Author: Administrador

Topics: Church; Comfort; Community; Death; Mourning; Suffering References: 2 Corinthians 1:3–11; 1 Peter 4:13; 5:9 Recently I experienced, for the first time, a profound sense of biblical community. For the past seven years, my wife and I have participated in a small group, which included five couples. This past year our group celebrated a couple’s … Continue reading “GROWING
TOGETHER IN PAIN”

Topics: Convictions; Faith; Temptation; Testing Reference: James 2:14–26 You don’t have convictions unless you have been tested. —Crawford W. Loritts Jr., in a message at the Institute for Biblical Preaching (March 10, 1999)

Topics: Glory; Inheritance; Persecution; Rewards References: Romans 8:17; Revelation 3:21 The documents of surrender officially ending World War II were signed by the Japanese and designated representatives of allied nations on September 2, 1945. General Douglas MacArthur, officiating the ceremony aboard the USS Missouri, was the last to sign on behalf of the United States. … Continue reading “SHARING
THE GLORY”

Topics: Commitment; Devotion; Discipleship; Ministry; Sacrifice; Surrender Reference: Philippians 2:5–11 I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, Exalted for thee or brought low … Continue reading “A
PRAYER IN SUFFERING”

Topics: God’s Sovereignty; Imitation of Christ; Motivation; Obedience; Sacrifice; Surrender References: Matthew 11:29–30; John 20:21; Philippians 2:5–11, 17; Hebrews 10:5–7 God can never make me wine if I object to the fingers he uses to crush me. If God would only crush me with his own fingers and say, “Now, my son, I am going … Continue reading “ACCEPTING
GOD’S CRUSHING”

Topics: Adversity; Affliction; Courage References: Matthew 5:11; 10:39; Acts 5:41; Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 4:11 It is good to learn early enough that suffering and God are not a contradiction but rather a unity, for the idea that God himself is suffering is one that has always been one of the most convincing teachings of … Continue reading “BEING
ONE WITH GOD IN SUFFERING”

Topics: Fear; God as Father; God’s Faithfulness; Loneliness; Presence of God; Protection; Trials References: Deuteronomy 31:6; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5 A tribe of Native Americans had a unique practice for training young braves. On the night of a boy’s thirteenth birthday, he was blindfolded and taken miles away. When he took off the blindfold, he … Continue reading “SENSING
GOD IN THE FOREST”

Topics: Brokenness; Cross; Grace; Prayer References: Romans 5:12–21; Ephesians 2:1–10 I had stacked some rocks out at this little place in the woods, a place I had gone to pray, desperate for God to do something, to show up, or to have some sort of breakthrough. As I was praying, I remember smelling cedar so … Continue reading “FRAGRANCE
OF THE BROKEN”

Topics: Acceptance; Desires References: Psalm 20:4; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 6:4–10 Suffering is getting what you don’t want, and not getting what you do want. —J. I. Packer

Topics: Compassion; Empathy; Grandmothers; Love; Ministry; Presence; Understanding References: Matthew 25:40; John 15:13 Today I visited a little girl dying of cancer. Her body was disfigured by her disease and its treatment. She was in constant pain. As I entered her room, I was overcome by her suffering, which seemed unjust, unfair, unreasonable. Even more … Continue reading “STANDING
ON HOLY GROUND”