Let’s not forget “Christ” in this holiday!
It’s His birthday we are celebrating because He came to save us from our sins! Hallelujah! Peace between God and man!
-Mark (wishing you a very merry Christmas holiday!)
I heard someone say recently, “Tiger had it all. Riches, power, success, a supermodel wife from Sweden, two kids, and played golf all day, the sport he loves…He had it all. I wish I had that life!”
In the world’s eyes, he had it all but it didn’t fulfill him because natural things do not satisfy us completely. All of us are seeking after more…just wait until the day AFTER Christmas when children start playing with their old toys again or some of their toys break. We are exactly like that – we enjoy things for a little while until we get the next thing!
But did Tiger really have it all?
I don’t know if he did, but IF he didn’t have Christ, he didn’t. When you have Christ, you have it all. Nothing more is to be gained. Mark 8:36 (ESV): “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
I hope Tiger looks to Christ through all of this. I hope his eyes are turned toward the Lord. If they are, then all of this will be worth it, even losing all of his riches, fame, and prestige. The things of this world are temporary not eternal. They do not last. Only life in Christ is eternal.
-Mark (hoping we all learn a lesson about what really matters and that Tiger comes to know Christ either for the first time or for a deeper relationship with Him if it already exists – let’s pray for Tiger!)
What should your confidence be in? Yourself? Or Christ?
If Christ is your answer, then what about the term “self-confidence.” Is that a biblical idea?
I love the term “confidence” but I am not “self-confident.” I am confident in the power of Christ to transform hearts and lives. The Holy Spirit does the work in biblical counseling, not a man (John 6:63).
What about “will power”? Is that a biblical idea?
I prefer “will of God power” in my life and the lives of counselees. I want the Holy Spirit’s power operating in my life, not my own. How about you?
-Mark (very confident in Christ and His power to accomplish His Will)
Where will transformation of Birmingham and our nation come from?
Politics? Not likely. Look at our current mayoral mess and the debt in Jefferson County.
Social organizations and civic groups? Not likely. Good hearts but they often do not point people to Christ.
Mental health? Not likely, it has not helped so far. Look at recent tragic events. Is secular mental health really effective? Debatable.
Here’s the only answer for transformation of hearts and families and marriages and the community: The church of the Lord Jesus Christ led by the Holy Spirit in obedience to the Word of God.
The church is the answer. Jesus said Himself in Matthew 16:18 that He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
So why do we send people to secular groups for help for addictions and send people to secular, mental health personnel for help when Christ and His GOSPEL is the answer and the church proclaims that message?
I speculate that we don’t really believe that the Gospel is the transforming message that the Holy Spirit uses to change hearts and lives PERMANENTLY.
There is no other answer. Christ alone. That’s the answer.
Do you believe the same Christ Who SAVES you is the SAME Christ Who sanctifies you?
That’s why I LOVE the church of our Lord Jesus Christ and I love Truth in Love Ministries because we are actively helping to STRENGTHEN churches by replicating disciples of Christ, counseling people using the Word of God, and lifting up Christ.
-Mark (praying that God’s people will continue to support Truth in Love with prayer and financial giving)
Attended my grandmother’s funeral with my wife, 4 children, mom & dad in Florida over the weekend and into Monday. We just returned late last night (right before midnight). 1200 mile trip in 3 days, and most of it was driving – thankfully, we rested on Sunday. We really had a good trip and had NO electronics for the children – no DVD players, video games, etc. for the 24 hours in our van! That’s the true miracle but our children had fun with each other and we sang, played games, talked and laughed most of the time (a few angry outbursts erupted!).
We got back home last night and saw our pet BAT had been keeping the bugs out of our carport for us, too. (Bats are creepy-looking.)
We are exhausted now but eager to get back to doing the Lord’s work through TIL.
I wrote this email solely for the purpose of thanking YOU for praying for us during this time of grieving. My dad, Ronny, appreciates it as well as I do. Our family had a nice graveside service that went very well and I saw people in my family that I had not seen in 15 years.
One last note: though these were blood relatives we saw in Florida, what I find to be so wonderful is that I have spiritual relatives who are filled with the Holy Spirit. This new family of God is such a blessing for me as I have brothers and sisters in Christ!
Have you thanked the Lord for your spiritual family lately? What a gift from Him to give us each other in the body of Christ expressed through local churches!
Anyway, Ronny and I are back in the saddle today at Bethel Baptist Church!
Special thanks to Jason who manned the phones and taught an Intro class for me this weekend! He’s a brother in Christ for sure!
-Mark (realizing that Christ is the only tie that binds us together)
I told someone recently that I appreciate the heart’s desire of many in psychology who want to help hurting souls. These folks are compassionate. It’s just that their goal is not enough. God offers more. God wants more!
I know that God offers more than just help. God offers Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. God offers a relationship to us that is eternal. God offers us His wisdom and His shepherding and His power and His purpose for us in this life and in the life to come (eternal).
At TIL, helping people is our secondary goal and really is a by-product of achieving our first goal: glorifying God by reconciling people to Christ. We want to see people saved and surrendered to Christ. We want them to serve Him by functioning in His body. We want to see them overcome their problems through obedience to Christ so that they can comfort and help others to be reconciled to God (II Cor. 1:3-4). We want to see them TRANSFORMED and believe God is still in that business of transforming His children by His grace!
Not only do we want people helped, we want God glorified through all we say and do. We honor His Word of truth and deliver it in the love of Christ.
God offers more than just temporary relief from problems – that’s all the world and psychology can offer. God offers that and more – eternal life!
-Mark (seeking to glorify God and watch the Lord reconcile hurting souls to Himself)
Interesting observation I’ve had through the years in counseling.
Christians who have truly been victims really do not want to stay that way. They want to be victorious through Christ!
Another observation – those who are not true victims of others’ actions but are victims of their own poor choices or failures to be responsible. In other words, these persons often want to blame someone else for their failures and when they do, they THINK they are victims but truly are not.
Obviously, the above scenarios are not always the case but are simply observations!
Why blog this? Because you and I know someone who is MIRED in self-pity and continue to point their finger at the wrong person or thing as the cause of their problems. Really, this person needs to point the finger at SELF, confess their wrongs to God, repent, and cry out for His gracious forgiveness.
That’s what the Lord would have us all do! Saying “I’m wrong” to God leads to freedom. Saying “I’ve been victimized” when it’s truly one’s own fault leads to bondage. Just read about Cain in Genesis 4:1-16 and see how his failure to repent led him away from the Lord.
There is freedom in Christ!
-Mark (experiencing the freedom God gives me in Christ!)
