It’s eye-opening and useful to thank God in our weaknesses. I’m not saying that we should thank God FOR our weaknesses. After all, there are many weaknesses which lead to very bad things. Thanking God IN your weakness is something else. It is a humble reminder that we are not able to make it on … Continue reading The usefulness of weakness
Author: MatthewRuttan
Being alert with God
When a pilot gets into the cockpit I think it’s important that he or she isn’t drunk, dizzy or dozy. There are times when alertness is very important! Imagine writing a final exam, suiting up for a playoff game, or making a big presentation at work and being asleep at the switch. Another time that … Continue reading Being alert with God
Liberal and conservative fundamentalisms
In my experience, when someone calls someone else a “fundamentalist,” they don’t usually seem to know what they’re saying. It’s become a kind of shorthand for “ultra conservative.” But since many people think that being a “fundamentalist” in our wealthy, western, liberal society is a very bad thing, name-calling in this way seems to have … Continue reading Liberal and conservative fundamentalisms
When God shows up at the end of your rope
When someone says they are at the “end of their rope,” they usually mean that they've come to the end of themselves—that they are out of strength, out of options, and maybe even hope. However you define it, it’s clearly not a good place to be. And you don’t know where the end of your rope … Continue reading When God shows up at the end of your rope
What do you want me to do for you?
In Luke 18 a blind beggar cries out to Jesus for mercy. “When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” (verses 40-41) In response, the man asks for his sight—and gets it! He believed in who Jesus was, and trusted in his power to do something big. … Continue reading What do you want me to do for you?
Healthy venting
There’s a difference between grumbling and healthy venting. My name isn’t Funk & Wagnalls but here’s how I would define the difference. “Grumbling” is reactionary, undisciplined, and envelops others in the cloud of your verbal fumes. It’s common in an era of quick clicks, posts, and chronic noise. But in contrast, healthy venting is deliberate … Continue reading Healthy venting
The Trojan screen
The Trojan Horse was a wooden horse which concealed Greek soldiers. After the horse was taken within the gates of Troy, the soldiers emerged under the cover of night to lead an ambush on their unsuspecting Trojan foes. Today, when someone calls something “a Trojan horse,” they are referring to hidden strategy to take down … Continue reading The Trojan screen
Some are okay; many are not
Everyone isn’t in the same “place” as you are. That statement is true physically, but also mentally. We are scattered all over the geographical map. But we are also experiencing different stresses, strains and emotions right now. I think that’s just good to remember. Why? Because it changes our behaviour toward others. At the start … Continue reading Some are okay; many are not
One set of footprints—for when you fail
There’s a famous poem called Footprints in the Sand.* Someone has a dream and is walking along the beach with the Lord. Scenes from their life flash across the sky. The person looks back at their footprints and notices that during sadness there are only one set of footprints. The dreamer concludes that the Lord … Continue reading One set of footprints—for when you fail
Praying out loud
“Praying is just so hard.”“I always lose my focus.”“I don’t know what to say.” As a child of God there are times when praying is easy. There are also times, perhaps, when it’s not. In The Up Devotional I often provide you with ideas that I think are practical and down-to-earth. They are intended to … Continue reading Praying out loud
