Contrite Heart
By Diondra Stubbs
Contrite HeartFeb 01, 2022
My Testimony
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
Introducing ‘Contrite Heart’ with Diondra Stubbs
Joel 2:12-13
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
Psalm 116
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
Happy Reformation Day!
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 19:7-11
James 1:16-17
James 1:16-17
Romans 8:31-34
Romans 8:31-34
When You Don’t Feel Godly
Psalm 86:1-13
Psalm 86:1-13
Romans 11:18
Romans 11:18
Who is God? His Works
Sources:
www.gotquestions.org/who-is-God.html
Psalm 85:1-7
Psalm 85:1-7
Psalm 32:5-6
Psalm 32:5-6
Who’s Responsible for Our Sin? Us or Demons
Isaiah 55:6-9
Isaiah 55:6-9
Who is God? His Character
The chief end of the Christian is to glorify and enjoy God forever. The first and greatest commandment is to love God with our heart, mind and soul. The question is, how can we love, glorify and enjoy God forever? The answer is to know what He has revealed about Himself. In this episode, Diondra discusses the character of God.
Sources:
https://www.gotquestions.org/who-is-God.html
Character of God Word Studies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxwzq1PJImM&list=PLH0Szn1yYNefOC-fdPanitIai5o1im6jA
Falling into Sexual Sin
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.
Romans 5:1-2
Romans 5:1-2
Romans 4:23-25
Romans 4:23-25
Reflections: Radically Ordinary Hospitality
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
Should We Study Demonology?
Psalm 104:24
Psalm 104:24
Who is God? His Nature
Sources:
www.gotquestions.org/who-is-God.html
www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/who-god
Morning Devotion: Joel 2:12-13
“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
Morning Devotion: Daniel 9:4-5
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
Calm My Anxious Heart
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.
Morning Devotion: Psalm 85:10
"Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other."
Psalm 85:10
The Sovereignty of God
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
Morning Devotion: Colossians 2:13-14
"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
Morning Devotion: Matthew 5:1-4
"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
Reformed & Romans 14
"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.
Morning Devotion: Ephesians 3:14-21
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
Morning Devotion: Psalm 116:1-2
Psalm 116:1-2
Our Need for Theology
Morning Devotion: Ezra 8:22
Ezra 8:22
Morning Devotion: Psalm 32
Psalm 32:1-2
We Look Not Alone
Morning Devotion: Ephesians 2:1-10
Morning Devotion: Ephesians 1:3-10
Christ Over Falsehood
“I’d much rather teach people sound doctrine and how to study the Scriptures themselves, as opposed to giving them a list of false teachers to avoid. This way they are able to discern truth from error on their own.” - Diondra Stubbs
Morning Devotion: Hebrews 12:3-11
Morning Devotion: Luke 21:34
Hiatus Gems
“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
Morning Devotion: Jude 24-25
“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
Reflections: God’s People Are Our People
Morning Devotion: Psalm 111
The Puritans: Life to the Glory of God
Books:
Following God Fully: An Introduction to the Puritans by Joel Beeke and Michael Reeves
Book Suggestions from the Puritans:
Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners by John Bunyan
Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ by John Bunyan
The Intercession of Christ by John Bunyan
The Tender Heart by Richard Sibbes
The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
The Heart of Christ by Thomas Goodwin
A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
Any books from John Owen, Johnathan Edwards, Richard Sibbes and Thomas Watson
Diary of A Reformed Bookworm: diaryofreformedbookworm.blogspot.com/
Morning Devotion: Deuteronomy 30:6
Reformed & Reforming
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/