Being thankful is harder than it seems. But it’s worth it. It can exponentially improve your outlook. And, as I’ll explain on Sunday, intentional gratitude can even play a significant role in improving your mental health. But a part of the reason it can be hard to cultivate an attitude of gratitude is because there … Continue reading Guarding against the noose of envy
faith
If you’re in a hole, quit digging
Proverbs 26:11 says: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.” In other words, if you keep making the same foolish mistake, you’re like a dog who keeps returning to its own vomit. Gross! When we take a moment to think about the mistakes we’ve made, many of us probably think … Continue reading If you’re in a hole, quit digging
Access to the greatest power on earth
Listen to Paul’s powerful prayer in Ephesians 3:16-17: “I pray that out of [God’s] glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” When you decide to be a Christian — that is, when you acknowledge your brokenness and … Continue reading Access to the greatest power on earth
Convenience or obedience?
The house my dad grew up in didn’t have an indoor bathroom. Today, in my house, not only do we have two bathrooms, but we have gadgets and appliances galore. I just heated my coffee up in a microwave… instantly. And I didn’t need a fire to do it! We live in a culture of convenience. … Continue reading Convenience or obedience?
When bad things amplify good things
Recently I threw out my back. Again. It frustrated me. I’m a super-motivated person who likes to be doing things. And there I was, relegated to my bed for large swaths of my day. I could hear my watch ticking—as if it was taunting me! Lol You’re right. I probably need to relax more. But … Continue reading When bad things amplify good things
“Ordinary” miracles
It's probably clear that I believe in miracles. In Matthew 19:26 Jesus says, “with God all things are possible.” And I fully affirm that God can and does do mind-bending things. But God doesn’t just work in dramatic ways—he works in “ordinary” ways too. The reason I put “ordinary” in quotes is because what we … Continue reading “Ordinary” miracles
What if God was Einstein and we were ants
Imagine a small child wandered into an operating room at a hospital only to discover their daddy cut open on a table, surrounded by doctors holding knives and wearing weird masks. Oh, and there’s blood all over the place. Naturally, the child would scream out, “Nooo! Stop hurting daddy!” The child simply didn’t realize that … Continue reading What if God was Einstein and we were ants
How you picture your future
There’s an old story about two men who were thrown into a dungeon. One man learned that his family was dead. But the other learned that his family was alive and waiting for him if and when he ever got out. The one who learned that his family was dead wasted away and died rather … Continue reading How you picture your future
When you feel like God isn’t there
It’s easy to think that if you don’t see God dramatically intervening in your life that he isn’t there. If you’ve ever had those kinds of thoughts, you’re not alone. Listen to these famous voices from the Bible itself: -Gideon: “If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?” (Judges 6:13) … Continue reading When you feel like God isn’t there
God sometimes uses miracles, but he often uses this
Have you ever prayed for a miracle and it didn’t happen? Have you ever wondered why God didn’t act? Have you ever been told that you just didn’t believe enough? In these moments we can feel very alone or angry or disillusioned—as if God’s apparent silence meant (or means) that he doesn’t care… or maybe … Continue reading God sometimes uses miracles, but he often uses this
