Category: Faith
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Produce Or Consume?
Patience. A fruit of the Spirit we’d much rather consume than produce. Sometimes when we pray for help to get through our own trials, we forget patience is also part of bearing witness. As Moses prepared to climb a mountain and die when God said it was his time, he told Israel how much patience…
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A Sure Foundation
One by one. Ever so carefully. We stacked the pieces with fingers crossed. The tower stood tall, having occupied me, a teenage helper, and several nursery kiddos for most of our time together. All it took was one wide-eyed, deviously grinning four-year-old. He slipped through our grasp, and, with one swift kick, it all came…
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Conquering By Peace
Can you think of a victory in a game, a sport, or even a war that is owed to more to blunt force than to strategy? The weapons used, the position of troops, and the element of surprise are all vital to winning. Underdog teams win by crafty plans and perseverance, not force. Naturally, victories won…
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3 (Better) Forms of Comparison
Like it or not, life is made up of comparisons. We compare our food choices in order to make an informed decision about what we eat. Our employers compare our work to industry standards to help us succeed. God in His Word compares the things of the flesh with the things of the Spirit to…
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Three Signposts to Help You Stay on the Narrow Way
While rereading Pilgrim’s Progress, it struck me how simple were the instructions given to the main character, Christian. Just stay on the narrow way. Go straight. Yet time and again, Christian strays or is tempted to veer. The arguments for taking another path are often compelling and plausible. The same is true for us. No…
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Can God-Given Dreams Die?
There are moments where the thought that I could die anytime at all strikes me silly. I’m not worried about where I’m going. I believe God’s Word in 2 Timothy 4:18–He will deliver me safely into His Kingdom. My (foolish!) concern? I worry that I might die before I get to finish particular reading, study, and…
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Uncovering Ulterior Motives
Sometimes our motives are obvious. Other times, we have ulterior motives guiding us, affecting our decision-making and discernment. For me, guilt is often an ulterior motive. Back in school, every time the teacher reprimanded the whole class for bad behavior instead of singling someone out, I was sure it was all my fault. Even now,…
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To The Wanna-Know-It-Alls
“I don’t know.” You say it when someone asks you to do something and you aren’t sure how to answer. The words are uttered in annoyance by kids everywhere as parents inquire about homework, grades, and missing toys. “…Anymore” is tagged on when tragedies strike and we’re left in shock. Feelings of doubt, loss, vulnerability,…
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When Your Definition of Perfection Is Too Small
“You can never do anything all the way right.” It’s a line I wrote sarcastically while joking with a friend. The trouble is, it stuck with me and my perfectionist ways. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” backs up the notion (Romans 3:23) But those of us bent toward perfectionism…
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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…