ThingsHopedForThingsHopedForThe randomly recorded thoughts of Jason Hardin. Articles
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
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
Know Thyself
2008-06-25 13:57:00 “It is a sad fate for a man to die too well known to everybody else and still unknown to himself.” - Francis Bacon
Some Of Self
2008-06-25 13:51:00 Yet He found me; I beheld Him Bleeding on th’accursed tree, And my wistful heart said faintly, “Some of self, and some of Thee.” Double-mindedness. That’s what the verse above describes. Double-mindedness beckons us to follow the easy way that leads to destruction. It’s the way of compromise. It’s the path of self-deception. Before another minute of your ... More About: Christian , Meditations , Christ
All Of Self
2008-06-24 15:59:00 O, the bitter pain and sorrow That a time could ever be, When I proudly said to Jesus “All of self, and none of Thee.” Are you wasting your life? What could define the principle of wastefulness more than a being created in the image of God Himself who proudly says by his actions (or inaction), “All of self ... More About: Meditations
Slowing My Pace
2008-06-23 07:44:00 I preached a sermon yesterday in a series on growing in spiritual maturity entitled Slowing My Pace . The hymn from yesterday is a wonderful reminder of our Creator’s encouragement to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). If you didn’t take the time to really reflect on the lyrics, go back over them ... More About: Sermons
Alone At Eve
2008-06-22 07:02:00 Walking alone at eve and viewing the skies afar, Bidding the darkness come to welcome each silver star; I have a great delight in the wonderful scenes above, God in His power and might is showing His truth and love. Sitting alone at eve and dreaming the hours away, Watching the shadows falling now at the close of day; God in ...
The Wordled Bible
2008-06-20 11:06:00 Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. Take a look at the English Standard Version of the Bible , wordled.
The Value Of Nothing
2008-06-19 13:57:00 May not the inadequacy of much of our spiritual experience be traced back to our habit of skipping through the corridors of the Kingdom like children in the market place, chattering about everything, but pausing to learn the value of nothing. - A. W. Tozer
Finding The Joy In Trials
2008-06-18 06:06:00 James doesn’t waste much time getting into the meat of his message. Take a moment, tune everything else out, and read James 1:2-3. You may not even see it coming. It could arrive today. In the next few hours you might become intimately acquainted with a trial unlike any you have ... More About: Meditations , Trials , James
Wisdom Cries Aloud
2008-06-17 19:58:00 Today’s thought is taken from Proverbs 1:20-21. Make sure that you pause long enough to place your mouse over that reference and read that passage. Maybe even read it a second time. Have you really listened to the message? You’ll hear a lot of noise today. Much of it hasn’t evolved beyond ... More About: Meditations , Wisdom
Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind
2008-06-16 07:41:00 A prayer for the busy week ahead. Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our foolish ways; Reclothe us in our rightful mind, In purer lives Thy service find, In deeper reverence, praise. In simple trust like theirs who heard, Beside the Syrian sea, The gracious calling of the Lord, Let us, like them, without a word, Rise up and follow Thee. O Sabbath rest by ... More About: Mankind
Thankful For Helpful Parents
2008-06-15 06:51:00 Take a moment to read Proverbs 1:8-9. Have you been blessed with parents who taught you the Creator’s will from a young age? If so, make sure to pause and appreciate that gift throughout the day. Those of us who grew up with godly parents can’t put a price tag on such ... More About: Parenting , Meditations , Parents , Fatherhood
My Sister Was Sick
2008-06-10 03:17:00 A dear sister in Christ recently handed me this. Her sister in the flesh had passed away the day before. My sister was sick. I intended to call. I was waiting for the right time of day. My sister was sick. I forgot to call. Then, at evening, the time slipped away. My sister was sick. As I slept that night, God called her ... More About: Sister , Sick
The Beginning
More articles from this author:2008-06-05 17:34:00 Proverbs 1:7 carries a message you and I need to remember throughout the day. I’m especially mindful of those who’ve justed graduated high school and are headed to independence in one form or another. Young person, remember. Whatever you learn, regardless of what you think you know, beyond each of your fears, ... More About: Meditations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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