The Gospel
Nana Dolce
Jesus Gives Siblings as Gifts

Jesus redefines what true siblinghood means. First, he calls HIMSELF our brother (Mark 3:31-35), then he builds a church filled with strangers who are made family in him. People who are only children are given brothers and sisters through the church, and biological siblings are enabled to love each other beyond their familial ties. There's no savior like Jesus!

Bible Study
Nana Dolce
Get my FamilyLife Today Devotional!

FamilyLife is offering you a FREE DEVOTIONAL video series based on my 5-week interview with them. It’s called Unseen.

Life can feel lonely and overwhelming. Still, your life is both seen and cherished. God is working fiercely behind the scenes of your life. He worked to bring astonishing triumphs to the lives of four historical characters who faced devastating, alienating, and even life-threatening situations. Friend, God is working!

Get my FREE FamilyLife Today devotional video series and let’s look at the God who sees you! CLICK HERE

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The Gospel

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Evangelism, What do I say? - A Summary of the Gospel of Christ

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Evangelism, What do I say? - A Summary of the Gospel of Christ

To evangelize is to share the message of the gospel. Our acts of service and mercy glorify God and are encouraged by Scripture (see James 1:27). Yet simply serving another is not evangelism. Evangelism requires words. It necessitates a message. And in truth, many of us do not always know what to say. What is the gospel? How does the Bible define it? Let’s look now at the below four-point-summary; I hope the following proves helpful as we seek to faithfully share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others!

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Gomer: Praises to the God who Redeems an Adulteress

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Gomer: Praises to the God who Redeems an Adulteress

Whether a prostitute before her marriage to Hosea or after, Gomer left her marriage bed to chase her lovers (Hos. 2:5). She became estranged from her husband at some point and was sold into slavery. Here, God commanded Hosea: “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods.” (Hos. 3:1). Hosea obeyed, he found his wife on sale, he purchased her for fifteen shekels of silver and some bushels of barley. And he said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you” (Hos. 3:2-3). The book of Hosea ends with the hope of redemption.

Confessions of a (Sinful) Overachiever

Confessions of a (Sinful) Overachiever

Grateful for the chance to write for Christianity Today’s Her.meneutics blog. Paragraphs from the piece are below and the full article is found here. Thank you for reading! 

My practice of faith, like most things in my life, is sustained by a propensity for difficult work. I’m a hard driver, often choosing the coarse road. As a mother, I give birth without epidural, nurse for fourteen-months, make my own baby food, homeschool my little ones—all the while working part-time and teaching small groups. It’s admirable—if not for the pesky tendency to pride myself by the praise of these efforts.

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The Widow of Zarephath: Chosen by Glorious Grace

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The Widow of Zarephath: Chosen by Glorious Grace

Why is Elijah sent to this widow? She was not among the people of Israel and she herself testifies of her sins. Clearly, she doesn’t choose God but He chooses her (John 15:16). He saves her just as He has and will redeem all those He has predestined for adoption as children through Jesus Christ; this is according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His own glorious grace (Ephesians 1:5-11)! Salvation is of the LORD.

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Abortion: A Time to Mourn and a Time to Speak

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Abortion: A Time to Mourn and a Time to Speak

As a member of the Black church, it seems we have passed by to the other side of the road too often on this issue. Where is the outrage? And where is our heartbreak for the little faces missing from our own congregations? I’m sorry to say that, before today, I had never cried for the children aborted in my church. Who is missing today who may have stood next to my own daughter to declare: “God made me!”

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Parental Failures and the Gospel

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Parental Failures and the Gospel

I'm thankful to the Reformed African American Network for their re-post of my 2014 article, Parental Failures and the Gospel. The beginning paragraphs follow and the full post can be found here. Always grateful for your read!

I could begin this post with countless descriptions of my parental failures. Moments when anger got the best of me; times when a little patience would have made all the difference; or just plain insecurities in making the right decisions for my children at every moment and at every stage of their development.

You might agree that feelings of inadequacy are common to parents; whether relatively new like me or seasoned with experience, we feel the weight of the responsibility and the immensity of the task. But in some ways, feelings of inadequacy can be a blessing!

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Bathsheba and One Greater than David

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Bathsheba and One Greater than David

The Mosaic Law declared a woman unclean for seven days during her menstrual cycle. After this period, she was to cleanse herself by washing (Lev. 15:19-28). Scripture tells us that the bathing woman, Bathsheba, “had been purifying herself from her uncleanness” (2 Sam. 11:4). Perhaps the same spring weather that sent David to the roof also led Bathsheba to conduct her ritual cleansing in some airy corner of her courtyard. We can only speculate since the passage doesn’t specify her exact location. But we do know this: the king of Israel stood atop watching a ceremony intended for the LORD alone.

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Ruth, God’s Gracious Providence in Redemption

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Ruth, God’s Gracious Providence in Redemption

In the days of the judges when everyone did what was right in his own eyes, a Moabite woman does what is right in God’s eyes (Ruth 1:1; Judges 21:25). Ruth reflects God’s own covenant love for his people in choosing to leave her familial home for the saving of another. She turned from father, mother, and country for a people she didn’t know and found refuge under the wings of Israel’s God (Ruth 2:11-12).

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Rahab the Prostitute, the Riches of God’s Irresistible Grace

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Rahab the Prostitute, the Riches of God’s Irresistible Grace

Somewhere in Jericho, a pagan prostitute learned of Yahweh’s acts of salvation and judgement and was enabled to believe that Israel’s God was the Lord of heaven and earth. Now the Lord would use her testimony to strengthen Joshua and a young Israel—and weave her into the fabric of Israel.

