Free eBook by Piper on Abortion

In light of our recent focus on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, this free resource by John Piper is a great follow-up. Piper has preached and written both profoundly and prolifically on the issue over the years. If you'd like to read or listen to other things he's produced, look here.

What Happens When We Don't Pray

What happens when we don't pray?

1. You have not. 
   
   
   James 4:2 … You do not have, because you do not ask.
   
   
2. You enter into unnecessary temptation – in a weak condition.  
   
   
   Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
   
   
3. You are empty of joy where you could be full.  
   
   
   John 16:24 … Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
   
   
4. You can do nothing. 
   
   
   John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
   
   
5. You labor and watch in vain.  

Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. ² It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

The Eagerness of Jesus

While we're on encouragement and help from the pen of John Piper, here's one more. I was so blessed to consider "how eager Jesus was to restore broken fellowship" with those who had forsaken him.

Have you forsaken him?
Do you sometimes think (or live as if) he is stingy with his mercy?
Do have a hard time believing he loves you and will welcome a repeat failure like you?

Read this and weep...for joy!

Do You Ever Wake Up Weak?

This was encouraging and helpful!

Plan to Read the Bible in 2012

You will, Lord willing, do many things in 2012. But only one thing is necessary.

If you really believe one thing is necessary, if you really believe that man cannot live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, then why would you not PLAN to do in 2012 that most necessary thing?

"But I don't know where to start."

How about looking here? If you can't find a plan to suit you among those options, you may want to consider creating your own!

"But I'm not much of a reader."

Well, I'm not much of an exerciser, but I need to do it. And you need to feed on the Word more than I (or you) need to exercise!

"But I don't have time."

Really? You don't have time to feed your soul? Will you have time to eat in 2012? Or will you be too busy? Do you know how much Bible food you can eat in 2012 in just 15 minutes a day? You're probably not going to believe this math when you read it. So, first, double check it. Then, after you see for yourself, why don't you go and really see for yourself over the course of 2012?!

Let's say that you are a pretty slow reader. You read, on average, about 200 words per minute. Just for the sake of reference (and to anticipate the objections), 200 words per minute is not very fast. It's just a hair slower than an average read-aloud speed. Reading at 300-350 words a minute is not abnormal for your average caffeinated adult.

If you read the Bible 15 minutes a day for just 300 days out of the year (missing 65 days!), at 200 words per minute, that amounts to 900,000 words read in one year. The total word count of the Bible varies from translation to translation, but most translations come in under 900,000 words. The ESV, for instance, is just a bit over 800,000 words. Theoretically, you could read the entire Bible in 2012 if you were able to give 15 good minutes a day to it!

The question is, "Do you want to?"

The Flashpoint For Our Life in Christ

Life is highly combustible. The flashpoint for ignition is pretty low. It often takes very little to set us off. Thankfully, God doesn't leave us to burn up and destroy ourselves. In fact, it's often at that point of ignition and in the pain and loss that is the burning where we become aware of our need for gospel grace. And there it is, like so many extinguishers...and so much more.

If you need a brief reminder of how Jesus meets us in the everyday, this little article by David Powlison is well worth the minute or two it takes to read it.