"Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 Our world is in a confusing time right now, with days feeling like weeks and no clear end in sight.[...]
My word for this year is DISCIPLINE: a word with more negative feelings connected to it than positive ones. Discipline tends to remind us of what we lack, where we fall short, or punishment. Then, we bring ourselves to the other side of this word, only to be left with decisions that feel impossible, too hard, or laborious. So, w[...]
21 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,[...]
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6 (NIV). "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6 (NLT). "I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God, not go to more prayer mee[...]
My heart thudded against my chest as I approached Simon's house. Jesus had been invited to dine with the former leper, and many other friends had joined them. I expected a welcome as a close friend of the Master. I clutched the alabaster flask tightly as I held it close to my body. The fragrant oil inside was expensive, and I d[...]
“In the beginning, God created…” -Genesis 1:1 When I read this small initial passage of Scripture, I absolutely get goosebumps. It is an amazing opening to an immense story. However, this is not just a single line of Scripture to me. I also see this passage echoing in several other places. In fact, I actually see God repe[...]
Have you ever experienced seasons when the moments, days and weeks seemed to slip away without noticing? If we are honest, most of us will say yes. Maybe we were consumed by the busyness of everyday routines or a difficult season when merely staying alive seemed like a challenge. Regardless, we often look back on these seasons w[...]
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 A tree starts from a small seedling. It needs nourishment daily to sustain itself: the sun, water, and fertile ground. Such is the life of my children. When one receives me as their Red[...]
To heal, we need to talk to, not at one another. We also must be disciplined to do so in a productive manner. Not easy. Especially now. Several years ago, a worthy discussion took place within a group of younger adults. Each could hear what one another was saying, and many listened up to the point of disagreement. The disagreeme[...]
I feel a deep conviction in my soul. There is a huge piece I missed as we launched Heartstrong season 1. Even my welcome opener video was about how you "do" Heartstrong. I got it wrong. Heartstrong is not something you do. You see, I got Heartstrong wrong. It wasn’t an invitation to come and do Heartstrong Discipleship Intens[...]