The great, preacher teacher, Oswald Chambers, said, “If I have a lingering thought of defending myself I haven’t truly repented of the sin.” Indeed, we prevent our own freedom when we try to excuse or explain away that which God calls sin. It’s human nature to want to do so. But we are missing freedomContinue reading “Eyes on the Better Object”
Tag Archives: walk in truth
We can’t call wrong things right because we love our kids.
I woke up early.Sad.And mad. Sad and mad that, once again, I’ve had a front row seat to watch parents encourage their children to go ahead and do an unholy thing because they, “deserve to be happy”. This is nothing new. For years, I watched as parents of my kids’ friends did this. They compromisedContinue reading “We can’t call wrong things right because we love our kids.”
48 years ago today.
August 16, 1977, I was sitting in a car with my mom when the news came over the radio—Elvis Presley had died. Forty-eight years ago today and I still remember watching my mom being visibly upset. I was only eight but quickly became obsessed with this famous person who had died so tragically, so young.Continue reading “48 years ago today.”
Let’s love enough to confront sin.
“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.” (Chan) Sometimes, we absolutely knowContinue reading “Let’s love enough to confront sin.”
Ignoring and Accepting Sin is Not Love.
We long for it.We desperately want it.Unconditional love. But the enemy, he’s twisted it. And so many are buying his lie, and the evil one is using this lie to separate people from those who truly love them. The father of all lies has whispered that if people don’t accept our sin, treat it asContinue reading “Ignoring and Accepting Sin is Not Love.”
When it doesn’t go as you expect
I snapped a picture as my daughter and I drove near Asheville a few years ago. I was traveling to speak nearby, and I wanted to show her where our family had lived when she and her brothers were little. How we had loved living there. As those glorious mountains spread out before us, treesContinue reading “When it doesn’t go as you expect”
Earthquake. Tsunami. Is Jesus Coming Back Soon?
Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Wrong is called right. Right is called wrong. Wars. Rumors of wars. Strange alliances that look like Gog and Magog. To look at our world, and read Scripture, don’t you wonder if Jesus is coming back soon? None of us will know the day, but the Bible tells us to look for birthContinue reading “Earthquake. Tsunami. Is Jesus Coming Back Soon?”
Misunderstood? Maligned? Here’s some encouragement
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 “Misunderstood? Maligned? Here’s some encouragement”
A strange passage and real PEACE…
For years, I had read this somewhat strange passage and wondered what it meant— “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and putContinue reading “A strange passage and real PEACE…”
The Popular, Make-Believe Jesus
“The devil doesn’t care at all if you know Jesus or love Jesus or pray to Jesus – as long as it is a false Jesus, a make-believe Jesus, a Jesus who is not there, and who therefore cannot save.” – David Guzik, Enduring Word App I am concerned that many promote and ascribe toContinue reading “The Popular, Make-Believe Jesus”
A misunderstood verse.
This verse. So many have misunderstood and misused it. I know as a young believer I did. “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22) For a long time, I thought if I just do what GodContinue reading “A misunderstood verse.”
Hard days? Long for REST?
I don’t have answers to life’s questions. God knows I have many, many questions. I long for Him.I want to understand Him.I want to follow Him. But, if I am honest, I also want life to be stable, predictable and easy. When hard days come, I want to immediately see what God is doing andContinue reading “Hard days? Long for REST?”
My wanders too much to do anything else-
I can’t turn on the TV, pick up my phone or hit the gym. I wake up early to avoid even those I love. My wandering heart wanders too much to do anything else before I pick up my Bible. It is not that I’m trying harder to be a better Christian or check offContinue reading “My wanders too much to do anything else-“
Faith over Feelings
We can’t let our feelings dictate our obedience. So many seem to want to only follow the Lord as long as their feelings don’t get in the way. They place incredible emphasis on what feels right to them and often end up justifying what God calls sin. But the faithful life isn’t one driven byContinue reading “Faith over Feelings”
Keep on. For those you love and those you may never meet.
Ministry is hard. There has been more than once I’ve wanted to stop sharing about Jesus, and pull away, and just love those who are easy to love and believe what I believe about the faith and the Word. Recently, I’ve been tossing and turning with thoughts of escaping to a desert island, because, asContinue reading “Keep on. For those you love and those you may never meet.”
His better way for our humble hearts
It was certainly no accident that Jesus was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah when he stood up to read in his hometown synagogue that day. (Luke 4:16) It was supernatural. Can you imagine hearing the voice of the Promised One reading these words? “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He hasContinue reading “His better way for our humble hearts”
If all I have is all you desire, I surrender all.
It’s so hard sometimes following Christ. So many times, I’ve wanted the easy road. I’ve wanted to stick my head in the sand and just go with the flow. Walk away.Avoid the conflict.Just keep my mouth shut. Except I can’t. I trust God more than I trust me. I believe Him. I believe His WordContinue reading “If all I have is all you desire, I surrender all.”
Oh, that God would do it again!
I woke up thinking about a conversation my brother, my son-in-law and I had about the great revival movements of God. We had resolved there is NOTHING that might keep God from doing it again. My brother then mentioned how the spark that started the greatest revivals in history had been that of LAY PEOPLEContinue reading “Oh, that God would do it again!”
In the midst of trouble, sit down.
This week, as I have counted my blessings, I’ve found myself counting again something as a blessing I didn’t think I ever would. Several years ago, our family faced what felt like a true enemy in another flesh and blood person. It all seemed to begin right after we shared our faith with this person,Continue reading “In the midst of trouble, sit down.”
It’s true. This world needs Jesus.
Sometimes when Christians say, “This world just needs Jesus” it can sound like a cliche and a cop-out. It can seem that we don’t really care, or don’t intend to actually do anything ourselves. However, for most,who were lost then found,broken then made whole,hungry then satisfied,hurting then healed,we KNOW it was JESUSwho changed our lives.Continue reading “It’s true. This world needs Jesus.”