I’m Dependable. Why Could That Be Wrong?
Dependability is a great quality. But for me, it can be wrong because of my motive. Am I motivated by self-protection or by trust in God?
Dependability is a great quality. But for me, it can be wrong because of my motive. Am I motivated by self-protection or by trust in God?
NIV1984 Righteous. This is the word used in the same sentence about a man choosing divorce in light of (assumed) adultery. The Bible has forever associated the word righteous with the choice to divorce. It is part of the Christmas story! God does not shame Joseph in this passage for deciding to divorce a pregnant … Continue reading "Divorce: A choice of a righteous man!"
Recall the days of your childhood when the world seemed simple, and the consequences of our actions were plate-breaking or wall-scribbling at worst. Picture yourself in those moments when, upon committing a misdeed, the anticipation of your parents' disapproval led you to hastily seek refuge in the sanctuary of your...
But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away. -Proverbs 6:32-33, NIV The real shame is not faithful spouses divorcing cheaters, pastors. The real shame is Christians committing adultery! Preaching or counseling against divorce is a little late when it comes … Continue reading "PSA: The real shame is committing adultery, Pastors!"
AFTER MY HUSBAND DIED, we had many friends and family who came to visit. People brought us meals, cards, and abundant gifts for my girls. However, two uninvited guests kept showing up at my door at the most inopportune times. Their names were Guilt and Shame. After an intense and harrowing four-mon
Whenever I realize I’ve done something wrong, I get this extreme sense of shame and guilt. And I feel as if God is mad at me.
I’m not proud of my old life. And I’m also not proud of some things in my life “after Christ”, even up unto the last several months. Things that cause us shame can be a continuous onslaught against…
Out of the blue the other day, my 8-year-old daughter piped up from the back seat of the car and said she was really upset that someone in a movie had said, “You should be ashamed of yourself.” I don’t even remember the movie or what it was in reference to, but I thought it was an interesting observ
When have you heard a Sunday school story about two single parents? Or about a king who asked those single parents their deepest motivation?
I remember as a little girl, hiding under the covers of my bed, trying to shut out my parents’ yelling and screaming in the next room. I heard bad words. I didn’t know what some of them meant, but I did know how they made me feel. Dirty. The next morning, I awoke to the aftermath of the night’s tirade—Mom’s black eye, Dad’s crying remorse, furniture tossed and broken—and those bad words bouncing around my little-girl head.
In a time and culture that finds the idea of shame shameful (i.e. “How dare you shame them in that way!”), it seems prudent to point out that shame is neither always nor universally a bad thing.
The motivation for what we do reveals who we are doing it for. Living for an audience of one helps us to break free of living to please others.
When I read Psalms 4:2 my mind started ruminating on ways to get closer to the Lord. Here’s what the verse has to say about that.
The one who possesses wisdom does not boast, but the one filled with pride will only end in shame. § On the day of judgment, riches have no value. What will count most are the righteous deeds…
Jezebels are women who depend on their looks to get a man of stature and manipulate him according to what she wants. In my years, I’ve…
Denise currently serves on the writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries’ First 5 app and the writing team for the COMPEL blog. Denise is a national speaker and worship leader with her ministry, Seeing Deep Ministries, as well as the Family Ministries and Worship Arts Director at her church. Denise is passionate about cultivating a devotional life and stopping biblical illiteracy through her two podcasts, The Bible Tribe®, a daily Bible reading plan broadcast and podcast devotion with a published journal that studies the original biblical language, applying it to today’s context, and the weekly Seeing Deep podcast. Her energetic presentations are interactive, biblical and relevant to everyday life. In demand topics include Boundaries for Women, Six Biblical Approaches to a Mentally Healthy Woman, Five Ways to Live Loved, and Make Up Your Mind: Fighting the Lies that Keep You Stuck.
Peter thawed his cold hands by the warm fire. He said that he would never be ashamed of Jesus. But he was about to deny Him…to a maid. He was about to go through a fiery trial and three times be found guilty of being ashamed of the one he called his Lord. Peter made
It is sad that some women feel that their bodies are being shamed by conservatives and other people in general. We live in an age of “liberation” where there is an almost anything goes …
Now more than ever, Christians must consider how we can communicate with those with whom we disagree.
(Photo: Unsplash) Have you ever told a bald-faced lie and instantly regretted it, but with the words already spun instead of coming clean, you sought to march through it with confidence, hoping no one could see the ocean of guilt threatening to drown you? We all have our moments, and...