ThingsHopedForThingsHopedForThe randomly recorded thoughts of Jason Hardin. 
Articles
How Do You Accept Your Wife?s Criticism?
2008-08-05 23:12:00 Say you come home from a tough day at the office and are immediately greeted by your spouse who is not too happy with you. She may start taking verbal swipes and your first reaction might be to get angry, loud and defensive. Squelch that desire and, instead, sit down and hear her out. It ... More About: Wife , Home , Criticism , Accept
Fading Fast
2008-08-04 19:09:00 I know you’re busy, but take a moment to read James 1:9-11. Done? Now, take your eyes off your computer screen and look around. Maybe it’s your office. Perhaps it’s your basement. It could be your dining room or even your backyard deck. Wherever you are, take in your surroundings. Done? Now realize ... More About: Fast
Words To Live By This Week
2008-08-04 05:42:00 Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine! Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign, All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride, Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified. Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified. - Leila N. Morris, 1898 More About: Words , Live , Week , Morris
Humility And Marriage
2008-08-02 00:16:00 Humility is the hinge on which the door of marriage swings. Without it, your relationship is most likely doomed. How many arguments have come from your unnecessary ego? A lot more than you realize. So here are a couple thoughts to keep in mind: First, pride builds walls, but humility builds bridges. Find ways to reach ... More About: Marriage , Home , Humility
ESV Study Bible Drawings
2008-08-01 05:03:00 Leen Ritmeyer has served as the archaeological and architectural editor for the upcoming ESV Study Bible . Ritmeyer was recently interviewed by Justin Taylor (Project Director and Managing Editor). Of particular interest were two of Ritmeyer’s drawings prepared for the new Study Bible. Both interviews are available online: Part 1: What Did Calvary Look Like? Part 2: What ... More About: Jesus , Drawings , Jerusalem
Loving My Neighbor When Loving Is Hard
2008-07-30 17:21:00 The two great commandments. You’ve heard them before. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. But what about my “unlovable” neighbor? What about the person I just can’t stand? How do I love my neighbor when loving is hard? Interactive outline Sermon mp3 For more outlines and audio recordings, ... More About: Jesus , Sermons , Gospel , Hard , Loving
When A Psalm Is Not Your Situation
2008-07-29 20:11:00 Take the time to read this great insight from John Piper on a Bible student’s relationship to the Psalm s… Because the Psalms are so personal, they often do not represent the mood or the situation we are in when we read them. For example, a couple mornings ago I read Psalm 142. It says, There is none ... More About: Situation
Christ, Our Renovator
2008-07-28 18:00:00 Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right, and stopping the leaks in the roof, and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking ... More About: Christ , Lewis
Back From A Short Blogcation
2008-07-28 05:24:00 Thanks to those of you who continued to show interest while I took a short break. More to come, Lord willing. More About: Back , Short
New Elders And Deacons Material
2008-07-19 21:58:00 Gary Henry has recently made available a new online study of elders and deacons and their role of leadership and service in New Testament congregations. From his site: Elders (also known as bishops or pastors) and deacons are a subject that is both important and controversial. These two offices constitute the simple “organization” of congregations in the ... More About: Word , Points , Material
Not Simply Beneficiaries, But Agents
2008-07-19 05:48:00 In particular, I explore the question of what the church is there for. The point of following Jesus isn’t simply so that we can be sure of going to a better place than this after we die. Our future beyond death is enormously important, but the nature of the Christian hope is such that it ... More About: Bible , Agents , Scripture
On Becoming Beautiful People
2008-07-17 17:53:00 We become beautiful people when we give whatever we can give: a smile, a handshake, a kiss, an embrace, a word of love, a present, a part of our life…all of our life. It is sad that, in our highly competitive and greedy world, we have lost touch with the joy of giving. ... More About: People , Beautiful , Beautiful People
Thinking Before We Forward
2008-07-16 21:16:00 Quick question. How many political e-mail forwards have you received in the last two weeks? If you’re like most of us, at least a few. E-rumors and cyber-allegations are constantly swirling from one Inbox to another. The tales continue to get taller as the closeted skeletons grow to mythical proportions. And what fuels the growth of this ... More About: Politics , Jesus , President , Barack Obama , Cain
Striving For Single-Mindedness
2008-07-08 19:38:00 Take a moment to reflect on James 1:7-8. Here’s today’s challenge: “I will strive for single-mindedness in everything I do.” In the things that I say… In the ways that I say them… In the decisions I make… In my dealings with others… When I’m around my friends… When no one is looking… …I will be a single-minded disciple of Jesus. ... More About: Bible , Meditations , Christ , Single
Dealing With Doubt
2008-07-07 12:39:00 James 1:6 is a good passage to remember throughout the week. How will you deal with your doubts this week? When you feel them slithering into your mind, remind yourself of the powerful foot of the Son of God that has already crushed the head of the serpent. He can crush your doubts as well. Why ... More About: Jesus , Meditations , Christ , Doubt , James
Sun Of My Soul
2008-07-06 12:45:00 Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear, It is not night if Thou be near; O may no earthborn cloud arise To hide Thee from Thy servant’s eyes! When the soft dews of kindly sleep My wearied eyelids gently steep, Be my last thought, how sweet to rest Forever on my Savior’s breast. Abide with me from morn till eve, For without Thee I ... More About: Soul , My Soul
Previews Of The ESV Study Bible
2008-07-05 20:29:00 A couple months ago I briefly wrote about the upcoming ESV Study Bible . Since then, a few excerpts have been added to the ESV site: Introduction to the Gospel of Luke Introduction to the Revelation to John The Luke intro gives you a good view of the full-color maps dispersed throughout the new Study Bible. The Revelation intro ...
