Self-pity described

“Self-pity is a powerful, negative attitude that gives rise to many, many excuses for sin. People fall into Satan’s trap of giving themselves “permission” to sin to compensate for the difficulties and trials they’ve had to bear. Self-pity is a direct rejection of God’s control. It is saying, “I don’t like what you’ve done in my life, and I absolutely will not be content! I can’t change it, so I’ll just be angry and miserable.”

John A. Younts – Everyday Talk, Talking Freely and Naturally about God with Your Children, p. 140

HT: Truth Matters

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Free June wallpaper calendar

I’m always glad to get a new free wallpaper or calendar for my desktop and other mobile devices. But particularly excited for this one since its theme is mission/evangelism which coincides nicely with our Wednesday evening emphasis at GHBC Erie this summer.

Click, download, and decorate here! 

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Some of the most misused Bible verses

Haven’t read this book but looks pretty interesting.  Eric Bargerhuff has written The Most Misused Verses in the Bible: Surprising Ways God’s Word Is Misunderstood (Bethany House, 2012) in which he takes the reader through 17 often misquoted verses and helps us see their proper meaning and application.  Here’s a look at the “most misused verses” Eric writes about in his book:

• “Judge Not” - Matthew 7:1
• “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you” - Jeremiah 29:11-13
• “Where two or three are gathered” - Matthew 18:20
• “Ask for anything in My name” - John 14:13-14
• “All things work together for good” - Romans 8:28
• “If My people who are called by My name” - 2 Chronicles 7:14
• “Jesus as the firstborn of all creation” - Colossians 1:15
• “Money is the root of all evil” - 1 Timothy 6:10
• “No more than you can handle” - 1 Corinthians 10:13
• “Train up a child” - Proverbs 22:6
• “I can do all things through Christ” - Philippians 4:13
• “An eye for an eye” - Exodus 21:23-25
• “Prayer offered in faith” - James 5:15
• “Repent and be baptized” - Acts 2:38
• “Guard your heart” - Proverbs 4:23
• “Where there is no vision” - Proverbs 29:18
• “Lifting up the name of Jesus” - John 12:32

Trevin Wax shares some brief comments here.

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Six resolves from Philippians 4

D. A. Carson spoke recently spoke on six resolutions for living  in light of the gospel from Philippians 4.  Aaron Armstrong has summarized Carson’s message and I commend his synopsis of it.  Here are the six resolves:

1. Resolve to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4;4)
2. Resolve to be known for gentleness (Philippians 4:5)
3. Resolve not to be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6-7)
4. Resolve to think holy thoughts (Philippians 4:8-9)
5. Resolve to learn the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:10-13)
6. Resolve to grow in the grace of gratitude and courtesy (Philippians 4:14-20)

Which of these six resolutions is most challenging to you personally? Why?

Read the rest here.

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Consider how Christ loves you

Jeremy Walker at Reformation21 urges us to consider today how Christ loves us:

When the Jews saw Christ weep outside the tomb of Lazarus, this demonstration of his deep affection (compare Jn 11.3, 5) brought forth the declaration: “See how he loved him!” (Jn 11.36). His attitude and actions left the onlookers in no doubt concerning the feeling of Christ for his beloved friend, although their ignorance put it in the past tense. In similar fashion, when we consider the attitudes and actions of Christ toward any child of God, though the circumstances may be very different, we should be able to say, “See how he loves him!”

The love of Christ for his people is something that is worth considering, meditating on and dwelling upon. It does our souls good to remember how we have been and are being loved by the Saviour. The love of Christ is like the many faces of the diamond – we can turn it in the light of our experience to find the aspect which gleams most brightly at this moment. The demonstrations of Christ’s love are like the cities of refuge: in times of trouble we flee to the nearest one to find a safe place. So consider these seed thoughts concerning the love of Christ, some few of the ways in which you, child of God, are loved by him, and take those which are most needful and precious.

He then gives about fifteen observations regarding Christ’s love which I encourage you to read here.  Then he concludes.

The Lord Christ wants us to consider his love. How often do you say, “Pause, my soul, adore and wonder, ask, ‘Oh, why such love to me?’” Do you stop to consider, meditate and dwell upon the love Christ has for you as one of his sheep individually, one of his flock entirely?

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