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Showing posts from November, 2018

Favorite Book Friday

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For the rest of 2018, I will be sharing books I recommend because they are some of my favorites.  New Book Friday will resume in January. Enjoy!

Names of God: Abba

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Abba Abba means father or daddy . 15  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15) What it reminds me?  God is our Father.  He is good and loves to give good gifts.  We are not slaves, but instead adopted into His family.  He wants to be in relationship with us.  We can trust Him. Abba knows what is best.

Verse of the Week

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. 30  The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31  And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32  And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33  Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34  When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35  And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36  Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and vill

Quotes from Books I Recently Finished

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Over the last four months, I have been reading several books.  And over the last few weeks, I finished three of those books: Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray Rejoicing in Christ by Mike Reeves You Are Free by Rebekah Lyons Here are some quotes from each: justification is the act of God's free grace...We do not justify ourselves...Justification is not any religious exercise...Justify is to declare to be righteous. justification must be one that will take care of past sin as well as provide for the future...Only a perfect righteousness can provide the basis for a complete, perfect and irreversible justification. Adoption is concerned with the fatherhood of God in relation to men. Sanctification is specifically the work of this indwelling and directing Holy Spirit...we do not sanctify ourselves. It is God who sanctifies. Specifically it is the Holy Spirit who is the agent of sanctification. Nothing is more central or basis than union and communion wi

You Are Crucified With Christ

“ I have been crucified with Christ . It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me . (Galatians 2:20)

God is...

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Last year, I wrote a curriculum for our 2nd-4th grade classes at our mid-week program at church called Hide N Seek.  The curriculum focused on who God is. As part of that curriculum, my friend Brittni Rhodes, made images to convey the truth about who God is.  I would like to start sharing these images weekly as a reminder of the good, great, and awesome God we have.  

Gospel Playlist

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This is a regular feature now that replaced "Playing on the Radio." This week, I am sharing hymns that point me to Jesus. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is: Great Is Thy Faithfulness by Wes Hampton

Favorite Book Friday

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For the rest of 2018, I will be sharing books I recommend because they are some of my favorites.  New Book Friday will resume in January. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving from the Martin Family.  I hope you have a great time with friends and family.  Enjoy your time together.  We have much to be thankful for.  Praise God for His many blessings!

Tweets and more tweets

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” - Colossians 3:3 @jaredcwilson Multiplication is not a strategy, it is a posture. Multiplication comes naturally when you are in the right posture. Multiplication is about making much of Jesus.  (Andy Owen) #hesstonmb When it comes to knowing God and Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as a spectator sport. We are not justified to sit; we are justified to run. That’s why He gives us his Spirit to keep us running the race. He also gives us each other, (Jack Miller) The religious relate to worship like it earns favour because they have no use for grace. The rebellious relate to worship as optional, because they have yet to understand grace. The repentant relate to worship like oxygen, becaus

Names of God: Logos

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Logos Logos means word. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) What it reminds me?  Jesus was present at creation.  Jesus is God.  Jesus has unity with the Father and Holy Spirit.  The Bible teaches us about who God is.  We need to be careful to not let our belief in the Bible replace the Trinity.  As J.D. Greear has said, many "believe (functionally speaking) in "Father, Son, and Holy Bible." We do not worship the Bible, but instead God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

Verse of the Week

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. 21  And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22  Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23  and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24  And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25  And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26  and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27  She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28  F

You Are Chosen

“ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)

God is...

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Last year, I wrote a curriculum for our 2nd-4th grade classes at our mid-week program at church called Hide N Seek.  The curriculum focused on who God is. As part of that curriculum, my friend Brittni Rhodes, made images to convey the truth about who God is.  I would like to start sharing these images weekly as a reminder of the good, great, and awesome God we have.  

Favorite Book Friday

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For the rest of 2018, I will be sharing books I recommend because they are some of my favorites.  New Book Friday will resume in January. Enjoy!

Gospel Playlist

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This is a regular feature now that replaced "Playing on the Radio." This week, I am sharing hymns that point me to Jesus. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is: Jesus Paid It All by Kristian Stanfill

Tweets and more tweets

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. We rest in His forgiveness. We rest in His righteousness. We rest in His resurrection. We rest in faith in the crucified and risen Christ. @ElyseFitz "The theology of the cross is the only theology that can bring us comfort because it rests solely on the God Man and not on ourselves." Elyse Fitzpatrick via @DanielBalcombe The law says: do this, and it's never done. Grace says: believe this, and everything's done. Believe and be comforted. Martin Luther via @DanielBalcombe Titus 2:11-12; 2 Corinthians 3:18. It’s possible you are expecting the preaching of the law to accomplish what, in actuality, only the gospel of grace can do. @jaredcwilson When I hear these words (it is finished), life ceases to be about my striving and doing and i

Names of God: Bread of Life

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Bread of Life 35   Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35) What it reminds me?  Bread was nourishment for the people.  Jesus is the nourishment we need in life.  Jesus not only meets physical needs but other needs as well.  He wants us to have abundant life not just in heaven but now as well.  We find that life in Him. Bread is also used in communion to remind us of Jesus' body given for us.  He is our substitute and the once and for all sacrifice.