Timothy, John found out about us the night of our argument. John was on the balcony listening. He said he heard most all of what we said to each other. Timothy, I have been torn down to rock bottom for betraying him. Timothy, I need you again. I need for you to help me through this terrible chapter of my life. Timothy held me so close and shed tears for me and for John. I never wanted John to know. Elise, I am so sorry about this whole ordeal, but I will never regret having you for mine, at least for the amount of time that we did have. Love never dies, I told Tim. It may sometimes lay dormant in our souls but will always live in our hearts. Timothy, we must wait and I must choose. Time will tell just how our paths will go. I told Timothy that I had never been so torn between one love and another. You understood that didnt you Timothy, didnt you? It was always Timothys love that lay dormant in the back ground of my heart. I would not tell him this. Soon it would be time, that would make the decision for me and regret would leave me with such inexpiable guilt that would trouble my soul to the depths of the earth.
The events that occur in the book of Job present readers with a profound question: "Why do the righteous suffer?" Although a direct answer to this question seems important, the book of Job does not set forth such a response. Job never learned the reasons for his suffering. In fact, when God finally confronted Job, he could only put his hand over his mouth and say nothing. His silence underscores the importance of trusting God's purposes in the midst of suffering, because suffering—like all other human experiences—is directed by perfect divine wisdom. In this study, pastor John MacArthur will guide you through an in-depth look at the defining themes and interpretative challenges in Job. Studies include close-up examinations of doctrinal themes such as God's Justice and "A Discourse on Human Frailty." —ABOUT THE SERIES— The MacArthur Bible Study series is designed to help you study the Word of God with guidance from widely respected pastor and author John MacArthur. Each guide provides intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture by examining its parts and incorporates: Extensive, but straight-forward commentary on the text. Detailed observations on overriding themes, timelines, history, and context. Word and phrase studies to help you unlock the broader meaning and apply it to your life. Probing, interactive questions with plenty of space to write down your response and thoughts.
Scripture reveals a God who meets us where we are, not where we pretend to be. No More Faking Fine is your invitation to get honest with God through the life-giving language of lament. If you've ever been given empty clichés during challenging times, you know how painful it is to be misunderstood by well-meaning people. When life hurts, we often feel pressure--from others and ourselves--to keep it together, suck it up, or pray it away. But Scripture reveals a God who lovingly invites us to give honest voice to our emotions when life hits hard. For most of her life, Esther Fleece Allen believed she could bypass the painful emotions of her broken past by shutting them down altogether. She was known as an achiever and an overcomer on the fast track to success. But in silencing her pain, she robbed herself of the opportunity to be healed. Maybe you've done the same. Esther's journey into healing began when she discovered that God has given us a real-world way to deal with raw emotions and an alternative to the coping mechanisms that end up causing more pain. It's called lament--the gut-level, honest prayer that God never ignores, never silences, and never wastes. No More Faking Fine is your permission to lament, taking you on a journey down the unexpected pathway to true intimacy with God. Drawing from careful biblical study and hard-won insight, Esther reveals how to use God's own language to come closer to him as he leads us through our pain to the light on the other side, teaching you that: We are robbing ourselves of a divine mystery and a divine intimacy when we pretend to have it all together God does not expect us to be perfect; instead, he meets us where we are There is hope beyond your heartache, disappointment, and grief Like Esther, you'll soon find that when one person stops faking fine, it gives everyone else permission to do the same.
Where Is God? There are never quick fixes or easy answers when it comes to suffering. But even when we can't immediately see God's hand—when the struggle is hard and painful—he is working. Weaving together Scripture, personal stories, and the words of the classic hymn "How Firm a Foundation," David Powlison brings an experienced counselor's touch to exploring how God enters into our sufferings, helping us see God working in our own particular struggles—and discover how God's grace goes deeper than we could ever imagine.
Are you struggling today? Do you look back and long for what used to be, or are you looking ahead and have no idea what's coming? Are you stuck in the middle of a mess because life has not turned out as you expected? When you run to God for answers, do you often feel like you aren't getting them--or at least aren't getting the answers you want? Are you holding on . . . but not sure how much longer you can? In times of not knowing, Sheila Walsh offers a lifeline of hope. With great compassion born of experience and hardship, Walsh comes alongside the hurting, fearful, and exhausted to remind us that we serve a God who is so much greater than our momentary troubles, no matter how insurmountable they feel. She doesn't offer a quick fix. She offers a God fix. Sharing from her own painful struggles and digging deep into biblical stories of rescue, hope, and miracles, she gives you the strength to keep going, to keep holding on to God in a world turned upside down. The accompanying study includes 10 lessons to help individuals or groups dive deeper.
