Articles, Resources, and More (12/02/16)

Sin Will Never Make You Happy

Starting to think about resolutions for 2017? Don’t wait for the New Year to begin fighting “the lie that says that sin will make our future happier . . . The challenge before us is not merely to do what God says because He is God, but to desire what God says because He is good . . . to get up in the morning and prayerfully meditate on the Scriptures until we experience joy and peace in believing the ‘precious and very great promises’ of God.” If we do this, John Piper says “the compensation of sin will [then] appear too brief and too shallow to lure us.” Read this post.

When You Want to Change Your Husband

“What should a married woman do when she wants her husband’s behavior to change? What’s a good starting point for initiating this kind of conversation with your spouse? Nancy Guthrie, Jen Wilkin, and Jackie Hill Perry discuss this question and more in a new nine-minute roundtable video . . . Hear these three women testify to the power of God’s grace to strengthen marriages, grow us in godliness, and conform their husbands more closely to the image of Christ.” Watch this interview.

Holiday Family Tensions

Well, we survived Thanksgiving, whether or not we faced some tension. Russell Moore says, “We tend to idealize holidays, but human depravity doesn’t go into hibernation between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.” To followers of Jesus, he gives this reminder: “At the Judgment Seat of the Lord Christ, you’ll be responsible for living out the gospel in every arena to which the Spirit has led you . . . including Aunt Flossie’s dining room table.” If you’re realizing you need to start preparing for Christmas, especially if you have “a difficult extended family situation,” read this post.

Ways to Serve Your Guests with Disabilities During the Holidays

“This year, your Christmas gathering may be the perfect opportunity to reach out to someone in your church or community who has a disability.” Earlier this week, Joni Eareckson Tada’s ministry shared a post that will help you prepare for holiday parties. “As you make plans to include someone new for one of these special celebrations,” Joni and Friends has “provided tips to help you best serve your guests with disabilities.” Read this post.

Top 16 Books of 2016

‘Tis the season to sip on hot chocolate, build a blanket-nest, and start on that stack of books you’ve heard good things about all year. If you’re not sure where to begin, Tony Reinke has assembled a collection of the year’s best Christian non-fiction books, “all lumped together and ranked by [his] scientifically subjective algorithm of intuition.” Read Tony Reinke’s post to see his selections and for more titles, check out Challies' Top Books of 2016.

Listings here do not imply endorsement.

About the Author

Katie Laitkep

Katie Laitkep

Katie Laitkep was working as a hospital teacher when God called her to join Revive Our Hearts as a staff writer. She serves remotely from Houston, Texas, where God sustains her through saltwater beaches, Scripture, and her local church. Katie's … read more …


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