Wishing to be someone else or longing for life to be different sounds understandable on the surface---particularly in our culture where self-fulfillment and happiness are counted among the highest goals. However, there is an underlying insidiousness in these longings. Am I looking at what God has given me as though it isn't good... or isn't good enough?
"I needed to be happy, so I ____________________." How many different ways do people fill in this blank? "...left my spouse." "...quit my job." "...stopped going to church." "...aborted my child." "...drank my sorrows away." "...took some "me" time" How would you fill in the blank? Or, would you even say this at all? There… Continue reading How important is my happiness?
We cannot expect our children to cling to their faith with conviction if they are only exposed to God for 3% of their life. Some will undoubtably cling to their faith because the Word of God is powerful whether we wield it or not, but if we neglect to teach our children, history (particularly biblical history) teaches us that only a remnant will remain. Parents, the job of spiritual instruction was never meant to rest squarely on the shoulders of the Bible class teachers.
What will be our legacy as 21st-century Christian Parents? While we cannot control what our nation chooses to do, we each choose the direction in which we lead our families. The battle for the hearts and minds of our children doesn't begin in the schoolyard. Success cannot be found in a pew cushion. If we want a shot at winning this war, we prepare for the fight on our knees. God is not going to force us to be good parents nor will he force our children to robotically obey him. He will, however, equip us with the strength and wisdom to guide our families in the right direction.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lordin the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27.13-14, ESV I typically try to limit my consumption of "the news" because being prone to depression, it interferes with my ability to… Continue reading When All the News is Bad News
Gilette---the razor company---recently released an advertisement encouraging men to overcome the excuses of "boys will be boys" and to "do better." While many "progressives" have praised the ad, there appears to be more backlash than praise for Gilette's foray into the arena of man bashing and gender smashing. On YouTube, the Video has received over… Continue reading Why Good Men Need to Be Valued in Our Society
Beth Moore set off a hot debate this week when she wrote, "spending time with God and spending time with the Bible are not the same thing... we can grow in facts and never grow a whit in faith." I'm not familiar with Moore's work, and I don't want to spend this post criticizing… Continue reading How do we Spend Time With God?
Once upon a time, in a life far, far, away, I had my whole life planned out. Well, honestly, I only had it planned out through age thirty. My seventeen-year-old self couldn't really think past thirty. As I mentioned, I had these grand schemes. I knocked out my Bachelor's Degree, landed a good job (followed… Continue reading Three Things You Need to Remember Before Making Plans.
2019 is just around the corner. Some people are making resolutions, others set goals, and many choose a "word for the year." Whatever you choose, make time each day to engage with God's Word. If you aren't sure where to begin, I've provided some links below with ideas on how to begin, whether you're wanting… Continue reading January Scripture Writing Plan: Renew. Refresh. Revive!
Every person who lives on this earth is simply a sojourner. We are either on our way to a home in heaven or on our way to eternal enslavement. As humans, we resist our itinerant state and attempt to make earth permanent home. We fight for a bit of land, we fight for possessions, we fight to be remembered and admired, and we fight tooth and nail to cling to life. We fight, and are never satisfied.
