Why do you choose to follow Jesus? Do you pursue Jesus so that you will have wealth? Do you seek to be free from loneliness by joining yourself to a church? Do you seek to be honored and respected? I read things all the time from people who say that God intends for us to be wealthy and happy and a lot of other nonsense. God does not want us to possess mere happiness---he wants us to have joy. The joy of the Lord transcends circumstance and is part of an abundant life. True riches are found in Christ and cannot be altered by the government, stock markets, or thieves. Why do you seek Jesus??
Category: Christian Living
3 Words You Need Every Single Day
Every single day we face some form of testing. Every day we are beset with a trial of some kind. Every day God is watching to see what we will do with the time we are given. How do you get through your time of trial? I have 3 words for you...
Does anybody care?!
For people like me who wage a daily war with depression, there is a phrase that pops up every so often, and we grow weary of saying it: "I'm depressed... Again." It's frustrating, upsetting, and draining. "Will this ever completely disappear? Surely people are sick of my black cloud... I know I am." You know you have to face the day again tomorrow. You know you'll likely wonder why you bothered to get out of bed. You feel like nobody cares. There is One who always cares. He already knows you're hurting. He holds all your tears in a bottle. He watches the ongoing fight.
No tests?
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. ~ Proverbs 17:3 ESV My children have taught me a great deal about parenting. For instance: when I was a starry-eyed parent-to-be I said things like, "I'll never yell at my children. I'll never say, 'because I said so.'… Continue reading No tests?
Short-term memory loss.
Sometimes I read Bible accounts and have a face-palm moment. How could these people be so dense?! And then I realize something---I am just as foolish at times!
7 Marriage Principles We Should Teach Our Children
Many parents squirm over the prospect of their children dating and marrying---and for good reason. We who have been through that stage of life are well-acquainted with the pitfalls, dangers and temptations. We have observed (or experienced) them and are more than a little reluctant to let our kids face that particular gauntlet. Because we live in a society in which people choose their marriage partner, it is absolutely vital that we actively teach our children what marriage is and what to look for in a spouse.
Who do I tell?
Have you ever had your heart crushed by someone who was supposed to be a friend? Enemies can attack and leave some bruising, but nothing is as devastating as being hurt, neglected, ignored or betrayed by a loved one. Enemy attacks are like surface wounds; friend's attacks cut to the bone. When you feel this way, where do you take your pain? To whom do you relay your frustration?
Progress Report – February 2016
Remember those goals/resolutions you created at the beginning of the year? You do? Wait... you don't? Where's your list of goals? "oh, right.... that list was in my head." "Goals? What goals?" "My New Year's Resolutions? Well... Uh..." That's where a lot of people are by this point in the year---all those great plans are often under a pile of papers or covered in dust. If you are on track with most of your goals for the year, congratulations! Keep up the good work! If you still have your list of goals and have fallen behind, there's no time like the present to rev them up again.
It’s time to break camp!
A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. ~ Proverbs 16.9, NKJV When I was young, I had very definite ideas about what I wanted to achieve in life. I wanted to have enough money to live in a nice big house in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I wanted a college degree, a good career and a good church to worship with. I wanted to be married, have children. I wanted to have it all. There's a funny truth about our crazy dreams: while many are attainable, they are not necessarily attainable together. I couldn't have everything without sacrificing something.
5 Things Christians Should do this Election Year
Let's talk for a moment about those two taboo subjects: religion and politics. I'm not going to tell you who to vote for or how to vote. Nor am I here to relay all the evils of socialism or capitalism or any other ism. In our walk with God, all of our choices should be made… Continue reading 5 Things Christians Should do this Election Year