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Jochebed & the Pattern of God's Salvation

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Jochebed & the Pattern of God's Salvation

Pharaoh’s fatal law must have arrived sometime after the birth of Aaron since he was alive and didn’t appear to be in danger of the edict. Unfortunately for Jochebed, her third pregnancy collided with the crisis of the decree. The king’s war against a nation found its target in her womb. But this mother would remember God’s former work of salvation.

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Christians: Clean Saints with Dirty Feet

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Christians: Clean Saints with Dirty Feet

In other words, atonement of sin is settled for those whose trust is in Christ alone. So then God doesn’t love you less when you sin today and more when you obey tomorrow. Instead He loves you because you are His—an adopted son/daughter, made clean through His Son and sealed and preserved by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14).

But what of your persistent sins? Here, we find that Christ still washes the feet of His disciples. What do I mean? “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean” (John 13:10). Those justified in Christ are Simul Justus et Peccator—at the same time just (or righteous) and sinner. We are positioned in Christ and are seen by God through His imputed righteousness yet inherently we sin. We are clean saints with dirty feet. But just as our justification is achieved by God alone, so is our sanctification enabled by Him alone.

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The Hebrew Midwives: God Chooses what is Low and Despised

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The Hebrew Midwives: God Chooses what is Low and Despised

Shiphrah and Puah would represent Pharaoh’s deadly hands in the delivery room, waiting to smother sons and God’s promised offspring to Abraham. This was a vile task to assign to midwives. Yet how could they possibly refuse the king of Egypt? Afterall, he was meant to be feared, right?

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Tamar: God’s Wrath and Imputed Righteousness

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Tamar: God’s Wrath and Imputed Righteousness

The outcast Tamar was languishing away from God’s covenant family because of superstition and neglect of duty. God had promised to bless Abraham and his offspring (Gen. 12:1-3). This blessing would extend to all the families of the earth—as far as the curse is found. We caught a glimpse of this when God sustained Hagar and her boy for Abraham’s sake (Gen. 21:13, 20). Would this blessing stretch to Tamar too?

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Dear Wormwood: Screwtape’s Letter on Bible Study

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Dear Wormwood: Screwtape’s Letter on Bible Study

My Dear Wormwood,

You report in your last letter that your patient intends to purchase a “good study bible” with the determination to begin regular readings in the New Year. My dear nephew, calm yourself, as you seem rather troubled by this decision. If well managed, there is no cause for concern. You fail to remember the countless patients, firmly in the grip of Our Father Below, who own multiple copies of that dreadful Ancient Book!

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Warning to Self: Don’t Make your Child your Idol

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Warning to Self: Don’t Make your Child your Idol

I love my children easily and naturally and of course there is nothing wrong with that. But I also have a heart that is desperately idolatrous and prone to leave the God I love. Whenever I place my full satisfaction in something created, whenever I wholly delight my mind in something made, whenever I wrap my value and identity in someone or something apart from Christ, I have molded an idol.  And sadly, these self-made gods are easily made; evidence of the residual effects of sin that dwell even in the justified heart (Romans 7:14-25).

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Remember Lot’s Wife - and Gaze on Christ alone as Savior

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Remember Lot’s Wife - and Gaze on Christ alone as Savior

Lot’s wife was surrounded by men and women of faith. She witnessed God’s work through the lives of these others – and even had angles stay in her home, later escorting her personally to safety (Genesis 19:1-22)! Yet she falls into eternal judgment for her gaze was on her possessions and her life in Sodom rather than on the Savior. The Lord Jesus uses this woman as an example in Luke 17:29-32. He states that when judgment comes, remember Lot’s wife, for whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it but whoever loses his life will keep it.

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The Fear of Death and the Fear of a Wasted Life

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The Fear of Death and the Fear of a Wasted Life

My prayer today then is to have an attitude like that of Calvin’s – a disposition that fears a wasted life over death. I want to do well for the Lord – an alert and useful servant who keeps a lamp burning and whose Master finds her dressed in the hour of His need (Luke 12:35-40). My prayer is that my heart would not be captured by dissipation, distractions, and the cares of life but would be consumed by a love for Christ (Luke 21:34). How ever many years there might be for me, I want to live each one jealously for His glory.

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If you’re Hungry to Consume the Word, God is Gracious to Feed

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If you’re Hungry to Consume the Word, God is Gracious to Feed

I believed myself a Christian long before I was. I grew up attending church, affirming the existence of God, and even praying to the Lord Jesus but there was nothing much beyond this. I had no affection for Christ: no true worship; no fervency in prayer; no hunger for His Word. Was I wild and unruly? Not at all. I was motivated to do well in school and so made straight A’s. I was eager to please at home and so assisted in the care of younger siblings. I enjoyed simple contemplation and so read volumes of Jane Austen in quiet corners. I was even made an example by some as a good girl – but saved I was not.

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God's Grace to a Pharisee like Me

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God's Grace to a Pharisee like Me

I would have been a good monk and a great Pharisee. I like rules. I like order. I like disciplining myself, especially if it brings the commendation of others, particularly those in authority. This inclination is constant and often reveals itself in self-judgment. I can be hard on myself—all the while justifying my strict tendencies as a desire for progressive sanctification. But even godly pursuits can be perverted if not seen in light of the gospel.

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Parental Failures and the Gospel

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Parental Failures and the Gospel

I often feel inadequate as a parent and I thank God for it!  For it drives me to lower my head, bend my knees and seek His perfect strength in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). The blessing is not in the weakness or inadequacy itself but in the humility it offers that draws me nearer to God for help--which then increases my dependence and confidence in the One who  works in me, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Praise be to God from whom all blessings flow!