1 Peter 5:8 "Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (CEB) Today's Thought This may be the shortest devotional yet, but here goes: The Devil wants you to NOT pray... By Matthew Ruttan
spirituality
Teachableness
Have you ever noticed that people who think they're really smart also think you're not? I don't know about you, but I've noticed something about the (truly) wise people in my life. Those who are truly wise (a) aren't threatened by the wisdom of others, and (b) are always open to learning more. Recently I came … Continue reading Teachableness
Deeper and more destructive with time
When I lived in Toronto I marveled at how many statues there were. They were things like warriors riding on horses or heroes from a previous age. From a distance they always looked impressive. But the closer you got, the more cracks you saw. There were fault lines and chips and discoloration. Isn’t that like … Continue reading Deeper and more destructive with time
When strikeouts aren’t strikeouts
I’ve been thinking about baseball lately. Maybe it’s because the weather is getting warmer and my son is about the start little league! Consider this. A decent batting average in the major leagues is .250. That means you consistently get a hit one out of every four times you go to the plate. If you … Continue reading When strikeouts aren’t strikeouts
Recycle your pain
I don’t think I’ve met a single person who hasn’t had challenges in their life. Sure, some challenges seem bigger than others. Some people have had children die or been sexually abused or experienced other kids of trauma. But any kind of difficulty—no matter the “size”—can change your life forever. When we’ve gone through something … Continue reading Recycle your pain
Boundedness
The word “religion” isn’t very popular. People (including myself!) prefer to use substitutes like “spirituality” or “faith” as a way of bypassing this un-trendy word that can call to mind firm-fisted sermons, strict morality or chanting monks. But let’s pause on it for a minute. It comes from an old word meaning “to bind.” So … Continue reading Boundedness
Why does Maundy Thursday matter?
Maundy Thursday is one of those days that leaves a lot of people scratching their heads. For a long time, that was certainly true for me too! What does the name mean? Why do some churches hold special services? And what does it matter to me? The word “Maundy” comes from Jesus’ words in John … Continue reading Why does Maundy Thursday matter?
For those who think they’re “normal”
It’s waayyy too easy to erase ourselves from God’s equation. That’s what we pretend to do when we say or think something like this: “God is so huge and extraordinary. But my life is just so… small and normal.” Granted, I kind of get where that comes from. Thinking about the utter bigness of the … Continue reading For those who think they’re “normal”
The boomerang of your soul
Human pride is the boomerang of your soul. Just when you think you’re done with selfishness and ego they come hurling back to their home within your heart. Pride is like that. Now don’t get me wrong: There are two kinds of pride. Good pride is the way you feel when someone you love scores … Continue reading The boomerang of your soul
Inflated with purpose
Hebrews 13:1 “Let mutual love continue." (NRSV) Today’s Thought These days I’m thinking a lot about purpose. I just think that knowing your purpose has the potential to inflate your days with meaning, energy, zest and faith. And if you don’t ever think about how your daily purpose connects up to God’s bigger plans, I … Continue reading Inflated with purpose
