Our family lost a great one this past week—Uncle Larry. As we sat in the same basement of the same church, my sweet mother-in-law reminded me of these words God had laid on my heart as we had gathered to bury Larry’s sweet wife three years ago— They are holy places.Church basements. As I walkedContinue reading “Church Basements -Holy Places”
Tag Archives: love others
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…”
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?”
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.”
I needed to remember this…
I live in East Tennessee. I used to live in Asheville, NC. These places are home to me, and the stories and photos from Western North Carolina and Upper East Tennessee are gut-wrenching to watch. But there is something else I noticed as I watched. Our government may broken and corrupt, our world may beContinue reading “I needed to remember this…”
My heart is heavy for them… Is yours?
Over the years, God has allowed me to travel to many churches to share about His goodness and hope. And because of that, I’ve met many pastors and many, many pastor’s wives, and my heart is heavy for them. Ministry is hard.Ministry is lonely. The weeks I go and speak I notice our family isContinue reading “My heart is heavy for them… Is yours?”
Is God shaking us?
What if we all have to go through hard days for there to be real revival—for more lost to be found? Am I okay with that? Are you? Let me be clear, I want the election to go the way of conservatives, and values, and religious freedom. I’ll vote that way and think others shouldContinue reading “Is God shaking us?”
The SIN Elephant in the Room
“Let’s love people enough to help them leave their own pity parties so they can spend their lives drawing attention to God rather than themselves.” “The compassionate side of you will be tempted to comfort everyone who weeps, but that isn’t always the most loving thing to do for them.” —Francis Chan Sometimes, we absolutelyContinue reading “The SIN Elephant in the Room”
There at the small church…
I’ve learned to keep my eye out for a steeple. It often peeks above a hill as I turn the corner and finally see the small church. Oh, the Lord has had me share in some big churches with parking lots like theme parks, but mostly it’s been the small churches where I’ve found myselfContinue reading “There at the small church…”
Keep on, there’s a HARVEST!
In an attempt to flee temptation, I decided to drop off the extra box of yummy doughnuts from this weekend’s company to my skinny, sugar-loving mom. As I was leaving, she asked me to wait so she could read to me what she had just learned from her book on Revelation. Her almost eighty-year-old fingersContinue reading “Keep on, there’s a HARVEST!”
The thing about hanging out with sinners…
When people spend time with you, do they see Jesus in you and desire to follow Him more? Zacchaeus, that wee little man, who climbed the Sycamore tree and invited Jesus to dine with him, was well known for his sins (Luke 19:7). But after spending time with Jesus, he repented of his sins andContinue reading “The thing about hanging out with sinners…”
When Father’s Day is HARD.
My heart breaks this Father’s Day weekend for all those who have scrolled through the Father’s Day posts and feel like they have no one to thank. Do you know children, who grow up without a father in the home, are much more likely to end up poor, drop out of school, be in prison,Continue reading “When Father’s Day is HARD.”
In our desire to love others, we can’t encourage what God calls sin.
Let’s be careful to walk in truth, as defined by the Bible. Let’s understand there is no “my truth” and “your truth.” Let’s understand the danger of the popular phrase -“I’m so happy you found your truth”. These words should never be spoken from the mouth of a Christian. Truth is not relative. God forbidContinue reading “In our desire to love others, we can’t encourage what God calls sin.”
Let’s remember this, and do this.
Have you ever wondered if some people are just too messed up for God to save? Have you possibly ever wondered this about yourself? But the thing is, the impossibility of the gospel is pretty much the whole point of the gospel. God makes this clear when Jesus called Levi (Matthew), the tax collector, toContinue reading “Let’s remember this, and do this.”
He loves them more than you do…
I know, God, You love them more than I do….those whose names are heavy on my heart. I often find myself trying to say or do just the right thing in hopes they would find hope, joy, and peace in You. Oh God, that some would finally just surrender to You. In the middle ofContinue reading “He loves them more than you do…”
Whose SON is HE?
“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Matt 22:42) Friend, we can’t just move past those words. Slow down. Pay attention. What do you really think? “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Matt 22:42) For if the Christ, the Christ of this Christmas we are aboutContinue reading “Whose SON is HE?”
This summarizes it ALL.
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matt 22:37-40 While theContinue reading “This summarizes it ALL.”
A warning from Jesus.
Jesus came to die to save us from our sins, and He warns those who cause others to sin that it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and drowned in the sea than to cause a little one who believes in Him to sin. He says “woeContinue reading “A warning from Jesus.”
Let’s tell the whole truth about Christianity.
The Apostle Paul preached grace AND truth. Adrian Rogers once said, “People say, “Don’t take a stand for doctrine. Just be full of love….” Thank God for the love of God. He is love. But that’s not all of the truth. He’s also a God of justice; He’s also a God of truth. And whenContinue reading “Let’s tell the whole truth about Christianity.”
Those who solely follow their feelings are their own gods.
Instead of looking for ways to follow God closer, many, even many who call themselves Christians, look for loop-holes. They quote scriptures that affirm their feelings and ignore the ones that don’t. In all actuality, they are their own gods who foolishly trust their hearts—hearts that the Bible tells us are deceitful above all things.Continue reading “Those who solely follow their feelings are their own gods.”