Contrite Heart

In this episode Diondra shares her testimony of how Christ gathered her to Himself. It also answers the questions of how she became reformed and what happened to CHEN podcast. Contrite Heart is all about the faithfulness of God is the midst of weakness, join Diondra on this journey.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Book Recommendation: Extravagant Grace by Barbara Duguid

RETURN TO THE LORD

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Joel 2:12-13

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord! - Psalm 116

As believers, it's important for us to know how to respond to grievous sins in our lives. Not just in our lives, but other's as well. There are many professing Christians who give into shame culture, following after the Pharisees. It is important that we restore one another gently in light of Scripture, exhorting one another to return to God. In this episode, Diondra speaks on how we are to respond to other's sins and our own.

The Greek word translated "hospitality" means "love of strangers". Hospitality is a virtue that is commanded and commended in Scripture. It is required of every Christian. In the world, we find it easy to identify with and welcome people who look like us, think like us and have the same views of us but what about those who don't? What about the stranger, someone who disagrees with you and even an enemy? As we are growing to be like our Savior, it is important that we reflect his character in our hospitality to the believer and unbeliever, the saved and the lost, the one you agree with and the one you don't. In this episode, Diondra shares what she learned at the Women's retreat hosted by her church and Rosaria Butterfield's 'The Gospel Comes With a Housekey".

The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World by Rosaria Butterfield: https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-House-Key-Post-Christian/dp/143355786X 

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Joel 2:12-13

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.

Daniel 9:4-5

Anxiety sometimes causes us to forget the promises of God and sink into despair. While the Christian is not promised a life free from trials, hoping and trusting in God calms and quiets our anxious souls. In this episode, Diondra discusses anxiety and the sovereignty of God.

"Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other."

Psalm 85:10

What is the sovereignty of God? What does it mean that God is sovereign? How does God’s sovereignty affect our lives? In this episode, Diondra shares a general definition of God’s sovereignty and how it affects our lives. 

Sources:

R.C. Sproul - Chosen by God: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL30acyfm60fXGiDrDfncbzQgFZ-X-GYyz

What does it mean that God is sovereign? https://www.gotquestions.org/God-is-sovereign.html 

Books:

The Sovereignty of God - A.W. Pink

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God - J.I. Packer

Chosen by God - R.C. Sproul

Does God Control Everything? - R.C. Sproul

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."

Colossians 2:13-14

"Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Matthew 5:1-4

"Is it that some of us who are reformed can be prideful or exclusive at times? Are God’s sheep not in all types of churches and denominations? I would be pretty heartbroken if I were seeking to fellowship with biblical believers and then to be misjudged or not received because I am not reformed. I often wrote it off as an excuse that it’s hard to fellowship with those of different traditions. But is it really? Am I seeking to love them and be welcoming of them or am I seeking what’s convenient for me?" In this episode, Diondra discusses the temptation to be unwelcoming or flippant towards those of different traditions. 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

“Take periodic retreats and take them often”. In this episode, Diondra talks about “periodic retreats”. What are they and why should they be a consistent practice in the Christian life? It is important that Christians practice the discipline of shutting out the world to dive into prayer and the Holy Scriptures. We do this not to check off a box, but to know more of Christ. We do this to know God and His revealed will. We study Him because we delight in Him and we love Him. We study His works because we delight in them. Taking these periodic retreats renews our reliance and dependence on the Lord. It creates room for more prayer in our lives. May this be the practice of every believer. 

Luke 21:34 - “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 

Sermon from John Piper: https://open.spotify.com/episode/35QuZWv1PxiFeptcZwh8WM?si=mlQ5MChxTpCK38X42rXn7g 

The Tender Heart by Richard Sibbes: https://www.monergism.com/tender-heart-2-chronicles-3426

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” - Jude‬ ‭1:24-25

What is the Reformation? What does it mean to be Reformed? What are Reformed Christians? In this episode, Diondra discusses the Reformation, what it means to be Reformed and why she is a Reformed Christian. 

For more information about the Protestant Reformation: https://www.gotquestions.org/Protestant-Reformation.html 

For more about Reformed Theology: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/what-is-reformed-theology 

For more about TULIP: https://www.ligonier.org/posts/tulip-and-doctrines-grace and R.C. Sproul’s “What is Reformed Theology” series above. 

For more about the five solas: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-are-the-five-solas https://www.gotquestions.org/five-solas.html 

Books: 

“What is Reformed Theology?” by R.C. Sproul 

“Five Points Towards a Deeper Experience of God’s Grace” by John Piper 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

https://www.monergism.com/ 

https://www.ligonier.org/ 

Westminster Standards: https://thewestminsterstandard.org/the-westminster-standards/ 

Belgic Confession: https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/confessions/belgic-confession 

Heidelberg Catechism: https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/confessions/heidelberg-catechism 

Canons of Dort: https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/confessions/canons-dort 

The Diary of A Reformed Bookworm: https://diaryofreformedbookworm.blogspot.com/

What does it mean to "run with endurance, the race that is set before us"? Who are the “great cloud of witnesses”? Join Diondra for study of Hebrews 12:1-2.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:1-2