WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE THISTLEBEND BLOOM BLOG
Bloom! is a personal look into a few women’s lives as they participate in Thistlebend studies and follow the Lord as He tills their hearts. May you be encouraged as you experience the tilling, the Lord is doing in your own heart!
Are You Offended by Jesus?
Thistlebend Quiet eMoment by Laurie Aker Focus Scripture: Luke 7:18-23 ESV 18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when […]
God’s Love Is Perfect
Thistlebend Quiet eMoment by Laurie Aker Focus Scripture: Luke 7:11-17 ESV 11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only […]
What to Do When Faith Dies
by Steve Fuller Too often we lack works. Maybe we are not praying, not forgiving someone, not crucifying selfishness to care for others, or not sharing the gospel. We know this is a serious problem, because James said that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). What’s more serious […]
Evangelism without an Altar Call
by Aaron Menikoff Five and a half years ago I preached my first sermon as the pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church. The minister of music stopped me before the service with a question. He wanted to know how I’d be making the altar call. I was confused. Prior to this Sunday morning I’d been […]
One Remedy for All Our Hearts
by Laurie Aker God has called His people by name; He has chosen us from before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. He has chosen us to be His adopted firstborn sons and daughters, and He has given us an inheritance according to His endless heavenly riches. He […]
The Humble Centurion
Thistlebend Quiet eMoment by Laurie Aker Focus Scripture: Luke 7:1-10 ESV 1After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion […]
Will You Believe God?
Thistlebend Quiet eMoment by Laurie Aker Focus Scripture: Luke 1:46-55 ESV 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty […]
Poison Turned to Medicine
by Michael McKinley In his commentary on II Corinthians, John Calvin reflects on Paul’s statement that a messenger of Satan (his “thorn in the flesh”) served as God’s means of keeping him from deadly pride. Pauls writes: So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given […]
Preaching to Women Who Work in the Home
by Bari Nichols Pastors should treat women in the congregation like family. That seems to be the lesson of 1 Timothy 5:2: “Treat…older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters.” But does God say how they should preach to women? In fact, he does. Three passages of Scripture in particular stand out for their […]