He is there

After James 1:12-18 

In all the trials

of our life, he is

there. In all

the temptations

of our life, he is

there. In all

the evil we

encounter and

the sin we 

commit, he is

there. If we 

remain steadfast,

he is there. If

we fail, he is

there. He is

immutable; he

doesn’t change. 

 

Photograph by Greg Rakozy via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“Crown Him with Many Crowns,” hymn by Matthew Bridges – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

My God, In Whom I Trust – Sarah Ivill at Alliance for Confessing Evangelicals.

 

“The Strife is O’er,” Latin hymn, 1695 – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

The Genius of Dirt – Seth Lewis.

 

The Voice of ‘A Great Awakening’ – Greg Morse at Desiring God.

The origin of good

After James 1:12-18 

Every good gift,

every one, every

good and perfect

gift comes from

above, from the hand

of God. He doesn’t 

change; thus it has

always been and

thus it will always

be. That includes

us. Fallen as we are,

he brought us into

the world by his

own will, his own

choice. He brought

us forth in truth,

because he designed

us to be the first fruits

of his creatures.

 

Photograph by Glynn Young.

He is Risen -- Jeff Johnson

Some Sunday Readings

 

Aquinas, AI, and the Pursuit of Learning – Alex Stevens at Mere Orthodoxy.

 

Grave Robber – poem by Kelly Belmonte at Kelly’s Scribbles.

 

Guys, Try Church – Wil Rahn at The Free Press.

Trials and temptations

After James 1:12-18 

The first thing we need

to grasp is that temptations

do not come from God.

Perhaps from the devil,

perhaps from our own

fallen nature. God can’t

be tempted; nor does he

tempt anyone. Our own

desire is another story. 

It comes from us. We’re

lured by our own desire;

it draws us like the siren's

call. When it’s conceived,

desire gives way to sin,

which leads to death.

It’s not God; it’s us.

 

Photograph by Jametlene Reskp via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Hell to Pay: What Truly Happened to Jesus on the Cross – Nick Batzig at Beautiful Christian Life.

 

“Pilate,” poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Psalm 22 – poem by Andy Patton at Rabbit Room Poetry.

 

“Hawks in Holy Week,” poem by Sally Thomas – Joseph Bottum at Poems Ancient and Modern.

 

“It Is Finished!” – Robb Brunansky at Cripplegate.

 

“Ballad of the Trees and Master,” poem by Sidney Lanier – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.