) desire that my family NOT be woken up at 6AM by taxi drivers. I know this because Fred and I tried something new this morning … we gave the ol’ Billings “taxicab” service (and I use those quotation marks intentionally!) a try so that the entire family wouldn’t have to wake up at 5:45AM to take me to the airport. (We were particularly concerned about sweet Ellie because she was cookin’ with a fever around 101 or 102 after her six-month old shots, poor love.) Of course, in my (careful? organized? controlling? OCD?) way, I even called the taxi company last…

Between Two Worlds linked to a great David Powlison article and I encourage you to check it out: Desire 101: Putting First Things First Just listen to a few of the questions that are asked (and answered): – How can you tell if a desire is inordinate rather than natural? – Doesn’t the word lusts properly apply only to bodily appetites: the pleasures and comforts of sex, food, drink, rest, exercise, health?   – Can desires be habitual? – What about fears? They seem as important in human motivation as cravings. – In counseling, do you just confront a person with his sinful cravings? – Can you change what you…

Today’s Peacemaker Ministries PeaceMeal was entitled “The Maturity of Being Winsome”. Here is an excerpt: “If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” Matthew 18:15 We need to let go of the idea that showing someone his fault always requires direct confrontation. Although that approach will be appropriate in some situations, we should never do it automatically. Instead, we should ask God to help us discern the most winsome and effective way to approach a particular person at a particular time and to open the way for genuine reconciliation. (Adapted from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande, Updated Edition (Grand Rapids,…

I only have a second because I’m typing this on Fred’s laptop and he has to leave for work soon … But I wanted to tell you three graces that God gave me yesterday that helped me to not sin as I tried to dig out from the chaos that had taken over (literally) every single room in our tiny little home. As I worked to tackle the piles (and piles and PILES) of stuff (suitcase and box that needed unpacking, mail to sort and deal with, craft and school and science fair stuff everywhere, sick-kid-survival-mode-areas strategically placed throughout the house filled with books and CDs and projects), I remembered:…

Years ago, my dear friend Joe Adams gave me some great advice re: disciplines / health goals, etc. I was trying to cut back on my soda consumption. (Yes, yes, I know how HORRIBLE soda is. Truly. But it’s still hard for me to give up.) And he encouraged me to NOT think of it as “giving up soda,” but instead to have a nice big glass of cold water (from a GLASS glass, not something plastic because glass makes it taste so much better) BEFORE I have a soda. Because just by adding in something good, my desire of something less health/redemptive would lessen. And he was right. Plus,…

We’re almost done with our summer women’s study on Tim Keller’s “The Prodigal God”, and I think I speak for all of the women participating when I say that it’s been a wonderful, convicting, encouraging time of learning more about God, ourselves, and especially the GOSPEL. (I highly commend this book to you!) Throughout the study, we’ve been trying to APPLY what we are learning, especially as it pertains to how many of us have “elder brother tendencies” to: – Do “good” things (and avoid “bad”) things, but for wrong (“damnable”) motivations – Want the good things that God the Father gives us, but not REALLY want HIM – Judge,…