Two Sides of the Coin

Psalm 109:17 shows us “two sides of the coin” of sin, both sins of “commission” and of “omission”: “He also loved cursing, so it came to him. And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him”. The man described here sinned by cursing others, but that was not the extent of his transgression. He also did NOT bless people; that sin of omission was equally a sin. Committing a particular evil is obviously wrong; but as James 4:17 reminds us, NOT doing the good we know to do is also a sin: “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

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Book Review: Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, by Donald S. Whitney

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I read Don Whitney’s Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health for a small-group class on Sunday mornings at Trinity Baptist in Norman this year. I understand that it has been used for some time by several ministers and in various discipleship settings at the church. I found Whitney’s book to be sound, penetrating in its insight, and most helpful both for personal spiritual evaluation, as well as for group discipleship and discussion.

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Praise The Lord — AND Pass the Ammunition!

Psalm 108:13 says: “Through God we shall do valiantly, and it is HE who shall tread down our enemies.” As important as the truth in this verse is about having our hope and trust in God, it should not be taken to mean “so sit back and do nothing until He does it!” That is not what David did.

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The Little Condo on the Prairie (10-28-13)

AN OLD JOKE
Cheryl & I went over to my sister’s apartment to change some light bulbs that had burned out. When we got back, Michael walked into the room and greeted us with:
“How many parents does it take to change a light bulb … ?”

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God’s Providential Timing

I Samuel 23:26 sounds like a scene right out of an action movie: David is on one side of a mountain, and Saul and his army on the other, in hot pursuit! But just when things are about to come to a head, :27 says that a messenger came and reported to Saul: “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.” Then :28 says “Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines.”

While this text never specifically mentions the work of God, it is obvious that His hand was at work here, ordering events for the purpose of delivering His anointed, David. The attack of the Philistines, and Saul’s withdrawal from the pursuit of David, came at “just the right time” — and it was not an accident! It was God’s providential timing! Continue reading

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Not of This World

Hebrews 11:9 says, “By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land …”. The Bible tells us that Abraham lived in the Promised Land, but he was different than the inhabitants of that country were. He lived as “an alien”, a foreigner, because of his faith in the Lord.

If we are to live lives of faith which please God, we will live the same way in our world: as “aliens and strangers” as I Peter 2:11 says.

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Prayers You Don’t Want Answered!

Psalm 106:15 says: “So He gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them (literally ‘a leanness into their soul’.”
The Psalm describes how Israel had seen God’s work in the Exodus, but “quickly forgot His works” (:13) and then “craved intensely in the wilderness” (:14). They despised the manna that God had provided for them, and asked for meat instead. This verse says that God gave them what they asked for — but it led to devastating results.

THIS is why we should always pray regarding our requests, “If it is Your will.”

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Not Worldly Wisdom

In I Samuel 23, David had inquired of the Lord as to whether he should go up and attack the Philistines, who were oppressing the town of Keilah. God told him to go. But when David told his men, :3 says they were hesitant: “But David’s men said to him, ‘Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?'”

What David’s men said “made sense” from a worldly viewpoint. Here they were, “outcasts” in their own land, as Saul was seeking David’s life. They were “barely making it” as they were — and now David wanted them to “go on the offensive” and go up to Keilah to fight the Philistines? It really didn’t seem prudent. And yet :4 says that when David “double-checked” with God, that was exactly what He told him to do. So David led his men up to Keilah and attack the Philistines, and :5 says that they won a great victory.

This is a good reminder to us that sometimes God leads us do what does not seem “right” or “prudent” from a cautious, earthly standpoint.

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Inquire of the Lord First!

As I Samuel 23 opens, David is told that the Philistines are attacking and plundering Keilah. Verse 2 says, “So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines?'” It is of note here that David did not just decide in his own mind to go up against the Philistines. Instead, he “inquired of the Lord” first. This is a good example for us!

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“The Little Condo on the Prairie” (Oct. 22, 2013)

Homeschool, household chores, and a preaching trip to Beggs, America mark this week’s installment of the “Little Condo”:

OVERHEARD DURING MATH
Cheryl & Michael’s math lessons could probably fuel their own comedy show. I get a lot of chuckles out of listening to their interaction from the other room. This week’s highlights included: Continue reading

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