Lessons for Life with James Long, Jr.

Send us Fan Mail As the psalmist looks at the chaos and confusion of the world, he reminds himself that God is the final judge. Eventually, those that have exalted themselves will be humbled. When prideful and wicked people attack us and threaten our security, we can trust that God is in absolute and total control and will ultimately judge and destroy them. Where do you place your focus when thing...

Send us Fan Mail Psalm 74 occurs likely after Jerusalem’s fall and 586 BC. For years, God had warned His people that they needed to turn away from their sin and turn to Him, and God had sent prophets to urge His people to turn back to Him. The people turned a deaf ear to God. Because of their sin and rebellion, God allowed the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar to take the city of Jerusalem. If...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever been asked to create a value or mission statement? For those of us in ministry, we are often asked to supply a philosophy of ministry or perhaps a philosophy of counseling.  About a year ago, I had a friend ask me if I could boil my ministry focus down into one sentence. He asked if I could talk about ministry and why I do what I do and what I do with people, and I c...

Send us Fan Mail Psalm 73: “I Don’t Get It”: Learning Contentment in Discouraging Times James Long, Jr.  - Sundays in the Psalms    Message Exposition Opening Statement: Character and Conduct of God (‍ Psalm 73:1 ‍) Candid Confession ( Psalm 73:2–3a ‍) Comparison Kills (‍ Psalm 73:3b–12 ‍) Their lives were problem-free ( Psalm 73:3-5 ) They were proud ( Psalm 73:6 ) They were spoiled ( Psalm 73:7...

Send us Fan Mail Psalm 72 - A Prayer for the King Prayer for the King (Psalm 72:1) The psalmist prays that God would impart God’s justice and righteousness to the Royal Son. Righteous and Just Reign (Psalm 72:2-4) The psalmist prays that the King’s reign will be marked by righteousness and justice for all people. Endless Reign (Psalm 72:5-7) The psalmist prays for an everlasting reign and rule for...

Send us Fan Mail Psalm 71: God's Help in Old Age Message Exposition Looking Around: The psalmist offers a prayer for God’s help in his difficulties (Psalm 71:1-4) 1. He trusts that God is his refuge and prays that he will never be put to shame (Psalm 71:1) 2. He calls for God to rescue him, hear him, and deliver him (Psalm 71:2) 3. He sees God as his only security (Psalm 71:3) 4. He prays tha...

Send us Fan Mail Psalms 70: Lord, I Need You Urgently 1. David’s Cry:  The psalmist prays that God make haste to deliver and help him ( Psalm 70:1 ) David’s desperation David’s directness David pleads with God not to delay 2. David’s Challengers:  The psalmist prays that his enemies be put to shame and confusion ( Psalm 70:2-3 ) Three prayers: 1. Let them be put to shame 2. Let them be put to conf...

Send us Fan Mail Do you struggle with failure? How are we to deal with failure biblically? What does the Bible say about overcoming loss and living with success? In the short video, learn principles that will help you be motivated during your struggles with failure. Learn to trust God for the impossible. When you fail, trust in the fact that Christ succeeds! _______________________________________...

Send us Fan Mail Do you struggle with a restless heart? We live in such a broken world where there is pain, misery, and suffering. How often is it that you find rest in this restless world? Apart from God, Augustine of Hippo found that he sought after disordered loves that left his heart hungry, lonely, and enslaved. Perhaps you have found the same in your life. Augustine is known for this quote,...

Send us Fan Mail Do you struggle with fear, anxiety, worry? Do you find yourself overwhelmed with circumstances? If that’s true, please know that you’re not alone. Scores of people struggle with these emotions daily. Some people struggle with these issues for months or even years. Many of them know passages of scripture that talk about them having lives of peace, hope, and joy, but they struggle t...

Send us Fan Mail Do you struggle with hurts from the past? Do you struggle with unforgiveness? Do you rehearse the wounds that you received from others over and over again in your mind? When we are hurt, we can tend to either “ spew our anger” or “ stuff our anger.”  We can “spew” our anger by our words, using put-downs, name-calling, yelling, temper tantrums, threats, sarcasm, and even hostile “s...

Send us Fan Mail Conflict is something that we all will encounter. Many will experience conflict daily. As you listen to this teaching, you will learn the powerful and practical principles you are looking for to forever change how conflict looks in your life. In this teaching on conflict resolution, James teaches us the PAUSE acrostic from Ken Sande’s Peacemaker Ministries. P repare in advance A f...

Send us Fan Mail ______________________________________________________________________________  About James and Lessons for Life  Are you longing to find answers to the deeper issues of life? Join Dr. James Long, Jr., a pastor, counselor, and university professor with over 25 years of experience. Hear James as he tackles some of life’s biggest questions and helps us find God’s solutions to life’s...

