Posts Tagged: God’s Sovereignty

The Word — 2 Comments
14
May 11

Notes On Faith…

Now while [Zechariah] was serving as priest before God … he [entered] the temple of the Lord … And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord … the angel said, “Do not be afraid for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son…And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord…he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to God”
And Zechariah said, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
(Luke 1:8-20 ESV)

A few quick observations on faith this morning.  This is the account of the John the Baptist’s birth being foretold by the angel Gabriel.  And I wanted to note a few observations on the nature of faith taken from Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) and his interaction with Gabriel (the angel giving the news to Zechariah).

Continue reading →

Story — 3 Comments
7
May 11

Do not Forsake your Mother’s teaching…

January 8, 1985 I officially became a Cable according to the State of Ohio.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck.”

On January 8 of 1985 I was redeemed.  Two people took me out of a poor situation and took me into their hearts and home and adopted me.  My birth mother drank through my pregnancy.  My true mother would nurse me through every childhood ache and illness.  My birth father was quiet, emotionally removed, and likely an alcoholic.  My true father would teach me to play ball as my true grandpa had done and he would lay in my bed one summer night until my brother and I fell asleep.  Continue reading →

The Word — No Comments
12
Apr 11

Desiring God’s John Piper answers my question…

John Piper and the Bethlehem Baptist Seminary are hosting live webcasts of class discussions over Piper’s book Desiring God.  During these live webcasts, Piper takes questions from his students and also questions submitted via Twitter.

I asked Pastor John the following question stemming from the recent trials with my health:

“How does a Christian Hedonist worship joyfully in the midst of suffering & affliction brought by God? Is it possible?”

I found his response  incredibly helpful.  First, by illustrating that not only can we worship with joy in the midst of affliction brought by God, but that its actually a command: “we rejoice in our sufferings…” (Rom 5:3).  Listen to his response via the video which begins at minute 6 with my question being read followed by his response and explanation of Romans 5:1-5:

click here