A Sex Addict’s Gift
It had rested uncomfortably on me for some time. Whenever reading 1 Corinthians 12, 7-11, I’d feel left out. It touches on the special gifts given to each of us by the Holy Spirit.
A Sex Addict’s Gift Read More »
God's Will for Us
Walking a Friend Through Divorce
By J. Grant Swank, Jr.
Dave walked through the door with divorce notice in hand. He’d not expected it, though he had told me he wanted a divorce eventually. But this way? This time?
One of the gifts of friendship is to be there for another when needed — in bad times as well as good times.
Instantly I knew that Dave needed particularly my friendship gift — immediately — in high gear –sympathetically — realistically — meaningfully.
So it was that the journey began-walking a friend through divorce. Interestingly, having made this trek with others down through the years, I have reached the conclusion that all divorces are different, all divorces are the same.
Walking a Friend Through Divorce Read More »
How do I know God’s will in my situation?
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV
Over the years one of the questions I get asked most often is, “How do I know God’s will in my situation?” At the risk of sounding trite, discovering God’s will in any situation or circumstance really isn’t that difficult. God doesn’t play guessing games with us, and He doesn’t delight in making us take wild guesses only to discover we did the wrong thing. God’s will for us is outlined perfectly in the Scriptures, but that’s where we run up against problems.
How do I know God’s will in my situation? Read More »
When We Have to Wait
Tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49
He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father. Acts 1:4
These waiting days were necessary to enable the disciples to realize their need, their nothingness, their failure and their dependence upon the Master. They had to get emptied first, before they could get filled.
When We Have to Wait Read More »
Life is Not a Game – Workshop Transcript
note: Members may discuss this workshop in the Message Boards HERE
Obie-Host Hello and welcome to CIR’s latest Workshop:
“Life is Not a Game: Rules, rebellion, and freedom as a follower of Jesus” given by Rich Dixon.
Rich is a respected speaker and the author of “Relentless Grace: God’s Invitation To Give Hope Another Chance”.
You are invited to visit Rich’s web site: http://www.relentlessgrace.com
where you can learn more about Rich and his writings and you can also purchase his book.
You may download the booklet for free which this workshop is about here:
We will open with prayer, after which Rich will speak for several minutes. When he is through speaking
Life is Not a Game – Workshop Transcript Read More »
A Lifelong Reconstruction Project
One of the most sobering chapters in all of Scripture can be found in Deuteronomy 6. In this well-known portion of the Old Testament, we are informed that the Law of God is more than just a series of directives handed down by a Divine Deity. In fact, we learn that obeying the Law is not only a life-long pursuit, but a pursuit that can actually lead to a longer life (6:2). We are also told that obeying the Law is “for our good always and for our survival” (6:24). Further, we are tasked with the mission of not only obeying this Law ourselves, but of passing it on and teaching it to our children (6:6-7). Any one of these three components, when considered on its own, should be enough to convince us that God takes His Law seriously.
A Lifelong Reconstruction Project Read More »
Learning God’s Purpose for Your Life
But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves,
not having been baptized by John. Luke 7:30, NASB
We hear a lot about the importance of “purpose-driven lives,” but is it enough to follow any purpose… or does it matter whose purpose we choose to follow?
The above verse in Luke tells us that the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God’s purpose for their lives. Why? Because they hadn’t been baptized by John. What does that have to do with it?
Learning God’s Purpose for Your Life Read More »
Biblical Law and Grace
Have you ever wondered if Biblical Law is still relevant? Does it matter anymore? Did Christ’s coming do away with the Law?
Biblical Law and Grace Read More »
The Blessing of Not Getting
There is one class of mercies and blessings, of which we are not sufficiently ready to take note. These are the things that God keeps from us. We recount, with more or less gratitude, the good gifts that we receive from him; but there are many blessings that consist in our not receiving.
In one of Miss Havergal’s bright flashes of spiritual truth, she quotes these words of Moses to the Israelites: “As for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you so to do.” Then she adds, “What a stepping-stone! We give thanks, often with a tearful, doubtful voice, for our positive spiritual mercies; but what an almost infinite field there is for negative mercies! We cannot even imagine all that God has allowed us not to do, not to be.”
The Blessing of Not Getting Read More »
Love: Who is #1?
Ask Angie: If I as a person am #1 who can I help? Love is not self-seeking. If I seek to help myself first who matters after me? If I choose to help others first am I not full filled? Love is the greatest commandment. So why can’t we love?