Untwisting Scriptures and offering the Living Water, to help others (especially those who have been abused) experience the joy to be found in Jesus Christ
I’ve mentioned on my Facebook page that I had a new book coming out in March. I’m glad to announce that it’s out now and is available for purchase. Continue reading “New book for help with praying when you’re under spiritual attack”
Years ago when we were visiting a large and well-endowed fundamentalist church here in Greenville, South Carolina, the Sunday school teacher went on a bit of a tirade about how wrong it was to come to church to “get.”
“You’re only supposed to come to church to GIVE,” he rebuked us. He went on to express his disgust with people who come to church wanting something, Continue reading “You should come to church to “give” and not to “get””
Some wonderful good news for those who have been considered “hopeless outsiders.” This is the hope you have that you will not be a “disappointment” to God. Continue reading “When God is not disappointed with you”
It was some months ago now that I added to my list of things to write about a lecture from Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Convention’s Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Here is the link to the one-minute video and below is the transcript: Continue reading “5 things needed more than theology for unity in the church: a response to Al Mohler”
Some time back when I guest blogged on a friend’s website, I aroused some controversy (which is no news now, but at that time it was unusual). Though the topic was whether or not church attendance is pleasing to God, the underlying question was one I had thought about, pondered, and prayed over many times and much over the past months and years:
How can I please God in my day-to-day life? Continue reading “The secret to living a life that pleases God”
This is Part 3 of 3. You can read Part 1 here. You can read Part 2 here.
In yesterday’s post, I quoted Heath Lambert as saying that sanctification involves striving and moral effort (trying to be good). My contention, and that of others, is that our sanctification, godliness, holiness, power over sin, and pleasing God are all taken care of in Jesus (His perfect life, death, resurrection, ascension, and seating), and we have no striving to do to accomplish it; we are only to look to Him in faith for all these things to be accomplished.
But Lambert uses several Bible verses to support his point (laid out in Part 2), so it’s important to look at them all. Here they are, with my commentary. Continue reading “What place does “striving” have in sanctification? A response to Heath Lambert”
This is Part 2 of 3. In Part 1, I expressed the consternation I had experienced over Scriptures about “resting” and “striving” that seemed like they didn’t fit with each other.
The Lord used several means to help me in my understanding: my Bible studies—especially Galatians, Romans, and Colossians—a sermon, and some key books. Even though I didn’t understand at that time the importance of asking the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to the Scriptures, still He had mercy on me.
The resting (in case you had as much trouble getting it as I did) is NOT about becoming a couch potato, lol. Continue reading “Reconciling the “resting” and the “striving,” with some thoughts from Heath Lambert”
Back in 1994 when I was studying Leviticus (because it was my wilderness book), I wrote this in the margin at Leviticus chapter 2 (the boldface is added now):
II Peter 1:4 says that we as believers should be “partakers of the divine nature.” This passage shows the priests literally partaking of that which represents the divine nature of our lovely Lord. Then that bread of life becomes a part of us and we are influenced and strengthened by it. In all these ways mentioned, we should be striving to be like Him: the sweet-smelling life, the full anointing by the Holy Spirit, the fellowship of His sufferings. How far, how far I have to go!
Do you hear the wailing in my voice? Continue reading “Struggling with “striving”: When should I strive and when should I rest?”
As we do the work of the Lord, in whatever capacity He has called us, to whatever degree He strengthens us, we’ll keep in mind the truth of who He is and who we are and to the life to which He has beckoned us. We praise Him and look to Him on this day.
My husband Tim said it’s bound to stir up controversy, but I said, “Well, it’s the stuff I blog about all the time anyway; it’s just codified now.” Continue reading “New website page: The beliefs behind the blog”