We've all been there with our greatest areas of temptation. We know God doesn't want us to be selfish, rude, impatient, anxious, greedy and lustful. We don't question the morality. We question why we keep losing the fight. We feel shame afterwards. We feel stuck like an old truck that keeps spinning its wheels in … Continue reading How do I stop myself from doing what I know is wrong?
Return to Reverence (Psalm 2)
10Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.Psalm 2:10-12 When I was in eighth grade … Continue reading Return to Reverence (Psalm 2)
Let gratitude soften attitude (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
There is a spiritual practice that has been really helping me lately. It is a habit that I'm trying to form in order to combat my bad attitude. I don't want to be short and snippy with my wife and kids. I don't want to be easily irritated. I've found this one thing can quickly … Continue reading Let gratitude soften attitude (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Embrace your weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9)
I was driving to church last Sunday and praying for strength. I was tired. My weekend hadn't gone as planned and I unfortunately missed my typical rhythms of rest. So, I was praying for strength for the day ahead. It's a typical prayer. "Lord, please, give me strength." But, this time was different. I immediately … Continue reading Embrace your weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Walk With God (Genesis 5:21-24)
Early in the Scriptures we encounter the mysterious and brief story of Enoch. His story is all of seven verses from life to... well, he actually never dies. We're told in Genesis 5:24 that Enoch "was not there because God took him." Enoch, in stark contrast to everyone else in the genealogy listed in Genesis … Continue reading Walk With God (Genesis 5:21-24)
Our Redemption Story (Part 1 of 2): The Dobbs and Reed Eddings Primary School In Haiti
I first visited Haiti in 2011. There went tents everywhere as people struggled to live under the hot Caribbean sun with scant resources. I remember visiting one home early in our trip. I stuck my head into the make-shift house and saw a boy sleeping on a wooden bench with a tattered, dirty cloth blanket. … Continue reading Our Redemption Story (Part 1 of 2): The Dobbs and Reed Eddings Primary School In Haiti
Tell Redemptive Stories (Psalm 78:1-4)
THE POWER OF STORIES We become the stories we tell and celebrate. We live vicariously through characters--whether fictional or real--and explore meaning, desires, and truth. Especially at young ages, stories are life-shaping tools. They frame our reality and expectations, our hopes and fears. Stories become our answers to meta-questions: who am I? what is my … Continue reading Tell Redemptive Stories (Psalm 78:1-4)
How do I share my faith more naturally?
As Christians we are called to share our faith and make disciples. The last words Jesus spoke before ascending to heaven were a command for his disciples to go out and make more disciples. He calls us to be his ambassadors and spread the message of God's reconciling love in Christ. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors … Continue reading How do I share my faith more naturally?
Am I saved?
Recently I was with a small group of friends discussing life and sharing stories. One of the girls in our group was asking challenging and purposefully uncomfortable questions to each person one by one. It was a fun way to pass the time and everyone was mostly up for it. About half way around the … Continue reading Am I saved?
