It’s Sunday, and I will not be preaching. A sinus infection has sidelined me. A retired pastor, who attends the church I am serving as the interim pastor, will sub for me. I will miss the usual fellowship and ministry I have come to enjoy in Penrose, and I hope to get well quickly so I can minister next Sunday.
I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, but I conducted a funeral service in Florence, Colorado, for an 87-year-old woman who attended church with her husband Ed until they became too frail to attend. They married in Chicago in 1945 when Ed returned home from World War II. Mildred’s death ended their 63-year-old marriage.
Ed and Mildred’s long marriage honored their commitment to love each other until death. Unfortunately, some couples separate before 63 days of marriage. Their irreconcilable differences may include disagreements about such matters as money, in-laws, meals, and TV program selection. A few marriages grow stale faster than leftover wedding cake.
Christians who honor the Lord may enjoy not only a long-lasting marriage but also the prospect of a joyful reunion in heaven. Death may remove one spouse from the other, but the separation is only temporary.
“ . . . let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Eph. 5:33).
Showing posts with label James Dyet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Dyet. Show all posts
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The Star of Bethlehem
The magi viewed an astronomical wonder. A star announcing the arrival of the King of the Jews appeared.
Acting upon the divine disclosure, the magi journeyed to the Jews’ capital city, Jerusalem, the reasonable birthplace of a king. But the King of the Jews had been born in the humble, little town of Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem, in fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy, “But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2, NKJV). Only a disclosure of this prophecy guided the wise men to Bethlehem and Jesus.
Human reason leads away from the miracle of the incarnation. It just doesn’t make sense that God would send His Son to Earth to be born in a stable, to live among sinful human beings, and then to die on the cross for us. But Scripture leads us to these startling facts. The written Word leads us to the incarnate Word and enlightens us so we may be the illustrated Word to our contemporaries.
Christmas is a good time to recommit ourselves to the task of helping others find the way to Jesus.
Acting upon the divine disclosure, the magi journeyed to the Jews’ capital city, Jerusalem, the reasonable birthplace of a king. But the King of the Jews had been born in the humble, little town of Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem, in fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy, “But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2, NKJV). Only a disclosure of this prophecy guided the wise men to Bethlehem and Jesus.
Human reason leads away from the miracle of the incarnation. It just doesn’t make sense that God would send His Son to Earth to be born in a stable, to live among sinful human beings, and then to die on the cross for us. But Scripture leads us to these startling facts. The written Word leads us to the incarnate Word and enlightens us so we may be the illustrated Word to our contemporaries.
Christmas is a good time to recommit ourselves to the task of helping others find the way to Jesus.
Friday, December 21, 2007
A Nice Surprise
A nice surprise arrived in yesterday’s mail. I received four copies of IT'S A GOD THING AND OTHER POPULAR CHRISTIAN MISCONCEPTIONS, a book I wrote for Cook Communications Ministries. The surprise? The book has been translated into Korean.
Several years ago, one of my books was translated into Chinese. What fun then and now to see my name in an Asian language!
I can’t speak a lick of Chinese or Korean, but my books can minister to a couple of major language groups in addition to English-language readers. I am hopeful spiritual fruit will abound.
Isn’t it good to know God’s love extends to all people? John 3:16 links this love to the gift of God’s Son and promises whoever believes in His Son “shall not perish but have eternal life.”
At Christmas and always, let’s recall the angel’s message to humble shepherds on a Judean hillside: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be to all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10, 11).
In heaven a great multitude of internationals will join in singing praise to the One who was born so long ago to be our Savior. And know what? If I stand next to Korean and Chinese believers on that day, I will be able to understand them.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Podcast: Cure For Frustration
Cure for Frustration. Luke 5:1-11.
Gabcast! Cure for Frustration #1
"Cure for Frustration" was written by James Dyet and was published by Haven Ministries. Copyright 1998. Used by permission.
This podcast was recorded by Sherrie E. , who is Dr. Dyet's daughter.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Gabcast! Cure for Frustration #1
"Cure for Frustration" was written by James Dyet and was published by Haven Ministries. Copyright 1998. Used by permission.
This podcast was recorded by Sherrie E. , who is Dr. Dyet's daughter.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Podcast: How About A Sign?
Gabcast! How About A Sign? #1
"How About A Sign?" was written by James Dyet and was published by Haven Ministries. Copyright 1998. Used by permission.
This podcast was recorded by Sherrie E. , who is Dr. Dyet's daughter.
For the text version of this devotional,go to Dr. Dyet's web site.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
"How About A Sign?" was written by James Dyet and was published by Haven Ministries. Copyright 1998. Used by permission.
This podcast was recorded by Sherrie E. , who is Dr. Dyet's daughter.
For the text version of this devotional,go to Dr. Dyet's web site.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
"Suffering" by James Dyet
15 points on why God allows us to suffer. by James Dyet
1) Suffering is a force that pushes us closer to God. It helps us see our weaknesses and the need to rely on Him.
2) Suffering develops Christlike character (Rom. 8:18–29).
3) Suffering uncovers the genuineness of our faith (1 Pet. 1:6–7).
4) The comfort we receive during our suffering enables us to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:5–7).
5) Christians who have experienced intense suffering display intense grace (2 Cor. 12:7–9).
6) Our suffering provides opportunity to tap into our Lord's strength (2 Cor. 9:10).
7) Suffering helps us keep our focus on Heaven and eternal values (2 Cor. 4:16—5:5; Phil. 1:20–23; Col. 3:1–4; 2 Tim. 6–8).
8) God doesn't test us beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).
9) God's way is sometimes hard, but it is always perfect (Psm. 18:30a).
10) Sometimes, God's will is mysterious, but it is always best. Herod executed James, but God extricated Peter from a similar fate. (Acts 12).
11) The Rapture—the blessed hope— may occur in our lifetime and will end our suffering.
12) God may receive greater glory through a suffering believer's display of faith than through healing.
13) Job's questions about suffering were answered by a revelation of God's sovereignty (Job 42–6).
14) The curse of sin ravages human life as well as nature. Our sufferings are a reflection of the extent of the curse.
15) Heaven's joys will make earth's sufferings seem like nothing. (Rev. 21:1–5).
copyright 2007 JamesDyet
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
1) Suffering is a force that pushes us closer to God. It helps us see our weaknesses and the need to rely on Him.
2) Suffering develops Christlike character (Rom. 8:18–29).
3) Suffering uncovers the genuineness of our faith (1 Pet. 1:6–7).
4) The comfort we receive during our suffering enables us to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:5–7).
5) Christians who have experienced intense suffering display intense grace (2 Cor. 12:7–9).
6) Our suffering provides opportunity to tap into our Lord's strength (2 Cor. 9:10).
7) Suffering helps us keep our focus on Heaven and eternal values (2 Cor. 4:16—5:5; Phil. 1:20–23; Col. 3:1–4; 2 Tim. 6–8).
8) God doesn't test us beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).
9) God's way is sometimes hard, but it is always perfect (Psm. 18:30a).
10) Sometimes, God's will is mysterious, but it is always best. Herod executed James, but God extricated Peter from a similar fate. (Acts 12).
11) The Rapture—the blessed hope— may occur in our lifetime and will end our suffering.
12) God may receive greater glory through a suffering believer's display of faith than through healing.
13) Job's questions about suffering were answered by a revelation of God's sovereignty (Job 42–6).
14) The curse of sin ravages human life as well as nature. Our sufferings are a reflection of the extent of the curse.
15) Heaven's joys will make earth's sufferings seem like nothing. (Rev. 21:1–5).
copyright 2007 JamesDyet
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Monday, August 27, 2007
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