Today I’d like to ask you this: If you’re going through something really tough, have you talked to someone about it? Talking to someone about your situation can be hard. It can be difficult to verbalize your feelings. Or maybe you doubt if it will do any good. But one of the reasons I think … Continue reading Pretending to be perfect
encouragement
The talent you never knew you had
I’m guessing that a lot of you have a talent you never knew you had: Listening. Many people are burdened. Maybe that’s why Paul encouraged the Galatians to “Carry each other’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2) People had them then. People have them now. Listening is just that. Listening. Not talking. Not solving. Not judging. Not fixing. … Continue reading The talent you never knew you had
A licence plate or a message from God?
Frederick Buechner was upset about his daughter’s illness. If you’ve ever worried about a sick child maybe you can relate to that gut-wrenching reality. He was sitting at the side of the road parked in his car depressed and afraid. All of a sudden, another car came up from behind him as if out of nowhere … Continue reading A licence plate or a message from God?
Your soldiers for the battle
Why have many of us bought the lie that life is supposed to be easy? Maybe it's tempting to believe all the shiny, happy people in the TV commercials. But no. Life is a... Battle. In this country, 1 in 4 are "very stressed" at work. 1 in 8 families struggle to put food on … Continue reading Your soldiers for the battle
Come, Holy Spirit
We had our big Vacation Bible Camp a few weeks ago. It’s hectic, fun, busy, chaotic… and all about Jesus and the goodness of God! Our church has a top-notch Youth Coordinator. Her name is Julie. Before the week began, she took a big white board in her office and wrote “Come, Holy Spirit!” along … Continue reading Come, Holy Spirit
Expect to be different
In the 1st century, the apostle Peter wrote a letter to encourage Christians who were feeling shunned and persecuted for their faith. Since they didn’t buy in to the dominant religions of the day, and would only worship the one true God of the Bible and order their lives according to his teachings, they were … Continue reading Expect to be different
Grace notes
You've heard the lie before: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." The idea is that words—because they are invisible—cannot hurt us. But we know it isn't true. The put down, the threat, the lie that cuts deeper than a knife. Words can have a negative power. BUT... they … Continue reading Grace notes
God finishes what he starts
We were talking in a restaurant on a Thursday afternoon while eating high-calorie French fries. My friend was telling me how down he was feeling about his spiritual progress. He felt he should be further ahead… and that he often struggled with the sin of pride… and that his devotional life always felt like work. … Continue reading God finishes what he starts
Whose words to you will never fail
A friend who doesn’t share my beliefs was telling me his “bucket list”—things he wanted to do before he died, before he “kicked the bucket”! In addition to things like snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef was reading the Bible. He told me that even though he wasn’t a Christian, he realized that the Bible … Continue reading Whose words to you will never fail
Satan
A lot of people don’t think about Satan very much. Sure, they read about him in the Bible sometimes, and hear an allusion to him in a movie now and then. But he probably doesn’t really figure into their daily thoughts. But that’s the thing. He often DOES figure into our daily thoughts. It’s just … Continue reading Satan
