I recently presented a workshop on spiritual disciplines. These are deliberate, repetitive, biblical practices the Holy Spirit uses to make us more like Christ.Some of the most well-known practices that fit into this category are prayer, Bible-reading, fasting, worship, serving others, etc. There are others, but those are some of the most popular.Over time, we … Continue reading Joy is what happens when
The (real) signs of love
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).When I was in university one of my professors told our class that during our discussions, we weren’t allowed to use the word “interesting.”Why not? Since it was a word that people over-used, it had lost it’s meaning. “Yes, that … Continue reading The (real) signs of love
The love that jams the Devil’s wheels
Jesus said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44)Do you have enemies? Perhaps you do, perhaps you don’t. If you don’t, perhaps you still have people who you feel are somehow “against” you. They always seem to say the wrong thing at the right time. They foil your plans, put you … Continue reading The love that jams the Devil’s wheels
Well done, good and faithful servant
Victor Frankl recalls an experience he had in a concentration camp. He was serving as a kind of medical assistant, caring for fellow prisoners who were sick or elderly. He would use whatever supplies he could get his hands on to help them.One day, he was approached by some fellow prisoners. They had made a … Continue reading Well done, good and faithful servant
More than just waiting around
“Life is tough. Heaven is great. I guess we just need to wait it out.”Unfortunately, we can often get caught in this mode of thinking.Having said that, it’s true that life is often difficult. And yes, heaven is also going to be amazing. I appreciate that life includes a lot of waiting—including waiting for heaven—but … Continue reading More than just waiting around
Being a part of a plan even when life isn’t going as planned
Over the past several months we have been spending some time with Daniel. When he was captured, he was most likely around 15-years-old. At the end of the book, he was in his late 80’s or early 90’s.After the Babylonian captivity had formally ended, many of his people were allowed to return to their homeland. We … Continue reading Being a part of a plan even when life isn’t going as planned
Focus on what’s best
1 Corinthians 10:31 is well-known. That’s where Paul writes: “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”Several years ago, I was discussing this verse with a group of high school students. One of the students asked: ‘Why does God want us to focus on him so much? Isn’t that kind of selfish? … Continue reading Focus on what’s best
Born again?
The phrase “born again” gets thrown around a lot. But what does it actually mean? The original context was John 3 when Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).*Nicodemus struggled to understand. How can a person enter into … Continue reading Born again?
With both wings, not just one
In 1 John 3:23 the apostle writes: “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another...”Catherine of Siena was a well-known Christian from the 1300’s. She lived in Italy. She became known for her extreme devotion to God and her unyielding love for others. Early … Continue reading With both wings, not just one
Keep believing and keep going
[Request in footnotes]~In these devotionals not only have we been spending time with Daniel, but we have been spending time thinking about the big picture hope we have as the people of God.The Bible tells us the large-scale narrative arc of human history. Although there are many problems in the world, and although sin and … Continue reading Keep believing and keep going
