Good morning. Grace and peace to you.
For those interested in books for children, Westminster Books has a deal on the beautiful Lithos Kids series of books.
If you’re into Kindle books, you’ll find a good-sized collection of deals today.
(Yesterday on the blog: Will the Cause of Righteousness Be Overthrown?)
The Wisdom of Work
“Time is short. We only have so many years, months, days, and hours in which to be productive. This is reason enough for us to work as unto the Lord during the short time God has given us in this life.” Nick puts out the call to be diligent in our labor.
When You’re at Your Lowest
Barbara has a valuable word of encouragement in this one. She focuses on the only Psalm of lament that doesn’t end with hope and a renewed perspective.
What can make me whole again?
Olivia shares a long and sweet story here. “This chain of events makes me question my questions about God’s goodness because I can see him working in unexpected and miraculous ways. And yet the bumpy ride to Ndalani, Kenya mirrored my own heart: one moment exultant that God had redeemed my sorrow in an incredibly beautiful way, the next finding myself near tears, longing for someone with whom I could share the upside-down beauty of that starry night.”
What Does James 1:2 Mean?
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” This is a tricky text and one that is handled well by Robert Plummer.
Gifts Forged in Grief
“I have two sweet boys whom I adore, but the void of never knowing the three children who came before them still aches sometimes. Were they all boys, or was there a girl? I always wanted to have a little girl. Did they have blue eyes like their brothers? What would it be like to hold their tiny hands? I don’t know them, but I miss them.”
Where Does Mission Happen? How the Church Wins the Lost
“In your mind, what are the most appealing aspects of our churches for nonbelievers? Is it the personal invitation? The welcoming and thrilling atmosphere? The uniqueness and oddity of Christian worship?” Seth Porch tells how the church is the place where mission happens.
Flashback: Sometimes “Love Your Enemy” Means “Love Your Spouse”
If he calls you to love your enemy in sacrificial ways, he surely calls you to love your spouse in even more sacrificial ways. If he warns of the temptation of fraudulent forms of love when you respond to your enemies, you need to also heed his warnings when you respond to your most cherished companion.
To extend forgiveness is a precious thing. The one who forgives expresses a willingness to cancel debts, and even to absorb some of the bad fruit of the other person’s sin against him or her.
—Gary and Betsy Ricucci
