Category: Faith
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When It Looks Like Jesus Gave Up…
People jeered as they looked at the man who’d performed miracles too good to be true and made lofty claims about his own power. For all His talk, Jesus sure didn’t seem strong enough to remove the nails holding Him to the cross. Some thought of one of the things Jesus said He would do:…
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Your No Is As Important As Your Yes
“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 Are you afraid of saying no? I am! What a gift that Scripture doesn’t condemn the word no. Rather, the Bible highlights the importance of keeping your word, whether it’s a yes or a no. Every no…
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The Best Kind of Heartbreak
I’ve got this big magenta duffel bag. It’s sewn up along the edges, almost as crisscrossed and haphazard as the trips it’s been on. The frayed lining is only slightly attached to the outer layer anymore. You can see all the places it’s worn thin and stretched permanently from being stuffed too full all the…
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Why Did You Bring Me Here, God?
I remember the excitement when the phone call came. “We just have to finalize it, but you can schedule that moving truck,” the Midwestern man’s voice exclaimed. Expectantly, we did. We waited. But the paperwork never arrived. Weeks later, the same voice apologized on the phone. Unforeseen circumstances arose. The position was canceled. We’re weren’t…
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What Are You Willing to Sacrifice?
Biographies are some of my favorite books. I love to read the stories, to learn about the faith of those who are now among the great cloud of witnesses. No matter how many I read, one thing strikes me every time… Faith requires sacrifice. Since Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us, sacrificing today doesn’t…
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Sometimes We Need Rain
On a blistering hot day last summer, I was drawn to the sun room although I knew it would be 10 degrees warmer still. The dog curled up on my lap, insistent he wanted our burning and dehydration to be a shared experience. In the haze of the heat I heard a sweet sound: distant…
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A Testimony to God’s Faithfulness and Thank You to YOU
Do you know the old hymn “Up from Grave He Arose?” It’s one of my favorites, and when I am bursting with excitement and praise, I pump my arms and sing it loudly off-key. There has been much occasion for this silly display recently, even in the midst of the pandemic. A Call to Pray…
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The Milestone That Wasn’t
Months in advance, I plan which previously published posts I’ll share on Recharge Wednesday. When I saw the date this was planned for, I thanked God again. One loved one’s graduation has been canceled. Dear friends’ wedding may have to be limited to family. COVID-19 is messing with milestones for many of us. Yet God…
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5 Encouragements When All You Can Do Is Pray
I wrote the following post before COVID-19 was an issue. How much more real this is today, when we feel helpless in the face of suffering, unable to even extend a hug… If I’m honest, “just praying” makes me feel helpless. The frustration and despair in my heart when I’m told all I can do…
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Dealing With What You Didn’t Choose
One of the greatest evidences of sin, in my experience, is this: Victims must confess the crimes committed against them. For criminals to go behind bars, victims have to share what was done to them. Those harmed in ways that cause lasting damage have to live everyday with someone else’s choices. There are things outside…