Some of the good reading found this week:

The Kind of Man It Takes to Marry a Woman with Past Sexual Sin, HT to Challies. “It seems to me that the kind of man who would choose to marry a woman who has been redeemed by God and transformed by his grace, willing to take upon himself any burdens that might come along with her past, is a man who is like Jesus. In taking me as his bride, my husband is a picture that points to what Christ has done for us. It doesn’t get more godly than that.”

The Paradox of the Brightening Path, HT to Challies. “There’s a paradox you’ll encounter the longer you walk with Jesus. The more you experience the light of his love, the more clearly you see the remaining spots and stains in your life. Progress seems lacking. Stumbles continue to mark your journey. The more you know the Lord’s love for you, the more you feel your unworthiness and your dependence on his grace. This doesn’t mean you’re going backward. I call it the paradox of the brightening path.”

Stay in the Present Moment During Your Seasons of Transition. “The weather and the calendar eventually reconcile, but we all know that other transitions don’t resolve themselves so dependably. Here’s the question, then: What can I do with what’s right here in front of me today?”

5 Simple Ways to Extend Biblical Hospitality. “Thankfully, we can live out God’s command to practice hospitality in ways as different as we are. Remember—there’s a huge difference between entertaining and hospitality. Entertaining usually involves fancy dishes, silverware, and expense. Hospitality can be as simple as takeout pizza on paper plates. If God is nudging you out of your comfort zone and into greater obedience in the area of biblical hospitality, consider these five simple ways to practice it.”

Is Your Fatherhood Like a Rubik’s Cube? HT to Challies. These truths are good for mothers to remember as well as fathers. “I call this The Rubik’s Cube Effect. One side starts to come together, but in the very act of bringing order there, something else is thrown out of place.”

Random Thoughts About Preaching and Being Preached To. “There are few matters more foundational to pastoral ministry than preaching, and few matters more common to the Christian experience than being preached to. Most pastors will preach thousands of sermons over the span of their ministry, and most congregants will listen to thousands of sermons over the span of their lifetime. This means we should think about preaching often and well!”

The deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly to pray what He taught His disciples to pray: “Thy will be done.”–Elisabeth Elliot, Passion and Purity