For Christians, the idea of self-denial is not an end in and of itself. It is intended for something greater; something in alignment with our God-given desires. But what are those desires that self-denial would bring. While unselfishness connotes going without for the benefit of someone else, is self-denial the ultimate expression of love? What then is the reward of love?
Sorted by: Uncategorized
The Magnitude Argument: “The Problem Is Too Big” Maybe you’re looking at the chaotic life of a loved one and are overwhelmed at all that needs to change. Or maybe you’re considering your marriage, and all the years that have poured over the dam, and it simply seems impossible to turn it around.
Let me begin with an understatement: I am not renowned for my dexterity with tools. It was only last year I got a real toolbox
<p> Do you want to remedy the shallow stereotype of “take two verses and call me in the morning?” Are you ready to stop placing band-aids on your friends’ suffering and sin? Then engage in mutual gospel conversations based upon a biblical way of looking at and living life.</p> <p> <strong>Gospel Conversations: Ephesians 4:29</strong></p> <p> People struggling with suffering and wrestling with besetting sins need whispers, not shouts. Don’t holler curses; whisper grace.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw-n4, franklin-gothic-urw, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(60, 60, 60) !important;"> Last blog we discussed what it meant to live in our relationships with <a href="http://paultripp.com/wednesdays-word/posts/relationships-an-investment-mentality" style="color: rgb(110, 176, 186); cursor: pointer; -webkit-transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out;">An Investment Mentality.</a> Here's the third and final mentality:</p> <h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; font-family: tablet-gothic-compressed-n7, tablet-gothic-compressed, sans-serif; color: rgb(110, 176, 186); text-transform: uppercase; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> 3) YOU MUST LIVE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH A GRACE MENTALITY:</h2> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw-n4, franklin-gothic-urw, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(60, 60, 60) !important;"> When I got married, I didn’t understand grace. I had a principle-istic view of Scripture that caused me to bring a law economy into all of my relationships.</p>
My husband recently lost his job necessitating a move to a rural senior mobile home community. I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t responded well. Since this move I’ve noticed a significant propensity to anger, ingratitude, bitterness, self-pity, and ensuing guilt. I’ve been standoffish and arrogant with the dear folks who tried to welcome us here. We won’t even talk about how I treated my husband.
Wisdom Will Save Your Counselee (and You) from Sexual Immorality
Author: ABC
Category: Uncategorized
Dealing with sexual immorality is a challenge for any counselor. Deeply entrenched patterns of lust have become a part of the counselee’s lifestyle. Sinful relationships have replaced godly ones. Selfishness has won out over selflessness. Yet in spite of these ugly realities, the Holy Spirit makes some bold challenges in verses 12 and 16 of Proverbs 2.
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.25em; direction: ltr; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Question 1: Are You a Fake Friend?</strong></p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.25em; direction: ltr; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> There is one defining characteristic of the phony friend in Proverbs: he uses people. The fake friend makes friends with people who can give him things. He establishes relationships solely for personal gain. In Proverbs this means money.</p> <ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-left: 35px; direction: ltr; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; list-style-position: outside; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr;"> “Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend” (19:4).</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr;"> “The poor is disliked by his neighbor, but
“The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these things. ” – Isaiah 45:7 2011 has been the “Annus Horribilis”. Earthquakes, floods, droughts, wildfires and tornadoes and so many appended with “worst on record”. I was particularly struck by the news footage of the March 11th tsunami in Japan. Entire towns razed. Parents calling out to irretrievable children.
Understanding and practicing prepared spontaneity can indeed enable you to live productively for God, but I’m not for a minute suggesting life will never be hard again. Every situation, location, and relationship of our everyday lives is in some way broken. As fallen creatures, the best we can ever do in this life is to know how to live in this broken-down house that’s our current address; nothing and no one but God himself, in the fullness of his time, can change where we live. So as we experience the reality of life in this house, sometimes it will leave us confused and overwhelmed.