Tag Archives: J.I. Packer

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Posted on July 16, 2018 by Jill

“…I think the fundamental reason [people don’t take the Holy Spirit seriously] is that they don’t think of him as a person…But the Bible is very clear that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the three persons … Continue reading →

Are you walking at a distance from God?

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Jill

“In the military, nobody doubts what’s meant when the order is given, ‘Halt! About turn! Quick march!’ It means the soldiers are being told to turn their backs on the direction in which they are going and to start marching … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged J.I. Packer, J.I. Packer: In His Own Words, joy of the new life, life of repentance, Matthew 3:8, Revelation 3:19, walking Godward, what is repentance, wise words | Leave a comment

make your last lap a flat out sprint

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Jill

“Runners in a distance race … always try to keep something in reserve for a final sprint. And my contention is that, so far as our bodily health allows, we should aim to be found running the last lap of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged crown of life, final sprint, finish the race, Hebrews 12, I Corinthians 9, J.I. Packer, run flat out | Leave a comment

the more staggering it gets

Posted on December 23, 2017 by Jill

“It is here, the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the profoundest and most unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. ‘The Word was made flesh’ (John 1:14); God became man; the divine Son became a Jew; the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged adoration of the shepherds, Guido Reno, J.I. Packer, John 1, knowing God, Luke 2, son of God, staggering truths, the first Christmas | Leave a comment

stumbling through life blindfolded

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Jill

You don’t have to stumble along in darkness. You really don’t. God, by His word, gives light: He wants to guide your steps. His teaching, enabled by His Spirit, is understandable to us even when we’re at our simplest. He means … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged importance of Bible, J.I. Packer, Jesus lover of my soul, knowing God, meditating on God, obeying God, Psalm 119, reading the Bible, studying about God | Leave a comment

Are there really any certainties?

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Jill

I don’t understand how airplanes stay in the sky. I don’t understand how a needle runs around a record’s surface and then sound, exactly like the original recorded sound, comes out. I don’t understand how ants know to walk in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged apply God's truth, certainties, fear, feeling, frustration, God has spoken, God is Lord, God is Savior, God is triune, godliness means, J.I. Packer, Psalm 119, things that are sure | Leave a comment

moving heaven and earth

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Jill

“…grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves…drawing us sinners closer and closer to Himself…Grace … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged 2 Corinthians 5, Christ died, drawing sinners closer, Easter, God's love, grace, Grace Greater than Our Sin, grace means, J.I. Packer, moving heaven and earth, reconciled to God, Romans 5, the cross | Leave a comment

your earthly father, and your heavenly One

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Jill

“… the thought of our Maker becoming our perfect parent — faithful in love and care, generous and thoughtful, interested in all we do, respecting our individuality, skillful in training us, wise in guidance, always available, helping us to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God | Tagged Christianity, earthly father, earthly reflection, Father's Day, Father's Day 2016, God as my father, God the Father, heavenly Father, J.I. Packer, James 1:17, knowing God | Leave a comment

How to turn our knowledge about God into knowledge of God

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Jill

“How can we turn our knowledge about God into knowledge of God? The rule for doing this is simple but demanding. It is that we turn each truth that we learn about God into matter for meditation before God, leading … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God | Tagged Christian growth, how do I grow as a Christian, how do I know about God, how do I know God, J.I. Packer, knowing God, knowledge about God, knowledge of God, meditation, praise, Prayer, talk to God, truth | 6 Comments

Christian snobs and words of warning

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Jill

In our early twenties, single, and both hoping to head overseas as missionaries, a girlfriend and I used to say to one another, “We’ll never drive a minivan.” We weren’t worried about an American lifestyle we thought we’d be leaving … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged ambition, Christian, Christian snob, guiding principle, J.I. Packer, middle class, the poor | Leave a comment

the Christmas message

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Jill

“The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity — hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory — because at the Father’s will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Jesus | Tagged born in a stable, Christmas, Christmas message, God's love, hope, How deep the Father's love for us, J.I. Packer, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ's supremacy, pardon, peace, peace with God, Philippians 2, Stuart Townend | 2 Comments

goodbye October, hello November

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Jill

My favorite month has officially exited this year’s fall stage. As we say goodbye to October and hello to November, I keep thinking that October’s blaze-orange pumpkins and fiery-red leaves are meant to teach us. Just as April’s daffodils help … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, God | Tagged change, consistency, end of month, fading beauty's purpose, favorite month, heaven, J.I. Packer, joy, months, November, October, seasons, time | 1 Comment

Engraved

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Jill

Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea. A great High Priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands. My name is written on His … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus | Tagged Before the throne of God, Charitie Bancroft, Christ my Savior, Isaiah 49:16, J.I. Packer, knowing God, redemption, salvation, sin, the gospel | Leave a comment

a Father’s reflection

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Jill

This will be the third Father’s Day since my dad died. I miss him. Your own memories of your earthly father may be painful, and your heart might not fill with any sense of missing. But as Father’s Day approaches, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, God | Tagged child of God, childhood, childhood home, earthly father, earthly reflection, father, Father's Day, God the Father, heavenly Father, home, J.I. Packer, parenting, safety | 6 Comments

The hidden floodlight ministry

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Jill

A while back, I saved this J.I. Packer quote. He paints a memorable picture of God’s provision of His Spirit, and of the Holy Spirit’s work and purpose in the life of a believer. I’ve returned a number of times to … Continue reading →