Desiring God National Conference

One of the main things God has used in maturing me as a Christian during the last couple of years is John Piper’s ministry Desiring God and his preaching. The deep truths of God and what He is up to in this world, and how I and my circumstances fit into His great play has been an anchor that has been unmovable in my life, even when the waves of two heart surgeries for my newborn Anna Grace were crashing down all around me. I have learned these deep truths first from the Scriptures by the power of the Holy Spirit, and watched them be illuminated by John Piper to the glory of God. I am so forever grateful for Dr. Piper.

Let me put forward a question. If you thought the Living God who is the Cause and Source of all things might be speaking today, would you want to listen? Would you lend your mind and an ear to try and hear? I not only believe God has spoken (the Bible and creation), but continues to speak to this very day. He speaks through His prophets every Sunday when His prophets preach from His Bible with fullness and clarity. But, I also believe God has set apart a few unusual men to speak through to reach multitudes of His children. I believe John Piper is one of those men. He preaches with a trembling and awe of the Most High. With quotes like “if the Bible does not support and teach what I’m teaching, or if you do not see what I’m saying in the Bible, DO NOT BELIEVE IT” demonstrates he stands under the authority of Scripture – under the very authority of the Living God.

I think any person who truly wants to know God better and understand more fully what is happening in this world should read Desiring God. Something happens when you read, dig, press and work through a tough book. There is a blessing that comes from reading you just cannot get anywhere else. But I know some do not like to read, and hey look that’s ok. People who love to read are not the only ones who are blessed. God blesses all those who with a sincere heart seek Him in whatever way they can – prayer, media, etc. So below is an hour long crash course into Desiring God and Christian Hedonism. Be prepared to be challenged and stretched. I’m confident you will be blessed for taking the time out of your busy schedule to lend an ear.

My prayer for you –
Father in heaven, you are glorious and magnificent. Please bless whoever decides to listen or read Piper’s Desiring God. I pray lives will be changed when they see you are a happy and most joyful God. Lord, if there is error in any of this teaching, I pray you protect your flock and lead them not astray. May we as your children grow in Christ Jesus, in our joy and happiness in you, and may you be exalted in our joy for the glory of Jesus Christ beautiful name.
Amen



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Love Your Trials

Trials come in all forms and sizes. They are always personal and no matter the size of the trial, they always have a large impact on us physically and emotionally. From personal trials as serious as brain cancer, to the earthquake victims in Haiti and all trials in between (loss of a loved one, loss of a job, martial problems, teenage problems, children sick, etc….), it seems everyone has them, and the ones we have affect us deeply. I’ve heard it said that “You’re either going into a trial, in a trial, or coming out of trial.” This statement I believe is very true.

I ran across the below statement in a book I am reading Make My Life a Prayer. The book is a collection of diaries and short concert messages from the late Keith Green who was killed in plane crash when he was 28. You can find more information about Keith Green by clicking on this link.

Anyway, the below short message from Mr. Green spoke to me so I thought I would repost it here. I pray whatever trials you are experiencing that Mr. Green’s short devotion does the same for you.

Love Your Trails

1 Peter 1:6-7

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Every Christian should be yearning for a deeper walk with the Lord than what he or she has. Maturity is a never-ending process because we never can reach perfection in this life. We’ll always be making mistakes or misunderstanding our circumstances to some degree, but as we grow those times should be less and less.

And as much as we all like to get the goosebump feelings that signal an emotional high, it’s not then that we really grow any deeper in the Lord. Instead God chooses to use trials to deepen our faith and to conform us to the image of Christ. Sure, we go “ouch” or “that hurts!” but God is using those trials to sand us like a fine diamond. The problem is that most of us run from the trials God sends us. We don’t want to grow if there’s a bit of pain involved. But if we open our arms, embrace the trials God sends – give it a big hug, it will disappear as a trial and return as a blessing. If you love your trial, it isn’t a trial anymore. If you can say, “Thank You, Lord. I don’t want to be any other place but where I am right now, because I know this is the place where You want me,” then that place becomes God’s safe place for you.

That attitude removes the trouble from the trial. The way to victory over a trial isn’t to run away from it, which is our natural inclination, but to love it. The same is true with a person. We all have someone in our life who is obnoxious or maybe just a trial to us. Our natural response is to stay away from such a person until God answers our prayer to “change him, God, change him!” Instead, let your prayer become, “God, don’t change him until You’re through using him the way he is in my life. I want to learn how to love him the way he is.” When you pray that way and mean it, that person is no longer a trial to you.

Today is the day for you to embrace your trial, whether it’s circumstances or another person. Turn the trial into blessing and watch God move.