The God of love and peace be with you today, my friends.
Today’s Kindle deals include some newer books like Disentangled, which actually just released a few weeks ago. I believe this is also the first time Daniel Stevens’ Songs of the Son has been on sale.
(Yesterday on the blog: Wise and Helpful Ways for Christians To Experiment With AI)
Triumph, Disaster, and the Providence of God: All Things From His Fatherly Hand
Juliette Colunga has a comforting article for those who have experienced difficulty or tragedy. “The catechism’s description of these things coming to us by His fatherly hand is important to note. All things are not said to be sent to us from His judgmental hand, His angry hand, or His flippant hand—but from His fatherly hand. If our earthly fathers know how to keep us from going hungry, how much more our perfect, almighty Father in heaven, who knows what we need before we even ask?”
Surrendering to Kindness
On a somewhat related note, Kirsten describes grappling with a common response to suffering among those who steadfastly believe that God is sovereign. “If I’m honest, I find I’m in a place that I feel cautious with God. If it’s possible to separate faith and feeling, I would say that I am in a place where I am certain that my faith is secure, but my feelings are cautious and guarded. I imagine it’s the ongoing process of rebuilding faith and hope after my heart was shattered.”
The Wisdom of Doing What You’re Told
Casey McCall considers our culture’s tortured relationship with truth. “Of course, the fruit of this confidence is the fractious world we now occupy. Everyone claims to have the truth, but those claims often conflict. We can’t pursue the truth without bumping into questions related to whose truth. Everyone is still very certain they’re right even as they stare across at equally certain people with contrary truth claims. Yet, for some reason, our disputed truth claims haven’t led us to question the Enlightenment’s confidence in human reason. Despite the cultural confusion, we double down.”
A Legacy Better Than the Hall of Fame
Jared Allen was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and as he gave his speech, he said something important about leaving a legacy. “In a world where children are viewed as a distraction and deterrent to career and success, the Bible paints a different picture. Children are a heritage—a legacy worth focused time and effort. The Bible tells the story of stewarding the heritage of children to build a legacy of faith.”
Mercy Ministry Is Not Missions
I find Mark Kuo’s distinction between missions and mercy ministry quite helpful. “Mercy ministry can be very helpful with mission work, especially in reaching unbelievers and meeting missionaries’ physical needs. But mercy ministry in and of itself is not mission work. Mercy ministry should always support and serve mission work, rather than substitute for mission work.”
The Black Sheep & the Laptop Girl
Heidi Tai shares an encouraging story of faithfulness and God’s grace. It is “a true story of a decade-long friendship and sisterhood that I hold close to my heart. It is a story of how God once challenged my apathy for the lost in my city. It is a testimony of God’s power and goodness despite my fears and presumptions. It is an example of the value of small talk and sincerity, in a world starved of authenticity and hope.”
Flashback: The Unique Christian Contribution to Politics
Voting, lobbying, and campaigning may make a difference to a nation, but we can be absolutely certain that prayer will make a difference to a nation.
God isn’t calling you to make great promises to Him. He is calling you to trust His great promises to you.
—Kevin Dibbley
