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
faith
At the start, not the end
Many Christians end their prayers something like this: “In Jesus’ name, Amen.” The origins of that practice trace back to a few different Bible passages, but one of them is Jesus’ own words in John 14:14 where he said, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” But just … Continue reading At the start, not the end
Out loud
The more you study prayer—and the more you pray—the more you realize there's a lot to know. It can actually be intimidating. So I came up with a saying to help keep my brain on the right track: Pray consistently, whole-heartedly, and expectantly in Jesus’ name. [I walk through this statement step-by-step in my podcast … Continue reading Out loud
It’s a win-win (With thanks to Billy Graham)
Yesterday we learned that the great preacher Billy Graham passed away at the age of 99. So for today’s devotional, and as a testament to Graham’s own teaching, let me share a story he once told, and which captures something about the hope that was deep within him. There was a 30 year-old truck driver … Continue reading It’s a win-win (With thanks to Billy Graham)
Get consistent
This week I’m sharing some thoughts about prayer. Like oxygen, prayer is a life-giving necessity for a vibrant spiritual life. Yesterday, I talked about how motives matter. Today, let’s talk about CONSISTENCY. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul says to “pray without ceasing.” But if you’re like a lot of people, there’s more ceasing than there … Continue reading Get consistent
Chronic busyness
I’ve been talking a lot about love this week. It’s partly because… -I recently spoke about love at the church I pastor -a school shooting in Florida reminds us how desperately love continues to be needed -and Jesus commands us to do it. So as we try to love—that is, as we try to acknowledge that … Continue reading Chronic busyness
Loved people love people
I was watching an interview with someone who worked with at-risk youth. He said, “Hurt people hurt people.” He meant that if someone has been deeply hurt in their past, they often hurt other people simply because it’s what they know. Is that always the case? No. But in his experience it was often true. … Continue reading Loved people love people
Love defined
Today is Valentine's day. It's a day a lot of people spend thinking about love. But I'd like to widen our scope a bit and think about what love actually means. And not just in the romantic sense, but in the wider love-your-neighbour sense. I think that when we look at Jesus’ example, love means … Continue reading Love defined
When they sang Happy Birthday she wept
Tony Campolo is a sociologist who traveled to Hawaii. Because of the time change he found himself wide awake in the middle of the night, wandering the streets, and looking for somewhere to eat. He found a small diner and ordered a coffee and a donut. Soon, a bunch of loud, boisterous prostitutes came in. … Continue reading When they sang Happy Birthday she wept
Being spiritually “fed” in 2018
Do you want to be spiritually “fed”? If so, here’s a newsflash. People today have more access to spiritually-enriching resources than at any other time in human history. A hundred years ago, if you wanted to learn more about your faith, in addition to calling on God and engaging in the traditional spiritual disciplines, you … Continue reading Being spiritually “fed” in 2018
