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love one another

Going out of your way for compassion

December 17, 2019December 16, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

Before I tell you about Evan, let me share Colossians 3:12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion…” Okay, back to Evan. He was a boy from St. George, Ontario in Canada. He had an inoperable brain tumor. He was so ill that they worried he wouldn’t live long … Continue reading Going out of your way for compassion

It’s not imposing, it’s loving

November 20, 2019November 19, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

To the Colossians, Paul wrote: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6). Keep that in mind for a moment. There’s a story about a man who went to India and struck up a friendship with a woman. She had never … Continue reading It’s not imposing, it’s loving

Why your love outlasts you

November 4, 2019November 1, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes four responses to God’s word—three lead to nothing, and the fourth to everything. People in this last category “hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown” (Mark 4:20). Wow! That’s definitely something to shoot for! But … Continue reading Why your love outlasts you

The Faith “Authenticator”

November 1, 2019October 31, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

Apparently there are “authenticators” in major league baseball. I recently heard about it on sports radio. Baseball teams like the Blue Jays, Astros or Yankees (or whoever), employ these authenticators at games to authenticate what was actually used in a game. It makes sense. After all, the baseballs, bats and other equipment that is used … Continue reading The Faith “Authenticator”

Un-stagnant for the kingdom

September 27, 2019September 26, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

In Younger Next Year, Chris Crowley and Dr. Henry S. Lodge warn us about living in a way that is sedentary, particularly as it relates to retirement. They say that many people’s approach to retirement is very flawed when it involves “being sedentary, withdrawing from social contact, [and] eating everything you can get your hands … Continue reading Un-stagnant for the kingdom

Being useful makes you more content

September 26, 2019September 25, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

I think we’re spiritually constructed to want to be useful. When someone we know is going through something difficult, how many of us have thought or said something like, “If only there was something I could do to help” or “I just want to be useful”? In a broader sense, you probably feel a strong … Continue reading Being useful makes you more content

The situation you’re already in

September 25, 2019September 24, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

In 1 Corinthians 12:27 Paul says, “you are the body of Christ...” In light of that, we’ve been reflecting on this important question: How can we be useful to Jesus as his hands and feet in a hurting world by being proactive about the well-being of others? Sometimes we respond by getting involved in programs … Continue reading The situation you’re already in

Simply showing up

September 24, 2019September 22, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / 1 Comment

Yesterday I talked about being useful, and asked you this question: How can we be useful to Jesus as his hands and feet in a hurting world by being proactive about the well-being of others? Usefulness is the hands and feet of faithfulness. Sometimes these opportunities to be useful arise through specific initiatives or programs … Continue reading Simply showing up

Feeding the envy beast

September 18, 2019September 17, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

We’ve been thinking about invisible robbers who steal your contentment. Yesterday, I highlighted some studies about social media use and how it can bring down your mood. Unfortunately, by constantly seeing what people post, we can fall into a trap of perpetual comparison and envy. As a result, it can drag us down. Because of … Continue reading Feeding the envy beast

How do you spell love?

January 8, 2019January 7, 2019 / Matthew Ruttan / Leave a comment

I once heard someone ask, “How do you spell love?” Seems simple, doesn’t it? L-O-V-E. “No,” they said. “You spell it T-I-M-E.” Technically you don’t spell love like that. But they were obviously making a point: One way you can give someone your love is to give them your time. It’s a powerful message in … Continue reading How do you spell love?

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