Thanksgiving gives opportunity to pause, think for a moment about all that we have… And give thanks. But, let’s be honest, this is always easy. When Paul exhorts us to “Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you,” we sometimes want to respond back, “But what about…?” Because life is hard. Suffering comes. The pain is real. And then what? How do we give thanks in THESE circumstances?
Bible Teaching
Please Pass The Salt
Jesus tells His disciples to be like salt in the world, and we naturally think ‘flavor’. In this post you’ll be inspired and challenged as we consider some OTHER qualities of salt that we as followers of Christ ought to exhibit.
Surprise!…Your Garden Has Weeds
Healthy relationships don’t just happen. They require work and maintenance just like gardens. And weeds will always creep up. If we want our relationships to flourish we must embrace the labor required to cultivate, plant, water, and weed. Neglecting this work will always lead to ugly, not beauty… to death, not life. But healthy relationships cooperatively begin with you and I personally…
Love: How Do We Get It?
We thirst for love. And we want to share it with others. But how? In this follow-up post to “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”, we discover how to both receive and give the thirst-quenching, life-giving water of genuine love.
What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Like a puzzle, so many pieces were in place. But no matter how much was done I couldn’t help but fix my eyes on the empty spaces that begged to be filled. And then one day it was like God walked over to my giant masterpiece of a puzzle and with one divine swipe of His hand sent the thing flying across the room. Thousands of pieces scattered to the floor. Only one piece remained…
Stop Trying To Be Like Jesus?
Stop trying to be like Jesus? I never thought I’d hear a pastor say THAT! It was counter-intuitive and risky… and exactly what we need to hear. Read on to discover the truth about where real life, joy, and pleasure are found!
Giving Thanks In ALL Circumstances
Be thankful. Easy enough. …when things are good. But how in the world do we give thanks in the midst of suffering, injustice, and tragedy?
Evidence of Things Unseen
Faith. Yes, it’s a belief and, yes, it’s a hope. But it’s so much more! Faith has a sort of substance to it. It doesn’t stay silent and it can’t remain hidden. Faith can’t help but expose the heart from which it flows, leaving behind evidence … of things unseen…
Spiritual Fruit: Fake or Real?
The tiny hand of my gardener in training slowly opens to reveal her treasure… And with it comes a revelation… The heart of a believer should be marked by certain qualities, “fruits of the Spirit” as the Apostle Paul puts it. But what happens when we go after the fruit instead of the Spirit? Is there a such thing as artificial fruit in the life of faith? If so, what’s the difference between that and the real deal?
Dear Weary Gardener
Do you ever wonder if what you’re doing really matters to anyone? Ever grow weary in doing good, questioning if it even makes a difference? Do you sometimes think your time could be better spent elsewhere? I do. By noon last Tuesday I was ready to give up on the day. AND THEN! Wow…I was blown away when I discovered THIS… Be encouraged as you read on!