Do Not Relent!

I went to a Christian University, but unfortunately it did little to encourage me to treasure my Savior above all else and live a life of continual repentance and gratitude. I did not learn about the seriousness of my sin before a Holy God. I did not cling to God's inerrant Word and did not believe it pertained to every area of life (but it does!)


Many of my young friends, along with me, did not really know what they believed. Yes, we had what parents had taught us but the liberty we had at our fingers was very tempting. I saw many of my values and beliefs go out the window in exchange for things that were tangible and seemingly harmless. I started becoming tolerant of things that Christ-followers should never be tolerant of. I started idolizing people and things in ways that were very self-glorifying and self-centered. It was normal for me to proudly claim to be a Christian but never share the good news of the Gospel with someone because it was inconvenient for me or I thought that whatever worked for them was fine. As a professing young Christian, this is a very dangerous place to be at in my life because of the danger of falling deeper into sin by accepting what the world deems as good. I started to believe the lies the world fed to me. That is why I agree with Karen's statement below, which she shared in a blog post titled "A Disturbing Conversation." In it she wrote about an encounter with her niece. You can read it here. Please, parents, do not relent!


I think the enormous challenge before us today is to teach the truth of the Word to our young people—so they believe it, are willing to live it, and are prepared to defend it. It begins in our homes as we help our children develop a heart for the Lord and His truth. And it must be reinforced in our churches with a focus on implanting the Word into the lives of young people, rather than entertaining them and pandering to their felt needs. Many of them will go away to secular college campuses and be swallowed up by the tide of humanistic philosophy and reason. When that happens, we must continue to engage them by lovingly challenging their belief systems and drawing them back to Christ.

How are you ensuring that your children understand the truths of the faith? How is your church making sure its young people have a strong foundation that will prepare them for life? 
 ~Karen Waddles 



"Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6)

O, Help My Unbelief!

  I know my flesh is at war with my spirit. It is a real battle. But I must continue to fight sin. Anyone who belongs to Christ must fight. I had a moment the other day in which I vividly experienced the reality of this war. I was distressed; I had anxiety about post-surgery pain and fear something would go wrong in the healing process. Mark Driscoll was right when he said: Fear in the mind leads to anxiety in the body.  I was wrong to despair, however, and I was wrong to not run to God's word. 

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,

because you have seen my affliction;

you have known the distress of my soul,

and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;

you have set my feet in a broad place.

Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;

my eye is wasted from grief;

my soul and my body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow,

and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my iniquity,

and my bones waste away.

(Psalm 31:7-10 ESV)

What was happening in my mind... 

What I should have done. :) Make sure you do when in distress.

Spot the first risings of your besetting sin and kill it, till it is no more. ~John Piper

‎"Though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him." - CS Lewis


Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
(Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV)