In Waiting-for-the-Lord Mode?

September 30, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH In Waiting-for-the-Lord Mode? SCOTTY SMITH “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me… He lifted me out of the pit of despair and set my feet on solid ground… He gave me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God… Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-4   Heavenly Father, what a story this Psalm tells—from the pit of despair to robust singing. Though our “pits” differ from King David’s, we can relate to his helplessness, and long for his joyfulness. Meet us where we are, and take us where you please. Some of us are in a messy-story pit, with no clear resolution insight. Good people—your people often experience the same situation very differently. Bring your grace to the fraying edges of our waiting, patience, and kindness. The “err on the side of mercy” isn’t to err; it’s to trust you. Others are in a fearful pit of failing health—ours or someone we love. Some are in what they wouldn’t call a pit, but a crater or not-so-grand canyon of marriage or parenting despair. Some are watching a friend(s) jump into a pit with a shovel in hand, to dig the pit even deeper. Father, thank you the Gospel provides all-pit grace. Lastly, some of might be in an old or new pit of poor-choices—the consequence of an unguarded heart and soul-drift. We haven’t disowned you, and much more importantly, you haven’t disowned us. But the feeling of disconnect is real, and the way home is unclear. We grieve our sin, blame no one, make no excuses. Abba, grant today’s mercy, fresh grace, and the welcome you promise. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Controlled by Jesus’ Love – Praying 2 Cor.5:13-15

September 29, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Controlled by Jesus' Love – Praying 2 Cor.5:13-15 SCOTTY SMITH Vs. 13 – “If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us.” – Lord Jesus, what a profound image—Paul and his companions were considered crazy by those in the world; but from heaven’s perspective, they were controlled by your love. Oh, to be that crazy. Not merely warmed, grateful, or deeply inspired… but controlled by your love for us. Free from people’s opinions and approval… liberated to love you, Jesus, more than anyone and anything… and to love what you love.   Vs. 14 – “Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.” – Jesus, thank you for the richness and reach of your death for us, and its stunning implications. When you died, we were co-crucified with you, and raised to newness of life (Gal.2:20; Rom.6:4-5). We have been set free from our old way of life, that we may live and love to your glory. You aren’t an add on or even the most important reality in our lives. You are our life, Jesus… period.   Vs. 15 – “ He (Jesus) died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” – Jesus, free us to live by, with, and for you… in every context of life: In our relationships and current season of life. In our greatest sufferings and deepest joys. As we inhabit a world of brokenness and anticipate the Day of all things new. Hallelujah, Jesus, and So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

A Conference For Women, About God

Announcing TGCW24

Hello First,   I know we've just begun to enjoy fall, but I'm already looking forward to next summer! June 20-22, 2024 we will gather in Indianapolis for our 7th TGC Women's Conference. We've been planning for months and are so excited to finally be able to tell you all about it.    The theme for TGCW24 is Behold & Believe: Encountering Jesus as the Great I Am. Our keynote speakers—Melissa Kruger, Jen Wilkin, Vanessa Hawkins, Nancy Guthrie, Ruth Chou Simons, David Platt, and me—will unpack the seven "I Am" statements in John's Gospel. We will consider Jesus's own words about himself in order to behold the truth and beauty of who Jesus is and then believe with our whole heart.    In addition to the seven keynotes, we're planning almost fifty breakout sessions with over sixty speakers! And make sure to read the note at the top of the Breakout Page—we are offering something new this year that we're really excited about. Registration is now open! Do you know someone who would love to attend TGCW24? If they register now—before the price increases on December 1, 2023—they can book their ticket for just $179. It won't get any lower than this, so register today. Register Now In Christ,   Courtney Doctor Director of Women's Initiatives The Gospel Coalition, P.O. Box 170346, Austin, TX 78717 Unsubscribe

Wisdom for Loving Well in Complex Storylines

September 28, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Wisdom for Loving Well in Complex Storylines SCOTTY SMITH “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5   Heavenly Father, I begin every day grateful for your daily mercies, eternal kindness, and measureless generosity. Today I need what you promise in this verse. I need wisdom—wisdom for loving well in complex relationships and broken storylines. And I’m sure I’m in good company. Abba, help us know the difference between overlooking a fault and covering up something that needs to be dealt with “now.” When does patience turn into denial, and turning the other cheek become unhealthy enabling? When is “trying to be nice” just a form of spiritualized conflict avoidance? When should we risk losing relationship because of a greater commitment to honor you and protect others? Father, help me—help us steward our history of trauma and emotional triggers. Slow us down when we begin to import backlogged pain into fresh wounds. Someone who hurt us this year isn’t responsible for the accumulated harm we carry from previous years. Continue to reveal the wounds we carry still needing your grace, surgery, and rehab. And make clear the relational patterns I (we) learned in response to abandonment, betrayal, neglect, and abuse. Father, grant us grace for repairing and repenting. Because of the Gospel, a Day is coming when we will be made perfect in love, and we will love perfectly forever. And, hallelujah, also because of the Gospel, you already love us perfectly, fully, and will do so forever. That changes everything, Abba. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

When “Good” Really Means Essential, Spectacular, and Liberating

September 27, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When "Good" Really Means Essential, Spectacular, and Liberating SCOTTY SMITH “It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.” Heb. 13:9   Lord Jesus, this is certainly one of the greatest understatements in the entire Bible. It’s right up there with saying you alone are worthy of our love and  worship—perhaps the greatest understatement ever uttered in all of history. Saying it’s “good” for us to have grace-strengthened hearts is like saying it’s “good” to breath, drink water, consume food, and sleep. In this sense, “good” really means essential. The more our hearts are strengthened by your grace, the more they will beat for your glory and be enthralled with your beauty. We will repent quicker, walk in more humility, and abide longer and deeper in your love. We will have thicker skin and bigger hearts, which will help us be harder to offend and better at believing the best. We’ll throw more Gospel-parties than pity-parties. We’ll ask—perhaps several times a day, “What will faith expressing itself in love look like in this situation?”—since that’s the only thing that counts (Gal.5:6). We’ll be more generous with our time, talents, and treasures; and less likely to hoard resentments, grudges, and irritations. Giving people the benefits of grace will override our desire to give them a “piece of our mind.” Heaven will become more attractive, and life in this world more about serving than accumulating. Oh… to be this free.     Jesus, lead us to the gym, training table, sauna, spa, and regimens that will cause our hearts to grow stronger and stronger in your grace. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

All Things Well, Even When It’s Not All Things Easy

September 26, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH All Things Well, Even When It's Not All Things Easy SCOTTY SMITH King David – “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Ps. 115:3). Isaiah – “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! … Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish” (Isa. 46:9-10). Job – “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).   Heavenly Father, trios have marked my 73 2/3 years. The Three Wise Men, Larry, Moe, and Curly; Huey, Dewey, and Louie; The Three Musketeers; The Bee Gees; Luke, Leia, and Han; Crosby, Stills, and Nash… and many more. But right now, my favorite trio is King David, Isaiah, and Job. Though they weren’t “hang out” friends in life, they are now in heaven. Their stories affirm you work in apparent and not so apparent ways. You are always in control, always working for our good—even when your timetable differs from our druthers, and you accomplish your purposes through our pain. You were sovereign over King David’s challenged rule, crazy family, and personal failures. You were sovereign over Isaiah’s difficult ministry, fractured world, and Messianic promises—which he hoped would be fulfilled in his lifetime.  You were sovereign over Job’s losses and betrayals, misery and waiting, horrible health and faith struggles. This trio of brothers now realizes you weren’t exaggerating about your plans, sovereignty, and goodness. You do all things well, even though you don’t do all things comfortable to us. Our trust is in you—Abba Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit—blessed Trinity of faithfulness, generosity, and perfection. Faith, hope, and love do remain (1Cor.13:13), and we will seek to love as you love us, all the way Home. By your Word, the Gospel, and the friends you’ve given us—we have all we need until the Day of all things new. Hallelujah… and So Very Amen.     Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe