All Things!!! with Melanie Hart Melanie Hart

Dear Listener, As I continue deeper into my study of the Attributes of God, as is my "reasonable service" or "spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1-2), I am putting out a clarion call to all believers to this worthwhile endeavour. It will change your life. As you will hear, this is not a 'task' (and I don't mean that as "duty" but as "delight') that can be crossed off a list, read in a book, studied in a course, or learned at a conference, this, dear ones, is a life-long and eternal study. In this 5 minute reflection, I have attempted, like many others before me, in describing the indescribable, monumental, yet essential reason to study the "Attributes of God." And though it may start as a duty, may it turn into one of your life's most precious delights. For to Know God is to love Him, to obey Him, to want to Know Him more! And although He's indescribable, it's worth trying! Many have tried and failed (because God is "unsearchable" and "inscrutable" (Romans 11:33-36) yet received the preciousness of Himself in the process, and to the Glory of God!


A Call To Study The Attributes of God by Melanie Hart - Monday, May 23

To study the attributes of God is the most impossible of worthy tasks.

It is life-long, inexhaustible, and to be carried with me into eternity,
and continued unendingly.

It is not a merely a book, for it cannot be opened and shut. It is beyond pages and transcends the ages.

It is not a merely study, for it cannot be started and stopped. It is beyond time and beyond space.

It is not a merely course, for it cannot be graded. It is beyond any level of education, too precious for the—-ologies and degrees.

And it is certainly not merely discourse. For every tongue could wag, could stammer, wax eloquent,

for every theologian, scholar, pastor, author, hymnist, parishioner, in unceasing declaration, while they have breath, could pen to paper, pulpit to preach, song to write, ne’er cover the height, the breadth, the depth.

It is necessarily humbling yet essentially heart-exhilarating.

It is mentally taxing, yet mind-altering.

It is physical.

It is emotional.

It is intellectual.

It is experiential.

It is as ascending Mount Everest and descending Marianna’s Trench

This revealed knowledge of God is His condescending to my creatureliness

And my attempted comprehension of the Other-worldiness of my Creator.

His immanence momentarily seemingly within my grasp, yet
His preeminence monumentally beyond my mental reach

Yet I will keep grasping, and I will keep reaching.

For it is my reasonable service, my spiritual act of worship, to be renewed in this way.

This theology is basic, fundamental, foundational, yet

His Majestic Glory and Holiness is by no means basic, and shakes the foundations of my sinful pathology.

It brings me to my knees yet

Makes my feet like the feet of the deer, he enables me tread on the heights. (Hab. 3:19.)

It’s convergence is recognized, demonstrated, castigated at the cross,

Made manifest in the God-Man, The Lord Jesus Christ,
for from Him, and through Him, and to Him all things flow,
The only Way to God, The Father, is through God, The Son, to the Glory of God!

Communicated from Genesis to Revelation, from Creation through Redemption

Covering my story from sin to Salvation, a New Creation through Regeneration

It brings answers to past, makes present a gift

Creating a future almost too glorious to hope for

It addresses joys, gives comfort to sorrows,

Yes! All of His essence our soul’s song must employ

To study the nature, the character, the attributes of God,
is for me to joyfully redeem the self-focus of my past
and is to finally, finally love God with ALL my mind at long last!

Biblical Counselling Resources... for Beyond the Session. Another perfectly imperfect podcast! In this podcast, Melanie will briefly answer these 7 questions about Biblical Counselling, based on her own studies, approaches, lived experience, and biblical worldview.

These answers are summarized at: https://www.melaniehart.ca/faqs

What is Biblical Counselling? How is Biblical Counselling Different From Christian (Integrated) Counselling? Why Should Christians Seek Biblical Counselling? When Should Christians Seek Biblical Counselling Over Christian Counselling? When Should Christians Seek Biblical Counselling? When Should Christians Seek Secular Counselling? Does Biblical Counselling Replace Medical Helps?

Biblical Counselling Resources... for Beyond the Session. Feel free to print the PDF (www.melaniehart.ca), grab your Bible, a notebook, a pen, a highlighter, and explore the Gospel of God, from Genesis to Revelation, using this walkthrough of the Gospel of God. Or, here is the link to the blogpost where each corresponding verse is hyperlinked to an online ESV bible resource (thanks to The Bible Gateway).

BLOG: The "One" Gospel: https://allthingswithmelaniehart.blogspot.com/2021/10/onegospel.html

So I thought we'd begin with my "Statement of Faith." It's important that you know the foundations of my faith, what I believe and why I believe it -- even if we don't completely agree on every point.

Here's the transcript: Biblical Counselling To the Glory of God: Statement of Faith by Melanie Hart My belief system is rooted in historical Orthodox Christianity and theologically and doctrinally Reformed; one that emphasizes the Authority of Holy Scripture (The Bible as the inerrant and infallible Word of God) and in the Sovereignty of God.

I believe in the God of the Bible. I believe in the Gospel of God; the saving power of God's grace alone, through Faith alone (not of works), because of the finished work of Christ alone (his atoning death on the cross to satisfy the wrath of God for our sin). I believe in Christ's burial and resurrection, based on the authority of Scripture alone, all to the Glory of God alone.   My full-time focus around counselling sessions is to know God and apply His instruction, wisdom, counsel, and discipline, first in my own life, and in such a way that I am in a biblically faithful posture to counsel, disciple, and mentor women of all ages. My favourite thing to do with clients is to pray with them, to point them to God's Gospel Truth, to His Word for His Counsel, and to witness how God changes them through the renewing of their minds, the softening of hearts, the reordering of loves, and point them to grow in biblical literacy, with their eyes on the ultimate eternal prize of Jesus - our Living Hope. I believe The WORD OF GOD belongs in the counselling room. I believe The GOSPEL OF GOD matters in the counselling room. I believe THEOLOGY belongs in the counselling room. I believe DOCTRINE belongs in the counselling room. I believe biblical JOY belongs in the counselling room. I believe biblical HOPE belongs in the counselling room. I believe biblical TRUTH matters in the counselling room. I believe biblical LOVE belongs in the counselling room. I believe biblically faithful encouragement and admonishment belong in the counselling room. I believe PRAYER belongs in the counselling room. To do otherwise is inconceivable to me. In Romans 1 Paul makes three “I am” statements that inspire me with biblical courage and conviction in counselling conversations: in vs. 14, he writes, “I am under obligation”, in vs. 15, he states, “I am eager”, and vs. 16, he proclaims, "I am not ashamed.” And in the first chapter of Colossians, verse 28, Paul exhorts (as if to me personally in the counselling room), “Him [Christ] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” I am not the “Wonderful Counsellor” but I know the One who is. (Isaiah 9:6). The ultimate counsellor is the only One Who is not in need of counsel! Romans 11:34, “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?” God’s Word, God’s Attributes, God’s Gospel, God’s Standards, God's Personhood through the Trinity (God The Father, God The Son, God the Holy Spirit) are essential, non-negotiable, and highly used tools in my counselling toolbox. To do otherwise is inconceivable to me. It has been said that, “In all Christians, Christ is present. In some, Christ is prominent. But only in a few is He preeminent.” (Original Author Unknown).
 The longing of my heart is to make Christ preeminent in my own life. I pray that be true of my clients as well.“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)