The Proper Use Of Our Freedom
2008-07-04 12:04:00 One of my favorite scriptures concerning the freedom that is available in Jesus is from Paul’s letter to the Galatian saints. Take a look at Galatians 5:1. Then, Galatians 5:13. Some simply-stated, yet challengingly-applied marching orders for the citizen of God’s kingdom today: Stand firm. Remember who you are. Never forget the price which was paid to ... More About: Freedom , Bible , Meditations , Christ , Corinthians
A Slave Of Righteousness
2008-07-03 14:46:00 “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). That has been our meditation for the last few days. You and I have been encouraged to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely” (Hebrews 12:1), claiming the freedom that is offered through Jesus the Christ . But here is ... More About: Slave
Beneath The Cross
2008-07-02 15:35:00 The Bible has much to say about the Lord ’s Supper. Almost every component of this memorial is rich with meaning–meaning supplied by Old Testament foreshadowing and New Testament teaching. The Lord’s death itself is meaningful and significant in ways we rarely point out. Beneath the Cross , the latest work produced by DeWard Publishing, explores the ... More About: Jesus , The Cross
Who?s In Charge Here?
2008-07-02 12:50:00 Freedom. That has been our focus for the last two days. Do you want to live today in the freedom that Christ makes available? Then you need to remember the Spirit’s encouragement from Romans 6:12-14. The time may come at some point today when you are strongly tempted by the lusts of your flesh. ... More About: Satan , Rome , Holy Spirit , Charge , Meditations
Recognizing Our Bondage
2008-07-01 13:15:00 Yesterday I stressed the importance of appreciating the freedom that is available through the sacrifice of Christ . But what if I haven’t even acknowledged my need for independence? Let me encourage you to make this a reflective day. Are you in need of deliverance? If so, from what? Complaining? Boasting? Pride and arrogance? Sexual immorality? Gossip? Lying? Laziness? Hypocrisy? Busyness to the point ... More About: Bondage
Independence
2008-06-30 18:15:00 Independence Day is this Friday. What does it mean to you? What will be on your mind? To many, the 4th means charcoal, hamburgers, hot dogs, a day off of work, and fireworks. The cost of liberty will be a distant thought, and that’s unfortunate. But how much worse to go through this week without appreciating ... More About: Jesus , God , Meditations , Christ , Jehovah
?Tis Midnight, And On Olive?s Brow
2008-06-29 18:46:00 ‘Tis midnight, and on Olive ’s brow The star is dimmed that lately shone; ‘Tis midnight, in the garden now, The suffering Savior prays alone. ‘Tis midnight, and from all removed Emmanuel wrestles lone with fears; E’en the disciple whom He loved Heeds not his Master’s grief and tears. ‘Tis midnight, and for others’ guilt The Man of Sorrows weeps in blood; Yet He who hath ... More About: Midnight
In Need Of Wisdom
2008-06-28 12:30:00 It can be hard to admit that you don’t have all the answers. It can be disheartening to acknowledge that you’re not sure. But the first step to greater wisdom is an acknowledgement of your need. Our knee-jerk reactions when the need for more wisdom hits us are relatively common: More study. More ... More About: Bible , Meditations , Proverbs , Wisdom , James
Signs Of Maturity
2008-06-27 12:10:00 I find “maturity” difficult to define. It’s like “love.” You see signs. You observe the fruits. But to capture its essence in words is challenging, at least for me. How about this? There are two sides to maturity. “I used to be bothered by things that weren’t worth being bothered about.” A sign of maturity is the ... More About: Christian , Life , Maturity , Signs , Christ
None Of Self
2008-06-27 09:26:00 Higher than the highest heavens, Deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, Thy love at last has conquered, “None of self, and all of Thee.” There it is. The great goal of the disciple of Christ . The ideal as defined by the Son of God in Mark 8:34-35. What steps, regardless of how small, can you take throughout the day to ... More About: Jesus
RSS: The Key To Virtual Time Management
2008-06-26 13:22:00 Do you consistently drop in on blogs or Internet news sites? If you’re not doing so via the wonder of RSS, you’re wasting boatloads of time. Don’t know what RSS is? No problem… I highly recommend Google Reader and it just so happens that Abraham Piper has done an excellent job customizing a step-by-step RSS guide ... More About: Management , Tube , Time , Time Management
Less Of Self
2008-06-26 12:38:00 Day by day His tender mercy Healing, helping, full and free, Brought me lower while I whispered “Less of self, and more of Thee.” Are you dedicated to the goal of spiritual growth? Day by day? Hour by hour? How ironic that in order to grow closer to God we must wither to self. With that in mind, here’s ... More About: Meditations
Amazing Grace
More articles from this author:2008-06-25 14:03:00 William Wilberforce, young leader of the movement to abolish the British slave trade, speaks with John Newton, former slave-ship captain who has recorded his personal arguments for the abolition of the trade and is passing them along to reinforce Wilberforce’s argument in Parliament. I Once Was Blind, But Now I See. Incidentally, I recently preached two sermons ... More About: Sermons , Grace , Amazing , Fatherhood , Amazing Grace 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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