Longing for some PEACE in this day?

Over and over again we are a people (I am a “people”) who fight against our circumstances–the irritations, the delays, the things that just don’t seem to be going our way. But God. He is in control.He is orchestrating the very minutes of our days. It’s all in His Hands. And over and over again–theseContinue reading “Longing for some PEACE in this day?”

Our God is a CONSUMING FIRE!

The sky looked like fire last night. It was breathtaking. It was glorious, mesmerizing. Our family snapped photos. And I woke up thinking about that fiery sky. And God. Hebrews 12:29 says “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29) who “will judge His people” (Heb 10:30). It’s a hard passage with a serious warning.Continue reading “Our God is a CONSUMING FIRE!”

Small Paul

You may know this, but I didn’t. While Abraham, Sarah and Peter were all renamed by God, Paul renamed himself. His former name, Saul, means “asked for” or “prayed for”. Saul had lived in the “big time”. He was smartest of the smart, a leader…people knew his name and revered him. Then he meets Jesus.Continue reading “Small Paul”

We can know God is faithful and still feel the hurt of our circumstances

Daniel 7 and 8- it’s hard to read. I slow down. I back up. I pull out commentaries. I see that many great theologians, like John Calvin and Martin Luther, have studied these words of prophecy and disagreed over their meaning. And here I am, still in pajamas this early morning, thinking this is really,Continue reading “We can know God is faithful and still feel the hurt of our circumstances”

This will HELP you

Those who were made new by the blood of Christ, will never live content in their old ways. Though we may try to hold on to certain sins, downplaying their dangers, our hearts will never find peace there. As we daily surrender our will to the way of the Lord, we are refreshed to walkContinue reading “This will HELP you”

Remember this…

They said he was bold with his letters and wimpy in person. They said he preached with impure motives to draw attention to himself. They said he was flesh controlled rather than spirit-controlled. These words had to cut especially deep considering all Paul had endured to bring the good news of the gospel to thoseContinue reading “Remember this…”

Sometimes I am called judgmental

I write and talk a lot about following Jesus. His ways aren’t always popular with our world (especially lately 😳). And sometimes I get called judgmental… It’s honestly surprising to me. I guess I’ve always assumed those who are called judgmental would be those who feel superior and believe they, themselves, have done nothing wrong.Continue reading “Sometimes I am called judgmental”

Have you noticed this?

It’s so easy, especially this month, as our world so lavishly, every-where-you-turn, celebrates sin to think, “I’m in the world but not of it” (John 17:15). But it’s so easy, for the evil ways of this world to get into us and for our sins to become acceptable and unnoticed. By us! Let’s not forget,Continue reading “Have you noticed this?”

I almost sent that text…

I almost sent that text.But I deleted it instead. The words I had rehearsed in my mind, didn’t roll off my tongue.I kept my mouth shut. God knows what I had in mind. He knows the old me who could compose a quick, insulting comeback and be proud of the wounding I would inflict. ButContinue reading “I almost sent that text…”

Pause, just a moment, and ask God this…

You know, when we go our own way, and choose to sin, we are demonstrating a distrust in God our children will notice and often emulate. It can be generational. As I open to Genesis 26, Isaac and Rebekah have the twins and there is a famine in the land. Isaac lies to King AbimelechContinue reading “Pause, just a moment, and ask God this…”

The way to joy and freedom often starts here.

It seems to be out of style. I don’t hear it spoken of often, not even in many pulpits. It is the job of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) and is likely happening in the believers life every day, though I wonder if most notice it. It’s the voice of the Holy Spirit convicting usContinue reading “The way to joy and freedom often starts here.”

Your past sins don’t have to define you

Don’t you like coming to the end of a good story, all the loose ends tied up, the good guy wins, there might be a kiss, the music plays, ahhhh… And that’s what we expect with Noah. Except, remember, this isn’t a story but a real-life account— Noah obeys God and builds the Ark toContinue reading “Your past sins don’t have to define you”

You Can Run Back!

They find the tomb empty. Suddenly angels appear and remind the women of the words Jesus had said about his death and resurrection. The women run to tell the eleven, but the disciples didn’t believe them. But Peter. Peter rose and ran to the tomb. (Luke 24) Why Peter? We know from other parts ofContinue reading “You Can Run Back!”

For years, I had told no one.

The evil one is masterful at convincing us we will always be defined by what we have done in the past. The Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17). But the enemy doesn’t want us toContinue reading “For years, I had told no one.”

Sometimes our hearts condemn us…

Sometimes our hearts condemn us, and our hearts are just flat-out wrong. John tells us in his letter, “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything”. (1 John 3:19-20) GodContinue reading “Sometimes our hearts condemn us…”

You can know if you’ve been saved or not.

God is not a god of confusion. I believe He wants to make Himself clear to us. He does not want any of us to be confused as to whether or not we have been saved. God used His servant John to help us know the difference. Let’s read his words: “Everyone who makes aContinue reading “You can know if you’ve been saved or not.”

How can you know if you really know Jesus?

The Apostle John told us we can know if we truly know Jesus. He says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps HisContinue reading “How can you know if you really know Jesus?”

When the sin is yours-remember this, forget that.

The Apostle John is making it clear that Christians still sin, but he is writing to us so that we would live with a desire not to do so and to urge us to never to be okay with sin as a lifestyle. God always, always, makes a way out! “No temptation has overtaken youContinue reading “When the sin is yours-remember this, forget that.”