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Shrove Tuesday and confessing sin
Today is known as Shrove Tuesday. It’s the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. The name comes from a practice in England to “shrive” on this day—meaning confessing our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness. Since many people fast during Lent, there was (and is) a custom of using up… Listen ⇢
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Chaos around you (not within you)
When someone says they want peace, what do they mean? It somewhat depends on the context. If two diplomats are talking about peace, they are most likely thinking about peace between countries. If a parent says they want some peace and quiet, he or she is most likely wanting their… Listen ⇢
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Frowning providence, The Pilgrim’s Progress, and you
John Bunyan was a preacher who was thrown in jail in the 17th century. He was separated from his wife, children and congregation. A colleague named John Owen was a theologian who had a lot of influence, even in the government. Owen tried to get Bunyan released. He used his… Listen ⇢
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Providence not just in big things, but daily things
We’ve been talking about providence—that we are upheld and guided by God’s invisible hand. Today I encourage you to think about how this is true not only with respect to big things like global movements or world wars, but the little day-to-day details of our lives. Consider Jesus’ words in… Listen ⇢
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In Christ you cannot lose
In the previous devotional I talked about providence—that we are upheld and guided by God’s invisible hand. It’s easy to believe in providence when everything is going your way. But what about our moments of personal pain? Consider Jesus and his words on the cross: “My God, my God, why… Listen ⇢
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We see the brushstrokes
Many people think that their lives unfold according to chance. But that contradicts the biblical teaching about providence. The word “providence” sounds like “provide.” A provider in a household anticipates what is needed and then ensures those needs are met. In a similar way, our Provider sees the needs of… Listen ⇢
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Destructive self-importance
An enduring devotional work from the fourteenth century is The Scale of Perfection by Walter Hilton. Hilton was writing to those seeking a deep spiritual life. More specifically, he was writing to a fellow believer most likely in a convent at the time. Among other things, he wrote about humility.… Listen ⇢
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Freedience
Sometimes a new word is created. It might not ever make it into a dictionary, but people use it anyway. An example would be “hangry.” When you get really angry because you’re hungry, you’re “hangry”! Here’s a new one that I’ll throw into the mix: Freedience. It brings together two… Listen ⇢
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What you put in, and what you keep out
In the previous devotional I talked about joy. In an age like ours when so many people have become accustomed to instant gratification, we can mistakenly think that joy is easily attainable and sustainable in our hearts and minds. Not always. It’s more like a diet than it is a… Listen ⇢
Meet the producer, Matthew Ruttan.
Matthew is a disciple, pastor, husband, and dad of three who lives in the psalms.
