The Bible teaches us that everything we have from God is given because of God’s great love for us. “You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith,” Ephesians 2 reads. “This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of” Ephesians 2:8-9 … [Read more…]
[Does it feel like opposition is growing even among Christians? Having a hard time dealing with the growing opposition on social media? It’s a tough time to be a shining light for Christ. But Jesus knew we would face opposition and he gave instruction about how to handle it.] Jesus had no illusions about the … [Read more…]
In His sermon (Matthew 7:6), Jesus uses dogs and pigs as representative of those who would ridicule, reject, and blaspheme the gospel once it is presented to them. We are not to expose the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have no other purpose than to trample it and return to their own evil … [Read more…]
There’s a low boil in our nation and the heat is rising. The heat comes from many things; anxiety, fear, hate, fury, and more. We’re at a turning point in America and which way we turn depends on how we choose to rise to this occasion. I shared a documentary I watched. It was about … [Read more…]
From Henri Nouwen’s “Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety” (which I highly recommend): “Our needs can lead to wounds. We can wound people with our needs because we often force people to give something they do not have. We force people to be God for us. When we make other … [Read more…]
I watched a youtube video. It was fascinating. It was a Christian filmmaker’s doc about the incredible divide in America, lack of open minds, people falling on one side or the other … totally polarized; you’re either fully supporting government without question and behind every tic and tiddle because they’d never do anything not in … [Read more…]
An open mind requires humility enough to ask “what if they’re right and I’m not?” And before the comments begin…I’m reflecting on the Bible study last night, week 3 of The Case for Easter. One of the most interesting points in last night’s study, for me, was “the criterion of embarrassment”. This is the idea … [Read more…]
Sunday I checked FB. I barely scrolled before my heart broke and my eyes filled with rainbows and I full on ugly cried. I was so happy when I woke up and had online worship. I just wanted to check in with my friends, it had been a long hard week. And rather than hope, … [Read more…]
Paul wrote these words while he was being held captive, within the walls of a prison: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present … [Read more…]
Jesus’ Birth Changes Our Perspective The shepherds in the field were the lowest of the low, according to the hierarchy of society. The people in the Christmas story start at the top with Caesar, then the governors, then Pharisees and Sadducees, then Joseph, then Mary, then newborn baby Jesus lying in a manger…then at the … [Read more…]