Category: Growing in Christ
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The Instrument’s Purpose
Whew. What a flute. What a paintbrush. What a keyboard! …Said no one awed in a concert, enjoying an art show, or mesmerized by a book. The plate, my goodness, it’s spectacular. What a fork! Said no satisfied diner. Ever. Those Christians. So good and righteous and flawless. What a bunch! Said too many people….
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Making Molehills Out of Mountains
We build our molehills into mountains. We heap on worry and doubt. Carefully balancing the worst case scenarios we conjure up, we suspend them on high ominously. Our manmade foothills are comprised of carefully devised backup plans. But God. God takes our man-made mountains and returns them to their molehill size. He dissolves our backup…
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View from a Mountaintop
What is it about mountains? Moses met with God there. The Samaritans and Jews argued over which one people should worship on. People have called them holy. Jesus went up them to pray. We marvel at photos of them, take vacations to climb them, and even use them in reference to the best points of…
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What Can Separate Us?
Words like those in Romans 8:35-39 tend to come to mind and comfort us in deep hardship, like when facing death, demons, uncertain futures, and the depths suffering. But it isn’t just the “negatives” of life we feel keep us from God. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?….. For I am convinced that neither…
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Battery Operated Faith
My husband is a fan of gadgets and tools. No surprise, since he makes a living fixing stuff. One might think the man loves all the fancy new technology. However, there are some aspects of “old” tech he values. For example, he doesn’t believe it’s wise to go totally cordless. Because of his preference for…
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When Your Manna Tastes Bland
Last year, I had my wisdom teeth removed *gag.* The surgery went well, but there were complications during my recovery. I’ll spare you the gory details. Suffice it to say, I ate the same bland soft foods for about a month. Let me tell you: diversity of diet is a spiritual need. Maybe that’s an…
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The Milestone That Wasn’t
In Genesis 27, we read about a milestone that should have been, but wasn’t. Imagine what Esau looked forward to the day his dying father told him to get ready to receive the blessing. Esau, Isaac’s older son, had been expecting to receive this blessing from his father for his whole life. It was an…
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Taking Fear Personally
Someone lied to you and you found out. Someone rejected you flat out. Someone ignored you, someone hurt you, someone who was supposed to care for you didn’t. We all have our someones. If we’re honest, everyone we know is a someone; everyone gives us cause for suspicion. I’m not paranoid- many of our fears…
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Deja Vu and Milestone Moments
You’re sitting on the side of the road in your car. It’s just broken down. As you sit and wait for the tow, you think of all the mess of your life of late. The list of complaints is probably long. Then you remember the last time your car broke down. It almost feels like…
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Waiting Isn’t Passive
Our days and lives are filled with waiting. For good, for bad, for new, for people, for change. Waiting is a God-designed practice. However, as the worn, torn magazines in waiting rooms around the world can attest, patience in the waiting isn’t a natural virtue. Waiting makes some of us crazy. In fact, I’m pretty…