Send us Fan Mail There are so many of us today who are struggling with this heaviness. It just weighs us down. So many problems...so much pain We fight it, and then we give in to it. We lose hope. We lose contentment. All that Christian contentment doesn't feel like it's real for some of us. For those who are going through the problem of a heavy heart right now, I pray that you would fee...

Send us Fan Mail Counseling Through the Psalms Psalm 2 Message Outline The nations rebel (Psalm 2:1-3) Rebellion in Heaven Rebellion in the Garden of Eden Rebellion in our hearts Rebellion in the nations God is sovereign (Psalm 2:4-9) God laughs God lead  Humanity must submit to God’s Anointed (Psalm 2:10-12) Worship Christ Find your refuge in Christ _______________________________________________...

Send us Fan Mail Counseling through the Psalms Psalm 1 In our first episode, we start with an overview of how to study the book of Psalms.  We look at how Psalms are laid out, who wrote the Psalms, and how to pray the Psalms. We then start our study with a look at the first psalm.   Highlights {01:20} Three keys to Bible study. Learn about God, Love God, Live like God {02:00} What are the Psalms....

Send us Fan Mail Do you struggle with fear, anxiety, and worry? When you do struggle, where do you turn? When God created us, He created us dependent, and dependent on counsel, and we will be molded, changed and shaped by the counsel to which we listen? Unfortunately, too many people turn to everyone and everything but God for counsel. In this podcast, listen to how God counsels those of us who ar...

Send us Fan Mail MESSAGE OUTLINE Sober Responsibility: An urgent message from the LORD ( Malachi 1:1 ) Steadfast Loyalty: God professes His love to His People  ( Malachi 1:2a ) Shocking Reply: His people doubt God’s love for them   ( Malachi 1:2b ) Striking Rebuttal: God’s love is demonstrated  ( Malachi 1:3-4 ) Strong Promise: Perspective, Proclamation, and Praise of the Greatness the LORD  ( Mal...

Send us Fan Mail No Condemnation Romans 8:1-4 In this chapter, Paul continues his discussion of the believer’s battle with indwelling sin. He begins the chapter by affirming that the believer is no longer under the guilt and condemnation of God’s wrath. He is freed from the law of sin and death and is not condemned. Therefore, his salvation is assured.  In the first seven chapters, the Holy Spirit...

Send us Fan Mail In this last message from Daniel 4, we learn that God rules. This fact should humble us and comfort us. MESSAGE OUTLINE Nebuchadnezzar’s praise to God (Daniel 4:1-3) Nebuchadnezzar calls the wise men of Babylon to come to interpret the dream - but only Daniel can interpret the dream (Daniel 4:4-9) Nebuchadnezzar recall the dream  (Daniel 4:10-17) Vision # 1 - The dream  (Daniel 4:...

Send us Fan Mail In this last message from Isaiah 40, we learn how God is the only hope. MESSAGE OUTLINE God Confronts  Our Doubts and Despair (Isaiah 40:27) Precious Promise #1: God never overlooks (steps over) His children God Calls  Us to Remember (Isaiah 40:28-29) Precious Promise #2: God clearly understands our problems God Urges Us to Concede  Who Were Are (Isaiah 40:30) God Commits  to Spir...

Send us Fan Mail So many people today are struggling with disillusionment, stress, and anxieties. People need hope. But, where can they turn for lasting hope? The Scripture defines hope as a confident expectancy. It also tells us that God alone is the believer's hope.  We pray that this message will deepen your faith, trust, and confidence in God alone. James's message is entitled "...

Send us Fan Mail Isaiah 40 is one of the truly magnificent chapters of the Bible. Its opening mood is enchanting: comfort, tenderness, peace, pardon. Its commission is superb: Prepare the way of the Lord! Its prediction is dazzling: The glory of the Lord shall be revealed! Its depiction of humanity is devastating: All flesh is grass! Its portrayal of the Holy One is majestic: everlasting God, Crea...

Send us Fan Mail In this message from Daniel 1:1-21, we learn how to honor God when our culture does not. Message Outline 1. The PRESSURES that the Faced SEPARATION INDOCTRINATION VALIDATION 2. The PRINCIPLES AND PROMISES in which they had Faith God’s Grace is Displayed In His judgments God’s Grace is Displayed In His Word God’s Grace is Displayed In His calling you, His own 3. The PATH they resol...

Send us Fan Mail Do you struggle with guilt and condemnation?  God has the solution: Justification, by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone.                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------- About James Long, Jr. and Lessons for Life Are you longing to find answers to the deeper issues of life? Join Dr. James Long, Jr., a past...