It’s Christmas-time! We all love reading of the miraculous virgin birth. We like the miracles and power of the Savior. We think it’s so cool that the King of Kings hung out with sinners and find it heart-warming that the He wept with Mary and Martha when Lazarus died. We love that the little childrenContinue reading “What about when God does things we don’t like or understand?”
Tag Archives: light in the darkness
Can we talk about this?
I’m happy to give money. I’ll serve on that mission trip. Sure, I’ll go and speak, and yes, I’ll write these posts. Because I love Jesus, I want to follow Him and I want others to follow Him too. But, just between us, I’d really like to only sign up for those things with theContinue reading “Can we talk about this?”
You’ve got to (lovingly) speak up…even at the family gathering.
I’m thinking of picking up this hammer and hitting my thumb. How many of you would just stand there, and watch, and say nothing? Yet, this is what so many of us do when we see others walking in and toward misery-making sin! We say nothing. We even tell others to not bring it up.Continue reading “You’ve got to (lovingly) speak up…even at the family gathering.”
More sinister than we think?
God wasn’t kidding when “He created them male and female and blessed them.” (Gen 5:2) Men are bigger and stronger, and can do things I physically can’t do, and have no desire to do. Likewise, my body did things theirs could never do. I am forever blessed to have birthed and nursed babies. There isContinue reading “More sinister than we think?”
Don’t “love” them all the way to Hell.
As we take in truth from the Word, we can use it to daily refute the flimsy, false teachings of this world that come at us all day, every day! Paul uses strong words as he charges his young disciple, Timothy, to teach no other doctrine but SOUND doctrine. (1Tim 1:3) “Doctrine” sounds like somethingContinue reading “Don’t “love” them all the way to Hell.”
This has not changed.
Oh Lord, how I feel my wandering heart tempted to look to earthly solutions and hope in them after this election. I’m so very thankful for the mercy I believe you showed us in the outcome of this vote. But I know the battle for the hearts and souls of men rages no less. OthersContinue reading “This has not changed.”
Love them anyways
I heard from a friend whose daughter is livid with them for voting differently than she did. I watched the news as a “therapist” suggested it’s okay to refuse to go to family gatherings for the holidays if how your family voted upset you. What?! Oh Christian, let’s recognize the lie of the evil oneContinue reading “Love them anyways”
Are you truly loving others if you do this?
I see many, who call themselves Christians, virtue-signaling about how they love everyone (we should) while criticizing others for calling out the sin that is destroying the lives of those they “love”. They post platitudes like “love is love” and lecture others for calling wrong things wrong, while pompously thinking themselves more loving and moreContinue reading “Are you truly loving others if you do this?”
Let’s keep remembering where our help comes from…
Let’s keep remembering our help comes from the LORD in the good days and the hard ones. King David famously penned psalms of remembering in both. At times, he describes feeling overwhelmed and distressed-like dwelling in the darkness of the dead: “Hear my prayer, O Lord,Give ear to my supplications!In Your faithfulness answer me,And inContinue reading “Let’s keep remembering where our help comes from…”
What are you praying today?
I’m praying throughout the day this Election Day. I’ll set my alarm to pray specifically at 6pm and hope you’ll join me and ask others to do the same. I’m asking God to have mercy on this country. I’m asking Him for His will to be done and, of course, I believe one platform toContinue reading “What are you praying today?”
Christian, you were never called to be unified with a lost world.
Unity for unity’s sake never unified anyone. This is true in our country and in our churches. People will unify around common purpose and common belief not some empty call for unity for unity’s sake. As Christians, we can never go along with things that go against the Word of God in the name ofContinue reading “Christian, you were never called to be unified with a lost world.”
If godly people don’t influence this election, who will?
From Josh Howerton (to pastors, but applies to us all) —- Pastor friends on election week, We have too long been confused by (accidentally) misleading statements like “We don’t follow a red elephant or a blue donkey, but a slain lamb” and “prophetic, not partisan.” While such statements carry a grain of truth, they (incorrectlyContinue reading “If godly people don’t influence this election, who will?”
Your belief about God should impact your view of everything else.
I believe if you can compartmentalize your faith–your god is too small and possibly a false god you’ve defined in your own imagination. For The Most High God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). Our theology, our belief about God, should impact everything else in our lives. And it actually does whether you think soContinue reading “Your belief about God should impact your view of everything else.”
We those who know God’s ways are better to find their voices.
Paul says,”hold such men in esteem” (Phil 2:29) Hold such men in esteem. What kind of men? Well, men and women like Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus didn’t only have a strange name, he was a rare one. He’s only mentioned once in the Bible (Phil 2:25). But this much is clear from the text, Epaphroditus was rare,Continue reading “We those who know God’s ways are better to find their voices.”
I hope you have this gift…
I’m headed to a retreat weekend with my home church. My HOME CHURCH. I hope you have one.There’s nothing like people who love God loving you and you loving them. And especially in these hard days, church is such a gift. There have been so many times I was tired, weak, discouraged. I was, atContinue reading “I hope you have this gift…”
Right now! He is at work!
Love.Consolation.Hope.Grace.Comfort. Yes, I’ll have a heaping helping of each. Right now.Especially now. And this is just what our Father gives His children. His well never runs dry. Paul penned words of this blessing to the believers being persecuted in Thessalonica. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has lovedContinue reading “Right now! He is at work!”
Are you walking in FEAR or FAITH?
When Christians lose hope, it’s a sign to the lost world that we don’t really believe what we say we believe. (See Phil 1:28-29) People who have lost hope are driven by fear. But what does fear look like in the day to day? It’s not that we often see fellow Christians running around screamingContinue reading “Are you walking in FEAR or FAITH?”
People Problems?
We don’t have to look too far to see the struggles around us. We are a divided country. Christians are not immune from these struggles—political and beyond. We experience strife in our business and personal relationships and are daily tested to live our lives differently as Christ followers. Especially during people conflicts, we have toContinue reading “People Problems?”
Are you ready?
I love chapter five of First Thessalonians. It’s one of those passages that could be read every day for hope and instruction. It resets our perspective and priorities. It helps us know how to live and encourages us to remember Who has us. Will you take a few moments and read chapter five? (I hopeContinue reading “Are you ready?”
No communes for me.
The Apostle Paul urges believers to live a life that is characterized by an increasing love for others, a steady, quiet calm, and hard work. (I Thess 4:9-12). There is so much to unpack in these few sentences. We are to love others with an increasing love. And that one, hit me hard. (Like rightContinue reading “No communes for me.”