There is a great article by Pastor Ben Hames over at ByFaith Magazine having to do with confessing sins one to another: It Has Become Clearer … That We Should Confess Our Sins to One Another Consider just an excerpt: ” … Many in the church have begun to see the value of having a Christian brother or sister to hold them accountable in life. This service to one another is a great example of the Church of Christ living as vivified community. Confession moves us beyond the cognitive and internal toward the tangible and at least mildly communal. Through this, believers find they are more honest with themselves, more…

More wisdom from Ed Welch: “Self-serving needs are not meant to be satisfied; they  are meant to be put to death.” (When People are Big and God is Small)  

Tempted to despair (yet again), I did a quick search this morning for a biblical and practical reminder of the gospel (you know, the Truth that I really DO believe, but I am SO quick to forget). In my reading, I found this great Pastor John Piper sermon: How to Deal with the Guilt of Sexual Sin Thankfully, I’m not struggling with this particular temptation, but MAN! Am I struggling in other areas. This brief excerpt, in particular, blessed and encouraged me: “Trusting Christ to the hilt with gutsy guilt. Micah 7:8-9 is a picture of what you say to your enemy when he scoffs at your defeat. Here is…

CCEF Annual Conference  

Don’t miss today’s Slice of Infinity from Dr. Ravi Zacharias: The Apologetic of the Apologist I’ll tempt you with just a few lines … “A starting point for taking on the responsibility of the work of Christian apologetics is recognizing the role that living out a disciplined Christian life plays. Even a brief examination of the Scriptures reveals this striking imperative: one may not divorce the content of apologetics from the character of the apologist … I have always found this to be such a fascinating verse because the apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, knew the hazards and the risks of being an answer-bearer to the…

Traveling home through four airports this morning, I’ve been enjoying Spurgeon’s Encyclopedia of Sermons. Not in any sort of systematic, academic way, mind you … but just topically. I’m reading on things that are of particular interest to me at this time in my life. This morning I read Pastor Spurgeon’s exposition of Psalm 51 because I’ve been thinking a lot about repentance lately. He writes: “Psalm 51:8. Make me to hear joy and gladness … How late in the Psalm that prayer comes! He writes seven verses before he dares to pray for joy and gladness; and those seven verses are all either confessions of sin or petitions for…

A great read over at Challies.com: Behind Closed Doors (Oh! How often  I am MOST tempted to sin when I THINK I am being anonymous.)  

I am JUST about to walk the dog. (Hah! I’ve been telling myself that for 45 minutes.) But trying to work through emails/paperwork, I am convicted by just how CAREFUL I must learn to be when it comes to $$$$$$$. I’ve had a number of “LITTLE” inconveniences related to money in the last month–and I think they are starting to pile up in my heart. (This is NOT good.) Taken alone, they are no big deal. (Someone doesn’t pay the international shipping charge for something and our family just goes ahead and pays the $21 fee without saying something; someone else makes an error with their own paperwork and in…

Another must read over at New Attitude: The Gospel and Bitterness Preach it, Pastor Anyabwile!  

Oh my STARS!! I’ve been burdened. I’ve prayed. I’ve tried to discern HOW our family could POSSIBLY help. But after reading this blog from Radical Womanhood, I think I know now how I want to give $$$$$$. Dear, God, have mercy on this sin-sick world!  (I know You do!!) And save these precious women and tiny little lovie girls. (Oh! I feel sick to my stomach. Again.) Maranatha. Come quickly Lord Jesus. — t