Tag: Stress

By micoots
05/01/2017 0

Why You Probably Don’t Need a Quiet Time

Rightly motivated devotional habits are never legalistic. Neither the strictest obedience to the Word of God nor the most zealous pursuit of holiness is ever legalistic if one’s motives are right. The measurement of legalism is not the consistency of one’s devotional practices but the heart’s reason for doing them. Finally, you’ll likely never be less busy. If you can’t make time to meet God through the Bible and prayer now, it’s very unlikely you will when—if—life does slow down.

You’ve always..

By micoots
04/01/2017 0

Sometimes Saying “No” Is The Right Thing To Do

Ask God. This seems obvious, but too often it is easiest to simply act on instinct before we ask God what He would have for us. Different seasons of life bring different opportunities, and believe it or not, God wants us to make the most of our time for our It brings Him pleasure and glory when we invite Him into the details of our decision making.

Saying no is hard.

A couple weeks ago I felt that familiar pang when I was asked to do something. I had the evening free, and I could definitely fi..

By micoots
02/01/2017 0

Sinclair Ferguson, Your Trusted Guide on Sanctification

Becoming like Jesus. Walking in the Spirit. Growing in grace.

How are such feats to be accomplished? Answers abound. In the world of contemporary publishing, few topics are as filled with fluff as Christian living and sanctification.

Thankfully, there’s always Sinclair Ferguson.

For longtime Reformed readers, Ferguson has become almost synonymous with the doctrine of sanctification. Whether it’s mining the riches of the Puritans in John Owen on the Christian Life, explaining the basics in Gro..

By micoots
01/01/2017 0

The Pressure to be Justified

Luther's law/gospel insight is as brilliant as ever—especially in 21st century America.

Playmobil, the German toy company, made unexpected headlines in 2015 when it released a limited edition Martin Luther figurine. Outside of how smiley it cast the cantankerous theologian, the toy itself wasn’t especially newsworthy. What got everyone’s attention was how quickly it flew off the shelves. Overnight little Luther became the fastest-selling item in the company’s 40-year history. While factori..

By micoots
01/01/2017 0

Remember the Christian Bakers

Surprising, indeed, after years of Christian bakers and pizza parlors being targeted for destruction by the gay left for refusing to participate in something because it opposed their conscience and faith. Then came the Radio City Rockettes, the world-famous dancers who with one swift move, seem to have illuminated the hypocrisy of some liberals, albeit rather unintentionally.

A funny thing happened on the way to the Donald Trump inauguration — liberals suddenly became champions of people being ..

By micoots
01/01/2017 0

God’s Promise Fulfilled – Matthew 1:1

Key PassageThis is the family history of Jesus Christ. He came from the family of David and Abraham.
— Matthew 1:1 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key ThoughtJesus is God keeping his promises. This will be one of Matthew’s continuing themes—Matthew writes his Gospel to stress the fulfillment of God's promises to his people. Matthew begins the good news of Jesus by reminding us that Jesus is not only Jewish, but he also has a family line that can be traced back to King David and to Father Abraham. Matt..

By micoots
30/12/2016 0

Former Scientologist Claims Women in Sea Org Who Become Pregnant Forced to Obtain Abortion

A former Scientologist asserted in an interview for the A&E series “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” this week that women who are part of the group’s elite Sea Organization are forced to obtain an abortion should they become pregnant—a charge that leaders in the so-called Church of Scientology deny.

“If a woman got pregnant, she would instantly be scheduled to go and get an abortion,” Claire Headley stated in the episode. “If she refused in any manner, she would be segregated, not al..

By micoots
30/12/2016 0

Matthew 2: How Old was Jesus? (John Frye)

Matthew 2: How Old was Jesus?
I was asked this question by one of my daughters this year about Christmas events, “Was Jesus visited by the Magi at his birth or at a later time?” Despite all the Christmas cards showing shepherds, sheep and cows, Mary, Joseph and infant Jesus in a manger, and three “kings” bearing gifts, I had to do a little review of the texts (Luke 2 and Matthew 2). I read Matthew’s account of the visit of the Magi and concluded (again) that Jesus was a toddler, not a new born c..

By micoots
30/12/2016 0

Stop Second Guessing God’s Affection

God has looked down the corridor of time and has seen your sinful attitudes, thoughts, words, and deeds. Additionally, with his omniscient eye he has foreseen your incorrigible free will. Left to yourself, you will not relent and you will not repent. However, despite knowing your sin and lack of repentance, God has foreknown you. He has seen your rankness and has purposed to go to work on your behalf.

Do you know how much you are loved? Well, this might blow your mind, but you have been eternal..

By micoots
30/12/2016 0

Gender Confusion: What Do We Say to Someone?

Bringing God into the heart of the situation is absolutely necessary because this is a spiritual issue too. Her gender distress has another element of struggle, beyond what she or others think about this issue. And it is this: that to go against God’s design and purpose (and reality itself) brings about increasing confusion and pain. Searching for healing is not necessarily wrong, but pursuing solutions that violate God’s intentional design and purpose is rebellion against him. Bringing God into..