Are you lost? Are you alone? Are you adrift in your circumstances? In the many “seasons” we experience throughout our lifetime, we can often find ourselves run aground on rocks of doubt and confusion. In these moments, we are commonly encouraged to “fear not” or “give it to God,” —- and these are good words to consider. But I think there is something deeper that we should recognize as a central part of our ability to stand firm. Christ’s precious sacrifice on the cross joined with His ulti[...]
"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." 1 Corinthians 12:7. One of the things that I think causes followers of Jesus a great deal of concern and confusion is the consideration of their Spiritual gifting. Some folks seem blessed with ample clues of their strengths in this area. Meanwhile, others spend vast amounts of time trying to ascertain what they have been gifted with. Much effort gets expended on pursuing a greater knowledge of these gifts. Often, we can end up frozen in[...]
I recognize that Jesus often spoke about the heart. He observed how our hearts can lead us astray. That the heart can be wicked and deceitful at times. But what about our minds? Actually, Scripture also often speaks about this. And it warns us about the importance of where we allow our minds to focus. "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 (ESV). "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." R[...]
My story, PRIOR to being rescued by the saving grace of Jesus, was not very pretty. I was not a person who sought to help or support others. My focus was specifically all about ME. I loathed Christians. I thought of them as hollow puppets with no understanding of anything beyond a bunch of rules that they blindly followed. While they went about their robotic existence, I chose to follow my mind and heart wherever and however they would lead me. Boss of my own life! Oh, the power I felt. I pursued paths of se[...]
"So the Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied." Acts 9:31 (ESV). What a time it must have been! The ACTS church. Focused and Faith-filled. Grounded and Grateful. Prayerful and Potent. Christ-centric and Christ-infused. So often, we read of all that was the ACTS church and think to ourselves: "Why can't it be like that today?" Why indeed? In 2022, the Church may very well[...]
What will people think when they hear that I’m a Jesus freak? What will people do when they find that it’s true? I don’t care if they label me a Jesus Freak There ain’t no disguising the truth DC TALK (Jesus Freak) Maybe some of you remember this classic Christian hit from August 1995 by the band DC TALK? Personally, I am a huge fan of the song, although I was nowhere near being a Christian when it hit the airwaves. Nope - I actually discovered it during a “retro” review of Christian rec[...]
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV). Personally, it took me some time before I came to have a peaceful coexistence with the concept of repentance. Initially, I perceived repentance as this huge religious process. At times, my young Christian mind often got this mixed up with the Catholic concept of confession. Going into this c[...]
I enjoyed hearing the many stories found in the Old Testament in my youth. Noah and his “floating zoo,” Moses parting the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho, David versus the giant, and so many more. I knew each of them by heart; however, they never stitched together to form anything more significant in my mind. The Bible appeared to simply be a collection of unique and interesting moments, with the OLD TESTAMENT (OT) to the left and NEW TESTAMENT (NT) to the right. But, when I finally started attending class[...]
“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 repeating this concept of “beginning” in the life of every person He welcomes to His Kingdom family. There was definitely a “beginning” associated with giving over my life to Jesu[...]
It’s a beautiful phrase to consider: “Christ’s invitation to you.” When I was in public school, getting any kind of invitation to something was a momentous occasion. Birthday parties, pool parties, BBQs, play dates, and more. The warmth that would fill my heart knowing that my presence was desired by someone - it was overwhelming and wonderful. And that emotional reaction seemed to flow simply from the mere receipt of the invitation. Yet, isn’t there more to it than just the receiving? In[...]