I sometimes wonder what more can be written about gratitude. Countless articles have been written about the ways gratitude can improve your health, bless your relationships, and turn the average day into a celebration. And yet… We’re still not very good at it, are we? We don’t consistently express our gratitude to God or the…
Why do you worship God? Seriously, stop for a minute and think about it . . . why do you worship God? Do you worship Him because… You were brought up that way? The Bible tells says you should? You like getting together with like-minded people? It’s good for your children? You don’t know it…
Who do you worship? You know, this is my place to ask questions, to wonder… And today, I’m wondering about celebrity worship. Not the “syndrome” that affects some but the fascination that influences so many. Admiring people for their abilities and accomplishments isn’t a bad thing when it motivates and inspires us to do and…
I remember the pastor who said he hoped he was dead before the next new hymnal was introduced . . . all the complaining and arguing convinced him that he never wanted to do it again. I remember the woman who said she’d leave our church if I didn’t add more Christmas songs to the…
You and I will worship someone or something. It’s in our nature. God created us for a relationship with Him and part of that relationship includes worship. But since Satan decided he’d like to claim worship for himself and convinced Adam and Eve that they too could “be like God” we’ve often missed the mark…
I’ve been reading through Leviticus and Numbers lately. I know. Who reads through Leviticus and Numbers? Obedience. Worship. Lists. Rules. Count this group. Assign this task. Offer that sacrifice. And we can’t help but wonder why? What is the message of these two hard to read and harder to process Old Testament books? In Leviticus,…
In response to Satan offering Him everything in the world for His worship, Jesus replied, ” Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him. Matthew 4:10 Who is this God you and I worship? The “I AM.” The One who…
Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? As I ask that question, I want to make the point that this isn’t about military or law enforcement peacekeepers . . . today we’re talking personal and relational! You see… I hate conflict and for much of my life, I was a peacekeeper. I did whatever it took…
Do you believe God is who He says He is? Do you believe He is the “I Am”? I know it takes strong faith to have big peace . . . especially when life is hard. But strong faith in anything that isn’t true or able to keep promises might make us feel better but…
Everyone I knew called my Gram’s sister, “Weird Marion.” Even in college, I learned that one of my professors knew her as “Weird Marion.” But the more I learned about her “weirdness,” the more I wanted to be just like her. You see, it was the way my Aunt Marion lived out her faith that made…
This is for you, the one hurting with silent grief. The one whose life has been altered by a loss or event that’s left you feeling broken and alone. You can’t talk about it. There are reasons known only to you. You see people grieving openly and you envy the love, support, and understanding they receive….
We have an Early Alert System in our community. An automated system that calls to let us know when a potentially dangerous storm is coming. I wonder if you and I would like an Early Alert System for our lives? Something that would let us know when we are about to be hit by a big…
I’m excited to dig deep into peace this month. If you’d known me a little over a decade ago, you’d have said I was the last person in the world who should be talking about peace. I was diagnosed with high anxiety depression, living in a constant state of agitation and worry. Peace always seemed like it was just…
Peace – that tranquil feeling that flits in for occasional moments and then disappears for far too long . . . everyone wants it but few have it. I crave calm. No thrill seeker here. I want peace in my relationships and peace in my heart and mind. But even as we talk about wanting…
I wanted to know about goodness . . . but foolishly believed I would spend this month studying obedience. Was I wrong! Like everything else, goodness begins with God. So, if you missed anything, I’ve gathered all the posts on goodness here in one place. Click on the title or graphic to read a post…
“Grief is such a weird, uncontrollable beast. You never know when or where or how it’s going to pop up and demand its due.” Rev leaned over the upstairs banister and read those words to me the other night from A Dream So Big, by Steve Peifer. As he shared the words above, tears dripped down…
I’m going to be perfectly honest with you, some days I just don’t want to do good. Seriously, don’t you have days when it’s all you can do to try to avoid the don’ts? Don’t covet. Don’t gossip. Don’t waste. Don’t judge. Don’t worry. So, those mornings when I get out of bed and there…
A very wise friend once said, “If everyone is annoying you and getting on your last nerve . . . you have to stop and think about the common denominator. Maybe the problem is you.” How’s your attitude? When I’m cranky and irritable it’s easy to blame everyone and everything. To look around and grumble…
You might be a hypocrite if: you expect God to forgive you but can’t forgive others. you point out the sins of others while ignoring your own sins. you hate anyone. you don’t think you’re as bad as ______________. If the log in your eye never keeps you from seeing the speck in someone else’s eye. Or…
Guilt. You’ve got it. You know, that thing the enemy uses to label you a failure . . . to hold you back and defeat you. Everyone has something maybe even several somethings. I thought about making a list of examples but that would only be a distraction. All that matters is what’s on your list. I…
God is good! You and I want to trust those words with everything in us . . . heart, mind, soul, and strength. But if you’re like me, you pray and ask God to help you trust Him completely and then something happens and worry is followed by a little doubt and you find yourself struggling—again….
