I watched the movie Sound of Freedom and was overwhelmed by the personal sacrifice of one man to keep a promise to a Dad whose two children had been kidnapped into the world of child trafficking. It made me think of the power of one inspired person who believes in a mission or purpose. It made me want to, even more, live out my life purpose. The movie is about the dark side of the world of child trafficking and …
Category: Freedom
One day while at a lake, I saw a family of ducks waddle around a little beach and then get into the water. As they started paddling in the lake, I saw order emerge – a nice clean column of ducks with Mom and Dad up front. I doubt it was by oldest or tallest, but it was definitely orderly. I’m not sure how this natural orderliness came about. But, I think it has the stamp of God on it. …
A Most Horrific State On a recent trip I ran into an old friend who had experienced some challenges with his health and family. In a wearisome tone he accepted his plight….a life without much zeal, purpose or hope. I heard things like, “What can you say?”…..”I don’t know…”…..”It is what it is…” There he was….a wandering, broken life in a broken world. I felt both loss and emptiness as I drove away. It saddens me that depression and …
Sometimes I tend to hold back and stay in a comfortable place sort of oblivious to God. But my heart wants to move beyond that safe place and toward Him. I had a vision that I was in a room and the wall represented safety and the middle of the room represented the mysterious unknown place where God’s heart was. Will I stay by the wall and clutch it for safety or will I run toward Him in the mysterious …
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) I have lived …
We went to Hilton Head recently and I got to do something quite special. I sat alone in a beach chair in the water as the tide went out. For 30 minutes my mind and soul were transfixed on the wonder, scale and epic nature of the ocean. For me, the vastness of the ocean is a powerful metaphor of the immense nature of God and the expanse of His everlasting love toward us. Even the waves lapping on the …
At Easter we celebrate the beauty and life resulting from Jesus’ painful work on the Cross. He endured tremendous agony to carry the sin burden of us all, yet on the other side is abiding love and wonder. We get to experience a fullness of life that simply cannot be replaced by any work of man, no matter how great. Here at Easter, I pray that you yield your very life to Him so that you can experience the utter …
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:1-7 I would bet you have musical favorites that stir your soul….songs that you instantly tap your foot to or that you (want to) sing at the top of your voice….sounds that send your heart …
A few weeks ago, before I turned 59, I wrote this poem about how striving for achievement and goals can weigh us down...or better put, weigh me down. The sense I had was that I still have work to do to surrender my goals, plans and my very days to Him...to trust Him. Not sure if you can relate, but I know I want to continue my journey toward complete freedom, where I can trust Him more and more …
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” -Hebrews 4:12 …