Psalms:  Real Prayers For Real Life Review 09/15/21 As is contained in the title, the authors (Juliani and Knaak) provide “Real Prayers for Real Life” based on the Book of Psalms.  As has been said, if something is experienced in life, it has been experienced in Psalms.  So, this group study is designed with the reality in mind that we all are living out one psalm or another in front of others. The challenge becomes how do we access what the Psalms offer us and that is to speak in real and needful ways to the God of the Psalms as we are invited to do based on our real and intima ..read more

How to Handle Toxic and Critical People by Leslie Vernick LCSW We all have encounters with difficult people who leave us rattled and shaken. A co-worker undermines us in front of our boss; our friend puts us down and says she was “just kidding”; our spouse rages at us and then turns everything around to make us think that it’s our fault. Most of us would prefer to minimize our contact with people like this, but sometimes it’s just not possible. We may work with them, be married to them, or have some other connection that keeps us in regular contact with toxic individuals. For a long ..read more

SOURCE:  Taken from an article by N.T. Wright/Relevant Magazine What God’s work in our lives actually looks like. It seems like we don’t see God moving today as clearly as we see in the Bible. Why do you think that is? I think part of our problem here is that when we read the Bible, we read it with long hindsight. We look and we say, “Oh yeah, there’s God rescuing His people from Egypt.” Well, yes, that is dramatic and that happened, but then, in the Psalms, the poets are saying, “Has God forgotten us? Has He forgotten to be gracious? Has He abandoned us? It’s been a long time now.” The g ..read more

SOURCE:    Robert Boyd Munger-1954-InterVarsity Christian Fellowship In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, we find these words:  “That [God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” Without question one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines is that Jesus Christ Himself through the presence of the Holy Spirit will actually enter a heart, settle down and be at home there.  Christ will make the human heart His abode.  Our Lord said to His disciple ..read more

(Adapted from Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend) Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. Knowing what I am to own and take responsibility for gives me freedom. We are responsible to others and for ourselves. “Carry each other’s burdens, ” says Galatians 6:2, “and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This verse shows our responsibility to one another. Many times others have “burdens” that are too big to bear. They do not have enough strength, resources, or ..read more

SOURCE:  Rachel Fintzy Woods, M.A., LMFT When your colleagues at work compliment you on a talk you just gave, do you dismiss their remarks and berate yourself for the one slide you forgot to include in your Powerpoint presentation? If your husband tells you how pretty you look, do you counter with a comment like, “I really should lose five pounds”? Do you have a critical voice in your head that constantly takes you or other people down a notch? Signs that you may be a perfectionist: You are painfully aware and extremely critical of mistakes and perceived inadequacies. You have trouble be ..read more

SOURCE:  Jeff Robinson/The Gospel Coalition I don’t like to wait. No, let’s be completely frank: I despise waiting. There is a certain highway in the city where I lived until recently that is notorious for traffic snarled for hours on both sides of rush hour. I avoided it like cream of broccoli soup. Every Sunday morning, there are certain members of my family who move at the speed of a glacier in getting ready for worship, and I’m convinced they make less haste on the days I have to preach. They make me wait, and I don’t like it. I realize that I am not alone. Fallen humans categorically ..read more

SOURCE:  Scotty Smith/The Gospel Coalition    Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. Psalm 37:7-9 Dear heavenly Father, You send your Word with Swiss timing and uncanny precision. Whenever we’re vexed or fretful, you anticipate it. Whenever we’re confused or anxious, you’ve already spoken wisdom about the ma ..read more

SOURCE:  Based on MacArthur Study Bible notes- Eph. 6:10-18 A true believer having a Spirit-controlled life can be sure to be in a spiritual war. Ultimately, Satan’s power over Christians is already broken, and the war is won through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  However, in life on earth, battles of temptation go on regularly.  The Lord’s power, the strength of His Spirit, and the force of biblical truth are required for victory. The armor should be the sustained life-long attire.  Satan’s deception and schemes are carried out by his demons and are high ..read more

SOURCE:  Taken from a book by Ed Hindson The first key to growing through failure is realizing that God is greater than your mistakes. Second, failure is a universal part of being human. God wants us to learn from failure. We especially need to learn how not to make the same mistake again. We need to face our weaknesses. Whatever can be changed needs to be changed; wherever we can improve, we need to improve. If you cannot succeed in a certain area of life, it may very well be that it’s not the will of God for you to pursue that area. You might love to play football, but if the doors aren ..read more