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 …
Category: Trust
A friend of mine recently shared that she had made a choice to stop “cursing the crisis”. In her case, the crisis was Covid’s many frustrations. While not diminishing the reality of the pain it has caused, I think she was speaking to her attitude about the crisis. I resonated with her comment as I too had been cursing the crisis. So what do we do? Do I curse the situation and complain, knowing that I have little to no …
We live in a world where we can enjoy beauty, laughter, wonderful weather and bounty one day and the next day face evil, darkness, pain, doubt and heavy burdens. Yet, in either case, we all have the promise of the nearness of God. I’ve often considered God’s presence a bit like The Matrix. I’m in the ‘ordinary’ world, yet I know another world is just a thought away. I thank God that He is indeed with me and He is …
A dear friend who I grew up with had a major stroke a few days ago. He's in ICU and recovering slowly. Yet, in the midst of their family's pain, I hear a calm, thankful confidence in their Facebook posts. By what means does this concerned yet rejoicing tone exist? - In our broken world, we all suffer pain and loss....some small, some big. Relationships will be broken, food will be scarce, friends will have strokes, bank …
When Jesus says "come and follow me", do we tend to change the subject? …
John 3:18 reminds us of a wonderful resolution to a horrific reality. M Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. M Jesus didn’t come to earth to condemn us…we were already that way from birth…separated from God. Desperately sad, but true. M So, we need a Savior to release us from the prison of sin we’re born …
I want God’s favor on my life as I know you do. However, my go-to response to gain God’s favor was to do all the things Christians are supposed to do. Have a quiet time, study my Bible, pray, help little old ladies across the street. These are wonderful ways to love God and others, but something simpler might just come first. The key, I believe, is found in a few verses in Luke 1 regarding Mary, …
I don’t know about you but when I have a little extra money in the bank I experience a certain kind of feeling that is quite unique. I feel a little lighter, a little bit freer, happier, more generous, safer, stronger, more at peace and more confident. I was thinking about this recently because I had just deposited a large customer check into my bank account. My feelings were almost euphoric. Maybe this euphoria or rush is part of …
There’s always that one person that says “let go and let God” right when you are in the middle of a hyper-stressful situation of your life….when you’re trying to do whatever you can to resolve something that seems on the edge of disaster. But, “let go and let God” sounds a bit too passive for us Americans. My friend Blake said recently that “culture constantly communicates and reinforces the idea that we must be the hero and that failure is …
In reading Psalm 119 I noticed the phrase “whole heart” referenced several times. With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. Psalm 119:10 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psalm 119: 34 I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to thy word. Psalm 119: 58 The world around us is a powerful force that lures us …