Category: Faith
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Confirmation After Faith
Sometimes when we beg the Lord for confirmation or a sign, what we’re really saying is that: We don’t want to walk by faith- we want to walk by sight. We don’t find His direction in Scripture enough. We don’t take Him at His Word that He’ll always be with us. God’s leading often asks…
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Counting Down, Being Still, Laying Up
I’m a countdown kind of person. If I’m looking forward to something, I’m counting down the days. If I’m enjoying something, I’m counting down how much time is left before it has to end. If I’m struggling, I’m counting down to when I think things will be okay again. The benefit of this is that…
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Oh You Of Lasting Faith
Oh you of little faith,” Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 14:31. I get it. The guy was sinking. His succumbing to the waves, we’re explicitly told, is because he doubted. So yes, his failing faith left him flailing in the moment. But before that? Peter got out of the boat. “Jesus,” I want to challenge, “doesn’t…
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The Sore Loser
My competitive side was getting the better of me. As far as we were into the game, it was clear I wasn’t going to win. I’d tried, strategizing my way through, but there was no doubt who would have the victory (not me.) The temptation? To pick up the whole stinking board game and shake…
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Take It Personally
I’d been reading through John 11 slowly each morning, following the story of Lazarus’ sickness, Jesus’ delay, and then His encounters with Martha and with Mary after Lazarus lay dead. It’s a story I’ve read many times, mostly just noting quickly that Jesus is incredible and death is awful before moving along. But this time,…
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Here to Help
On any given day, my internet browser tabs featured Indeed, Zillow, Google Maps, and Bible Gateway.We were in a wilderness.The season we’d been in was ending, but we had no idea of our next. I’d like to say I waited patiently for God’s leading, but truthfully, my frequent visits to those tabs proved otherwise. I believed God…
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When Sin Trails Behind Us
The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. –1 Timothy 5:24 Paul made this small but vivid remark at the end of a letter to his younger friend, Timothy. The wisdom has stuck in my mind. Sin on the Flashing Sign There…
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What Do You Want God to Think of You?
Do you try to impress God? I admit there are times when I realize I’m trying to dazzle God, eager to hear not just “well done, good and faithful servant” but “Wow! You’re the best!” Pride can easily creep into our good works, worship, and prayers. We don’t always spot it at a glance. Perhaps…
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Who You Work For
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23 (NLT) A faded blue post-it on my desk reads: No changes. Well done. Brilliant. Not bad. Good job. This mini-rubric helps me rank the quality of what I do as I receive others’ feedback. It’s…
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Is This The Change You’re Looking For?
Having just traveled a few states to work in the summer heat, it was admirable how upbeat the youth were. Their mission trip involved hard work laboring to repair homes and make helpful upgrades. They spent a lot of time in one house rebuilding part of a damaged wall. Everything from measuring to cutting to…