Tag: bible
-
2 Good Reasons to Trade In Self-Esteem
I have a few qualms with the simplified self-esteem mantra “you are enough.” Mostly because the statement raises more questions than it answers. What are we “enough” for? What qualifies as “enough”? Does “enough” run out, making it not enough? Who determines what “enough” is? How do we quantify “enoughness?” Is there a context for…
-
God’s Reverberating Word
“Sola Scriptura.” I remember reading the phrase (Scripture alone) in High School as our history books tackled the reformation. The concept was mentioned briefly as one of the causes of the divide in Christianity that shook the world at the time. Such a stance was not- and still is not- without powerful consequence. More than…
-
4 Things to Ask Yourself Before You Give That Advice
I had a problem. I called up a friend and in the midst of our chatting I determined to act on the words of Proverbs 12:15: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” I asked for her advice. But her words took me by…
-
A Reality Check on Fear: Book Giveaway!
It may seem a little strange for me to review a book written for moms. The 10 pounds of fur snoozing next to me is the closest thing I have to a ward. Much as he thinks he is a baby, he’s not! My friend Bethany Douglas’s book Helicopter Mom is definitely relevant for the…
-
Stop Apologizing for Your Joy
I was eating chocolate, wiggling around, singing out loud, and beaming early that morning. A simple answered prayer had me celebrating with the Lord, bursting with joy. Eventually my routine brought me to social media, a place where I delight in encouraging others in the Lord. Guess where my makes-me-want-to-shout joy went? Tail between its…
-
Don’t Miss the Dreams Already Come True
Once upon a hyper-proactive day, I wrote up a list of components of my dream job. In my mind, I sketched out exactly what the position would look like and the kind of place it would be in. A sample title sat on my imaginary desk. That was the goal. That was the dream. Onto…
-
In Case You Thought There Wasn’t Enough
A massive crowd gathers and listens to lectures for hours. As the hour gets later and later, they begin to get hungry. You have just a small amount of food to offer. Would you organize them by neediest? By the most vulnerable, feeding children and the elderly first? Maybe, because they should have brought food,…
-
The Promise of Presence
A promise. Several generations passed. 400 years of captivity. 40 years wandering the desert. The Promised Land in sight, then out of sight, then in it again. Amazing victories. Devastating losses. Seasons of sin. Periods of rejoicing and serving the Lord. Finally, the death of Moses. It wouldn’t be long. All they’d waited for was…
-
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….
-
Watch for the Bait and Switch
Pauls’ words in Romans 7:15 about struggling with sin nature echo in our ears: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” What gets us to do what we hate? Why do we sin when we know sin stinks? One…