As we head into the holiday season, you’ll see me focus on sharing some year-end material—roundups of the year’s best songs, best books, and recommendations for resources that may serve you in the year ahead. Stay tuned through the rest of December to see that.
Today’s Kindle deals include a book about some of the key women from church history, a biography of David Brainerd, and a book on living in community.
Finally Transformed: From Transgender to Christian
Jonathan Gass tells of being convinced he was transgender before accepting Christ (and, therefore, his true identity). “My attempted transition impeded my growth socially, professionally, and spiritually. But my biggest regret is that I was trying to spread the word of my physical changes rather than the Lord’s precious gift of salvation. I feel a great deal of guilt for encouraging friends to continue in their transgender experiences, and I fear they will also come to regret their decisions.”
Forgive Us Our Debts
J. V. Fesko writes about confessing sins generally and confessing them specifically.
Did the Son of God Leave Heaven When He Came to Earth?
We often hear of Jesus leaving heaven to come to earth. But strictly speaking, did Jesus leave heaven? Kevin DeYoung answers well.
Does THIS Prove Mary Wasn’t a Virgin? (Video)
Tim Barnett takes on a recent claim that Mary wasn’t a virgin when she conceived and gave birth to Jesus.
9 Ways to Help Those Who Are Suffering
This article offers nine different ways you can help those who are going through periods of suffering. “While we feel compassion, we often find ourselves at a loss for what to do. Whether it’s a struggling spouse, a grieving friend, or a hurting member in our church, we want to help, but we’re unsure of the best approach. We walk a fine line between giving people space and showing up, between speaking truth and offering a listening ear. We fear doing or saying the wrong thing. It’s difficult to navigate. So, how do we help those who are suffering? How can we grow in showing up with love and wisdom?”
Gift Giving
Brandon tells about coming to terms with one aspect of his heartbreaking loss. “The thought of not praying for Isabel anymore crushed me. Absolutely crushed me, and I wept for so long afterwards. I could not believe that this sweet girl I prayed for since she was a tiny little one in her mama’s womb no longer needed me to pray for her.”
Flashback: Sin Is Immaturity
Sin is iniquity, premeditated rebellion against God. And lately, especially as I’ve been examining my own life, I’ve also been seeing sin as immaturity. Sin is a failure to grow up.
It is natural to quarrel, to be selfish, to live a small-minded life. It is supernatural to love unconditionally, to serve others, to live a life of vision and faith.
—Sally Clarkson
