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Thanks for the eyes…

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I was thinking this morning as I did devotions about Luke 10:21-24. Luke tells us that Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit for God the Father’s work in revealing truth to others. What a blessing it is that our eyes have been opened to behold spiritual realities. Thank God today for the gift of illumination.

Vacation…

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As some of you may know, we left at 3AM on Tues, Nov 24, to come to my Mom’s. We ended up getting here around 2:30PM, and after Supper at my sister’s, we were all exhausted. Andrew went up to his cousins and said (without our prompting), “By-by, we are going to Bamma’s to go to sleep.”

So, we are having some vacation time. I knew it was vacation this morning when I got up this morning. My vacation:

A third cup of morning coffee…

How Beneficial?

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I had some time to prepare for this coming Lord’s Day already. We will be studying Colossians 1:13-14 in a sermon I’m calling “Transfer Orders”. The outline has to do with the benefits extended to us through God’s rescue mission: rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of His Beloved Son. Spurgeon, again, is on his game when he says:

And now Paul, having mentioned his Master’s great work—redemption by blood and the forgiveness of sins—goes on a tangent, as it were. He is so enthusiastic with regard to Christ and His great atoning Sacrifice that the very thought of Christ’s blood stirs his own blood and he seems like a man all on fire with holy fervor…

What struck me in this quote was the way in which these truths affected him. I wonder if we are moved by the beneficial message of God’s redemption and forgiveness for us. As we continue to think of this week, allow these truths–the truths of God’s Word from Colossians 1:13-14–to inspire fresh gratitude in your life.

Sunday Recap – Pleasing God

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Yesterday, we look at Colossians 1:11-12 in a sermon entitled Pleasing Him. This sermon really focused our attention on our need of grace from God and how He’s shown such amazing grace in giving us the Gospel. These points flowed from the general theme of what it looks like to walk in God’s will or in a manner pleasing to Him or walking in a manner worthy of Him.

I was encouraged to see how God is able to give us strength in circumstances and with people. These are situations in which many of us feel helpless. But, God is there to give grace. I hope your heart was encouraged.

Thanks to the Son!

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On Sabbath Evening, January 15, 1860, Charles Spurgeon stepped into the pulpit at New Park Street Chapel to preach a sermon entitled, Special Thanksgiving to the Father from Colossians 1:12-13. This quote from this sermon will be one I use today in transitioning from my own sermon from Colossians 1:11-12 into the Lord’s Supper…

I think, my Brethren, we scarcely need to be told to give thanks unto the Son. The remembrance of that bleeding body hanging upon the Cross is ever present to our faith. The nails and the spear, His griefs, the anguish of His soul and His sweat of agony make much tender touching appeals to our gratitude—these will prevent us always from ceasing our songs and sometimes fire our hearts with rekindling rapture in praise of the Man, Christ Jesus. Yes, we will bless You, dearest Lord. Our souls are all on fire. As we survey the wondrous Cross, we cannot but shout—“O for this love let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break,
And all harmonious human tongues
The Savior’s praises speak.”

Give thanks to the Son for His work in the Gospel!

Thanksgiving Help (Spiritually Speaking)

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Don Whitney has had a huge influence upon my life in many ways. He was a professor of Spiritual Formation for me back in seminary days. Each church I’ve had the privilege of serving since then has had Don come and help us equip our people in spiritual things. He has many helpful resources on his website. (He will be back at Crestview in the Spring of 2010, March 12-14). He offers some practical encouragement for Thanksgiving in what he calls Sing The Table Blessing as a means to foster family worship during this upcoming holiday. Allow your thanksgiving time to be one in which you as a family are able to come together to thank the Ultimate Giver.

Fight Club Discipleship

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This morning, I opened my email inbox and had minutes from the latest Men’s Ministry meeting. One thing they seemed to be burdened about is the need for men to be discipled, a need that, no doubt, exists and they are seeking to intentionally serve.

I was reminded of this helpful free E-book online at The Resurgence. The book is entitled Fight Clubs by Jonathan Dobson. It is a fairly easy read (I read it in about 30 minutes) full of what practical discipleship looks like in the local church. The book is a free resource and here’s a blip of what they write on their site:

If you’ve struggled to follow Jesus by veering away from the gospel into duty-bound legalism or moralistic indifference, then this book is for you! Fight Clubs is a radical call to fight the fight of faith in the strength of the gospel. Jonathan Dodson calls us to join the fight against sin, legalism, and license by looking to Christ and His gospel. Fight Clubs equips us to fight the fight of faith by exposing the fleeting promises of sin and drawing us into the grace-saturated promises of God. Displacing defective forms of discipleship, Dodson keeps the gospel central by tapping into various layers of biblical motivations that promote joyful obedience to Christ. The book also provides a strategy to fight sin as the church—small fighting communities called Fight Clubs. Read this book; form a fight club; and start fighting in the strength of the gospel.

I commend this to you for your consideration.

Weekend Preview – Thanks

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This weekend, we get back into Colossians, looking at Colossians 1:11-12. In a sermon I’m entitling Pleasing Him, we see two pathways to pleasing God…

1) We receive enablement, which is really the thrust of v.11. God is the One who strengthens us for life.

2) We give thanks (emerging out of v.12).

This is where we’re headed. I hope you come and see in new ways how a reliance on God and a spirit of gratitude help bring delight to our Heavenly Father.

What’s Been Read or Being Read…

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It’s been a while since I’ve updated my reading list, so I thought it was a good time to do so:

I continue to use Carson’s For the Love of God, Vol 2, Water of the Word, and the ESV Study Bible during devotions. I’m also enjoying Nancy Guthrie’s Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, which is a series of collected writings from old and modern authors on Advent. I just picked up Bryan Chapell’s Christ Centered Worship, and try to get a chapter of it read during devotions as well.

I’ve been working through Chris Wright’s Knowing Jesus Through The Old Testament, which has really helped open my eyes to some OT expectations and realities about Jesus coming.

I finished A Praying Life and was really helped by it. The Heart of Anger really helped me recognize some sinful tendencies on my part as a parent. Feelings and Faith helped me not to fear affections so much. Gospel Powered Parenting was a nice read, but didn’t say too many things you can’t read elsewhere. The End of the Law was cumbersome (it was Biblical theology) but helpful in establishing some good foundation in interacting with Moses. Mohler’s latest, Words From The Fire, has nearly compelled me to do a series on the 10 Commandments in 2010.

As for what’s on the docket:
Finally got Our Boys in today. Will be an enjoyable read.

Just got in CrossTalk (WTS was selling it for $5 last week), subtitled Where Life and Scripture Meet by Mike Emlet. Published by the publishing arm of CCEF, I think it will be a helpful book in practical theology.

Also got in two books after listening to Dever’s latest interview with Iain Murray: A Bio of John Murray and collection of bios on Scottish believers.

I’m still working through the Mission of God and hope to read through the Pilgrim’s Progress again.

Good news, though. Winter is coming! More time to be inside reading :).