Encouragement in 2011

I re-read my journals from 2011 and found a number of ways that I was encouraged. Perhaps you will find some encouragement as well by looking up the sermons or books or verses also in 2012!

• Coram Deo Sermon (CDO): Colossians 2.16-19 "What's Wrong With Religion" (references to CDO sermons can be found in the Sermon Archives at www.cdomaha.com


• CDO Sermon Mt. 2 "Jesus & Herod"--picture of humanity under sin, morality vs. gospel; works vs grace


• Dallas Willard "Renovation of the Heart" (book)--"If you do not prefer Christ more than anyone (even yourself) you cannot be his disciple" [Lk. 14.26]


• Willard "Renovation"--"self-denial is not an act we do with great effort and internal resistance. It is, rather, an overall settled condition of life in the kingdom of God...death to self..."


• 2 Corinthians 5.14-15 "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."


• 2 Cor. 3.18 "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect [or contemplate] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."


• Tim Keller "Counterfeit gods" (book)--Chapter on "Hidden Idols"--Jonah's idols, fear, pride "stress reveals the true nature of our hearts"; "shouldn't your love be like mine?"--come out of yourself to serve God and others


• Philippians 2.13 NLT "For God is working in you giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."


• John Piper sermon: "Battling the Unbelief of a Haughty Spirit" --making much of God--Jer. 13, Give Glory to the Lord before it's too late (Piper sermons can be found at www.desiringgod.org )


• Piper sermon: "If your words abide in me" from John 15--memorize scripture!


• Keller sermon: Esther "The Man the King Delights to Honor"--"Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less." (Keller sermons can be found at www.redeemer.com in the store under free sermons)


• "Love and Respect" marriage seminar


• Hope mountain ladies' retreat--visitors from Washington state


• Piper book club "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God"


• Tim Keller "The King's Cross" (book based on the gospel of Mark)


• Piper sermon: "Called to Suffer & Rejoice: For an eternal weight of glory" on 2 Cor. 4.7-18 (Sept. 6, 1992) "Therefore we do not lose heart (and reasons not to lose heart)


• Eric Metaxas book: "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy"--one of the best biographies I have read! Mixes in history, theology, ethics, biography, suffering, war, prison, and more!


• "Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids With the Love of Jesus" by Elyse Fitzpatrick and (her daughter) Jessica Thompson--Such an eye-opener! Do I parent from the gospel of grace or from moralistic and worldly teaching? I recommend to all parents!


• "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp--practice being thankful


• "Death by Love" by Mark Driscoll!!! Letters from the Cross--read this book this year!

**Note: a HUGE thank you to my Dad, Dave Bruce, for sharing so many of these books with me on the kindle, and also to him for sharing links to sermons and sharing an ipod with me loaded full of sermons!!! THANK YOU DAD!!!!