Clare De Graaf's Blog, page 5
February 24, 2020
What’s Wrong With the “Prosperity Gospel?”
A few weeks ago, I got a phone call from a solid Christian businessman I’ve known for years. “Clare, in a nutshell tell me what you think of Joel Osteen and the prosperity gospel.”
February 17, 2020
The Five Truths About Forgiveness
This is Part Two of the blog posted last week, entitled The Five Myths of Forgiveness.
The apostle Paul said in our text that we are to forgive “as” God in Christ forgave us. The word “as” points to two things. We are to forgive because God forgave us. But we are also to forgive as or like or in the same manner that he forgave us. So, how did God in Christ forgive us? This leads us to the five truths about forgiveness.
The apostle Paul said in our text that we are to forgive “as” God in Christ forgave us. The word “as” points to two things. We are to forgive because God forgave us. But we are also to forgive as or like or in the same manner that he forgave us. So, how did God in Christ forgive us? This leads us to the five truths about forgiveness.
February 10, 2020
The Five Myths of Forgiveness
The following is an excellent blog by Dr. Storm, originally posted on Enjoying God Ministries.
“Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
“Most of the ground that Satan gains in the lives of Christians,” wrote Neil Anderson, “is due to unforgiveness” (Bondage Breaker, p. 194). I couldn’t agree more. It isn’t hard to figure out why, once we realize that unforgiveness breeds bitterness, resentment, anger, unkindness, and even despair. Nothing is more important for us than to know what forgiveness is as well as what it isn’t. So let’s deal with five myths about forgiveness; that is to say, five lies many of us have embraced about what it means to forgive another person. Then I will turn to five truths about forgiveness, or five essential elements apart from which true forgiveness will never take place.
Five Myths about Forgiveness
“Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
“Most of the ground that Satan gains in the lives of Christians,” wrote Neil Anderson, “is due to unforgiveness” (Bondage Breaker, p. 194). I couldn’t agree more. It isn’t hard to figure out why, once we realize that unforgiveness breeds bitterness, resentment, anger, unkindness, and even despair. Nothing is more important for us than to know what forgiveness is as well as what it isn’t. So let’s deal with five myths about forgiveness; that is to say, five lies many of us have embraced about what it means to forgive another person. Then I will turn to five truths about forgiveness, or five essential elements apart from which true forgiveness will never take place.
Five Myths about Forgiveness
February 3, 2020
How to Love Your Spouse When They Don’t Love You Back
(Someone sent me this blog by Noah Filipiak, and I thought it was very helpful. You can find out more about him at Noahfilipiak.com)
A marriage strategy made popular by The Five Love Languages book and others like it is that if you love your spouse, they will love you back.
Many a client has walked into a marriage counselor’s office and asked what they can do to get their spouse to show them love. They’ve tried and tried to be a good husband or wife, but the reciprocation just isn’t there. The heartache and pain of this sort of rejection leaves a person raw, desperate, and unable to take much more. If only a marriage counselor could solve this riddle for them.
A marriage strategy made popular by The Five Love Languages book and others like it is that if you love your spouse, they will love you back.
Many a client has walked into a marriage counselor’s office and asked what they can do to get their spouse to show them love. They’ve tried and tried to be a good husband or wife, but the reciprocation just isn’t there. The heartache and pain of this sort of rejection leaves a person raw, desperate, and unable to take much more. If only a marriage counselor could solve this riddle for them.
January 27, 2020
A Failure of Imagination
It’s the consequences of sin you fail to imagine, that will most destroy you. (author unknown)
Meditate on that statement and these possible scenarios in your life, for a few minutes.
Meditate on that statement and these possible scenarios in your life, for a few minutes.
January 20, 2020
“Repentance” is Out of Vogue
I was having a meeting with a young man recently who is not yet a Christian. On a previous occasion, I sent him God’s Story, which I wrote to summarize the story of the Bible and the gospel in 3 ½ pages. You can find it on my website on the Resources page. We’ve been meeting to discuss various elements of what it means to become a Christian.
So, he asked me straight out, “What is the next step? How do I become a Christian?”
“It’s actually three steps,” I said.
So, he asked me straight out, “What is the next step? How do I become a Christian?”
“It’s actually three steps,” I said.
January 13, 2020
I Wouldn’t Want a God Like That
Every once in a while, I run into a true atheist, but more often it’s someone who says they don’t believe in God, but haven’t completely rejected the idea of a “higher being.” (An Agnostic)
One of the first questions I ask them is this, “Please describe to me the god you don’t believe in.” This question almost always surprises them, so I give them some time to respond.
Generally, they will describe some personal experience with a Christian, or group of Christians who did not act very Christ-like. Or they, or a loved one asked God to heal a mother, father or sibling and he didn’t, deeply disappointing them. They may even point out “obvious” flaws in the Bible, or the church’s sinful treatment of people. “I wouldn’t want a god like that,” They say as if we mortals can ignore the true God, without terrible consequences.
When they’ve finished their stories, I’ll often agree with them. “That’s good news to me. I don’t believe in that kind of God either.” Trust me, no one can leave a statement like that go. They will always ask you to explain. Now you have a God ordained opportunity to explain the gospel to someone who just invited you to do so!
One of the first questions I ask them is this, “Please describe to me the god you don’t believe in.” This question almost always surprises them, so I give them some time to respond.
Generally, they will describe some personal experience with a Christian, or group of Christians who did not act very Christ-like. Or they, or a loved one asked God to heal a mother, father or sibling and he didn’t, deeply disappointing them. They may even point out “obvious” flaws in the Bible, or the church’s sinful treatment of people. “I wouldn’t want a god like that,” They say as if we mortals can ignore the true God, without terrible consequences.
When they’ve finished their stories, I’ll often agree with them. “That’s good news to me. I don’t believe in that kind of God either.” Trust me, no one can leave a statement like that go. They will always ask you to explain. Now you have a God ordained opportunity to explain the gospel to someone who just invited you to do so!
January 6, 2020
Is All Truth, God’s Truth?
It is that famous, brilliant church father Augustine who famously said, “All truth is God’s truth.”
And at face value, I believe that statement is still true. However…
And at face value, I believe that statement is still true. However…
December 30, 2019
Piety – the Holy Grail For Christians
I was meeting with a passionate follower of Jesus recently, who began talking about piety. Piety isn’t a virtue we talk about much anymore. It conjures up images and icons of monks or saints from the middle ages with hallows surrounding their faces. I wasn’t even sure what piety was.
Piety – an affectionate obedience that wants whatever God commands.
Wow! As a follower of Jesus I try daily to be obedient. But to pray that I want whatever God wants, really raises the bar! I’m ashamed at how often I obey God, almost begrudgingly, like a young boy asked by his dad to mow the lawn on a hot summer day. I do it, but I’m not all that happy about it.
Piety sets it’s heart on wanting what God really wants. But how does that work in real life – today?
Piety – an affectionate obedience that wants whatever God commands.
Wow! As a follower of Jesus I try daily to be obedient. But to pray that I want whatever God wants, really raises the bar! I’m ashamed at how often I obey God, almost begrudgingly, like a young boy asked by his dad to mow the lawn on a hot summer day. I do it, but I’m not all that happy about it.
Piety sets it’s heart on wanting what God really wants. But how does that work in real life – today?
December 23, 2019
How to Forgive Someone Who Isn’t Sorry
With Christmas and New Years only days away, perhaps you’re already dreading spending time with a family member who hurt you deeply. The following is a very helpful guest blog by Rachel-Claire Cockrell.