Sometimes the path of our life is disrupted, and we don't understand what happened. It may be the result of our own action, or it may be the result of someone else’s choices. Regardless of how, or why it occurred, GOD is able to step into our pain, confusion, or dark situation and move us to the NEXT in our lives – places we would have never moved to because we had no idea they existed, or because we were too comfortable, or because we were too fearful to get up and take a chance. I call them DIVINE DISRUPTIONS. When the enemy thinks he's in control, or thinks he's backed us into a corner, YET GOD steps in to deliver us to something much better than we experienced before. Divine disruptions. I've had many, but some have been much more significant than others. They are so powerful and awesome because ONLY GOD can get the glory for them. Nobody else can! One day, I woke up to what I thought was another normal day, not realizing that by the end of it, my marriage would be shattered, and that I'd find myself in a very dark place. I was in the midst of a storm that suddenly swept me off my feet and carried me down a path I wasn’t prepared for - the path of divorce. Over the course of a little over a year, I traveled through extremely tough terrain that tested my strength and my faith. Thankfully, the enemy’s attempts to destroy me were divinely disrupted by God, and God in great mercy, picked up the pieces and used them mightily. While walking with Him, I learned many lessons about myself and others, and I met people and went places that would have never been part of my journey had it not been disrupted. I came to realize that my life was interwoven with these divine disruptions and God interventions, enabling me to be a partaker of His amazing grace in the midst of my troubles. I refer to the aftermath of them as portraits of grace. God’s word is filled with these portraits in the lives of everyday people like you and me. They’re visible in the aftermath of real-life ups and downs, and challenges and conflicts as they walked through them with God. Real people experiencing God’s real grace and God at work in them, and in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. So, join me on a journey that includes a window into a very difficult period of my life, and see how God graciously walked me through it. This book is about two imperfect people who made choices that caused the dissolving of their marriage, and God, in His great mercy and grace, picking up the pieces and using them mightily to bless others. It's a portrait of His redeeming power in the midst of destruction, His incredible wisdom to guide, His ability to give perception beyond what’s apparent, and His grace that is truly sufficient for any thorn that may be lodged within. And while the backdrop of my story is betrayal and divorce, I believe the lessons I learned can be applied to your story as well. I found Him to be a Mighty Counselor and an excellent Coach, and I’m sure you will too.
In the Midst of the Storm is a message of hope for all who are going through a challenging time in life. The author shares some of her personal experience, something everyone can relate to, and how everything has made a profound impact on her spiritual walk with Christ.
You cannot make it without God’s mercy. Do we just need God’s grace in dark and shameful moments? Are prayers for mercy only for those times when we really mess up? Jonathan Parnell says we need God’s mercy all the time. In fact, contrary to many church cultures, Parnell shows that asking God for mercy should be as regular as asking God for our daily bread. There’s no doubt that David was in a terrible predicament when he first prayed the words of Psalm 51. It was a dark and shameful moment in the Bible, and one so dark and shameful it seldom feels relevant to us today. But David’s most desperate prayer is really a prayer for all of us—and not just for our worst moments, but for our every moment. In these pages, you'll discover: how to pray a daily, memorable prayer derived from Psalm 51 how to practice daily repentance and soul care how to pursue God and experience his joy in the Christian life This is God’s mercy, and it’s Mercy for Today.
This excellent commentary on 2 Corinthians by Paul Barnett illumines the historical background of the church at Corinth and clarifies the meaning of Paul's passionate letter both for those first-century Christians and for the church today. Assuming the unity of the letter, for which extensive argument is offered, Barnett takes the view that Paul is, in particular, addressing the issue of triumphalism in Corinth. This triumphalism is expressed by the newly arrived missioners who portray Paul as "inferior" to themselves; it is also endemic among the Corinthians. According to Barnett, the recurring theme of the letter is "power-in-weakness", based on the motif of the Resurrection of the Crucified, which lies at the heart of the gospel of Christ. Also fundamental to the letter is the theme of fulfillment of the "promises of God" by Christ and the Spirit under the New Covenant. Written for scholars, pastors, and lay readers alike, this new commentary on 2 Corinthians will be a lasting reference work for those interested in this important section of Scripture.
