Author: Tim Challies

The Isolation of Disability and the Providence of God

The Isolation of Disability and the Providence of God

Posted by | Jan 1, 2024 | |

One of the darkest and most difficult parts of being a special needs family is personal, cultural, and even spiritual isolation. For the person or family affected by disability it is much easier to stay hidden in obscurity than to be judged by the watching world. Isolation not only provides protection from the silent stares of spectators and onlookers, it keeps the messes, smells, and noises in-house where they are easier to deal with, and don’t have to be shared.See AlsoAre You Welcoming Image Bearers With Special Needs?God Has a Heart for the Vulnerable. Do You?A La Carte (2/17)

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A La Carte (January 2)

A La Carte (January 2)

Posted by | Jan 1, 2024 | |

A La Carte: Counseling troubled dreams / Hanging up the hustle culture to embrace eternal investment / The least resolution for 2024 / A stumbling block to the fatherless / A lesson from American church history / and more.See AlsoWeekend A La Carte (December 30)A La Carte (January 7)Weekend A La Carte (December 28)

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New Year, New Joys, New Sorrows

New Year, New Joys, New Sorrows

Posted by | Dec 31, 2023 | |

As the calendar turns from December to January and as 2023 gives way to 2024, a new year is laid out before us. We may have already drawn a few lines and circles on some of the dates—appointments here, vacations there. We may have slotted in a few dreams and plans for certain days and weeks. But mostly the year lies open before us, opaque, mysterious, unknown. What will it be? What will it bring? How may Providence direct? What is certain is that 2024 will bring both joys and sorrows, both gains and losses. There will be good days and bad, joyful seasons and grievous. Some circumstances we will look forward to and some we will dread. That’s the nature of life here between Genesis chapter 3 and Revelation chapter 22—between sin’s entrance and abolition, between the first tears and the last. Today I find myself thinking especially about those hard days and difficult times. As 2023 drew to its close, I witnessed an unusual number of friends endure the most trying of circumstances. I had a close-up view of Christians passing through dark valleys. And, to my encouragement and joy, I was able to watch them pass through those trials unbroken and triumphant. Even with hurting hearts and crying eyes, they remained victorious, unwavering in their love for God and unswerving in their commitment to his cause. What is left when a Christian man is forced to bid farewell to the wife of his youth, when she comes to the last of her…See AlsoLiving Sorrows and Departed JoysThis Broken, Beautiful WorldWith Greater Age Comes Greater Joy

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A La Carte (January 1)

A La Carte (January 1)

Posted by | Dec 31, 2023 | |

Good morning. Grace and peace to you today and for the duration of the year that has just begun. May this be a year in which you know so many of the Lord’s sweet blessings. Today’s Kindle deals include a selection of 2023’s bestselling books from Crossway. (Yesterday on the blog: The Happiest Year You Will Ever Know) Can Evangelical Journalists Say Anything Good About Evangelicals? This is a strong column from Andrew Walker. “Has anyone else noticed that many Christian journalists have gone more or less silent on issues of cultural controversy that intersect with the so-called culture war? For example, I haven’t heard an affirmation of the exclusivity of Christ, the inerrancy of Scripture, or biblical views on abortion or sexuality in years from many who write at these outlets. When was the last time one of these writers picked up their pen or used their platform to defend the interests of conservative Evangelicals in any meaningful way, even if it put them at odds with their cosmopolitan readership?” When We Hurt Those Who Are Hurting Ed Welch considers ways we may unintentionally hurt the very people we are trying to comfort. The Christian New Year “What will your New Year’s resolution be for 2024? It’s a question probably equal parts hated and anticipated. Some people look forward to this season every year as an opportunity to reflect and reset. Others feel guilt from the hauntings of failed resolutions past and would rather glide into the new year without disruption to the status…See AlsoA La Carte (7/20)A La Carte (12/14)A La Carte (10/07)

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The Happiest Year You Will Ever Know

The Happiest Year You Will Ever Know

Posted by | Dec 30, 2023 | |

There are some hymns that disappear because they are simply not very good. There are some hymns that disappear because they are too tied to a particular niche. And there are some hymns that disappear because their language becomes antiquated. I think this hymn/poem by John Newton spans the latter two categories. It is closely tied to New Year’s, so likely to be sung for only one Sunday out of every 52. And then some of the language has become just a little bit old-fashioned. Still, it is worth dusting off, reading, and pondering as one year fades into another. In it, Newton marks the year that has gone and celebrates the year to come (though possibly not right now)—the year that will prove to be the best of your life. See! another year is gone!Quickly have the seasons passed!This we enter now uponMay to many prove our last.Mercy hitherto has spared,But have mercies been improved?Let us ask, am I preparedShould I be this year removed? Some we now no longer see,Who their mortal race have run;Seemed as fair for life as we,When the former year begun;Some, but who God only knows,Who are here assembled now,Ere the present year shall close,To the stroke of death must bow. Life a field of battle is,Thousands fall within our view;And the next death-bolt that flies,May be sent to me or you:While we preach, and while we hear,Help us, Lord, each one, to think,Vast eternity is near,I am standing on the brink. If from guilt and sin set free,By…See AlsoHymn Stories: How Sweet the Name of Jesus SoundsHymn Stories: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (+ Free Download)Hymn Revival

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