Do the works you did at first. –Revelation 3:5b What does that mean? How are those different from what I am doing not? How do I define “first love?” First in importance or in order? Both, probably. First in importance was the love I had for Jesus after my encounter Read more…
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you Read more…
Good morning, Papa-God, My heart is heavy, my body weary and pained, my mind restless. I need You, Your peace. You know the source of my trouble. I know the circumstances (at least in part) but, You alone know the end from the beginning, and You know the true root Read more…
There is much sadness in our lives: disease and decay in our bodies; deaths of dear ones; divorce and distress in marriages, international war and interpersonal conflict; rebellion against God that brings disaster, both personal and global. It is no wonder that the most abundant type of Psalm is a Read more…
Not neat and tidy. Nope. This following-Jesus stuff is messy! Questions come up that don’t have any neat solutions. Or even straight-forward ones. Conflicts arise for which there is no resolution. Depression hits and won’t let up. Disease and death still affect and afflict us, cheating and robbing us of Read more…
“You guys are like stubborn playmates on the playground…I suggested a great game full of delight, and you poohpoohed it. When my friend told you a sad story, none of you were willing to listen and cry over it with him.” When I came across this passage (my paraphrase), I Read more…
Little numbers on the scale, little words spoken, little words unsaid, little seeds and little seedlings…Little fingers and toes, little hugs, little squeals… As much as I would, or think I would, like to have a monumental impact on the worlds around me, most of my life is made up Read more…
God makes a stunning commitment to Samuel: He did not let a single word from Samuel’s mouth “fall to the ground.” Reading this yesterday, my response was to pray, “Let none of my words ‘fall to the ground,’ but keep my aware of them so that they will bear fruit, Read more…
My dad had a poster near his desk with a Raggedy Ann doll bring squeezed through a wringer. (If you know who and what I am talking about feel free to skip the next paragraph! If you don’t know, the internet will tell you more than you ever wanted to Read more…
“Sometimes fault lines can only be identified and mapped after an earthquake.” —40 Days of Decrease, Alicia Britt Chole That’s why failure is such an important thing to not be protected from. (She says from her ivory tower…) We often ask God to bless our event, activity, or adventure, expecting Read more…