Getting Ready
Expedient, hurried urgency.
One of my pet peeves is when my kids take their time getting ready. They do this to Jess more than they do to me. I’ll say something like, “We have to get going,” and they’ll keep reading their books, coloring their art, playing with their toys. I have several ways to handle this. I could start yelling, but I’ve tried to stop doing that haha. I could start counting down and that usually puts some pressure on them. But what works better is to tell them where we’re going, especially if it’s somewhere fun or something they’re looking forward to. We’re going to our friends’ house! We’re going to eat hot pot! We’re going to Disneyland! Suddenly, they get ready—with expedient, hurried urgency.
As Christians, we have to get ready. Yes, there’s a time for studying. There’s a time for art. There’s even a time for toys. But we have to get going. God doesn’t yell at us, but He does speak to us through His Word, through the Church, and through His Spirit. Time is counting down. You can see it all around us. But the best motivation for readiness is not pressure, it’s promise. We’re going to be with our friends! We’re going to the marriage supper of the Lamb! We’re going to our eternal home, with our Heavenly Father! Let’s get ready—with expedient, hurried urgency.
More: Treasure Maps, Stop Talking! Rain and Renewal
Loving the Church When You’ve Been Hurt
“In this panel discussion from TGC’s 2024 Women’s Conference, Winfree Brisley, Karen Hodge, Ruth Chou Simons, and Irene Sun explore various kinds of church hurt and offer gospel-centered guidance for navigating them both practically and spiritually. They share personal stories; emphasize prayer, humility, and accountability; and remind us why the church—despite its brokenness—is still worth loving as the body of Christ, full of hope and healing.”
More: TGIF, youtube.com/@diveindigdeep
Weekly Newsletter
In case you missed it, I recently sent out my weekly newsletter. There are 23 items of reviews, recommendations, ministry updates, and free eBooks. Our giveaway is a Children’s Christmas Books Giveaway from Eerdmans Publishers, and my introduction was a thank you to Alabaster Co. Thanks for reading!
More: Partners
Endnotes
Dive In Dig Deep Weekly: A weekly digest of my book reviews and ministry news.
Book Reviews, Messages, Prayer Poems, ePamphlets, Bulwark Ministries, Interviews, Free eBooks, Around the Web, TGIF, Preaching & Teaching, youtube.com/@diveindigdeep
Partners: Westminster Bookstore, Logos Bible Software, Lexham Press, Voice of the Martyrs, Alabaster Bibles and Books, Moody Publishers, New Growth Press, Riverside Podcasting, Publish Peace Totes and Stickers at Cotton Bureau, and many more!