The words grow so familiar over time. Words like mercy, grace, peace, and joy. We hear the truths of God’s love, forgiveness, protection, and provision so often that they feel like ideas that will work out only in eternity, especially when they bump up against day-to-day realities that can be so harsh. We feel like […]
Category: essay
A LIFE OF FOCUS
Life offers us so many things to know and experience. And while there is a seemingly endless list of things that we come to know through active learning, there is probably far more that we come to know simply through our senses. We understand the difference between rough and smooth not because we learned about […]
TAKING INVENTORY
I’m taking inventory right now. I’m going through drawers, closets, and even some storage boxes that I haven’t opened in a while. Each item inside faces a precarious future. If I haven’t used it in a long while and it holds no sentimental value, it is destined for the sell, donate, or pitch pile. I […]
THE LIFE WE REALLY WANT
Conventional teaching tells us, as believers, that it is our job to serve Christ and fulfill our obligations to Him. Typically, the means to this end are taught to be practices called spiritual disciplines. These include Bible reading, prayer, giving, and serving (usually in the church setting). We are told that the more time and […]
FIND YOUR PASSION
These have been hard days. It’s been ten to twelve months like nothing any of us have ever seen before. Many have fallen ill, many have died, many are alone, many have been mistreated, and many are without hope across all sectors of our society and our world. The church here in America has not […]
MY RIGHTS
As citizens of the United States we are blessed and thankful for many rights. We enjoy freedom of religion, the right to free speech, the right to assemble, the right to bear arms (going sleeveless or having arms like a bear?), the right to a speedy trial, the right to disagree with authority and say […]
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
“The Lord is my shepherd…” Psalm 23:1 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me.” John 10:11, 14 Shepherd is one of the titles that Jesus claimed for Himself while He walked on […]
SMALL BEGINNINGS
Small beginnings. They don’t sound too impressive. We like things to start big, with lots of fanfare, plenty of buzz ahead of time on social media, and lots of publicity followed by an impressive launch. We start a new year with big ideas of all the things we will do better this time. We change […]
VOICES OF POWER
Our voices are so important. Yours is. Mine is. The world needs our voices. Yours. Mine. Our voices and our words impact those around us. They make a difference. They have the power to give hope to someone who is struggling. They can speak truth and light where there has been confusion and darkness. Our […]
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have […]
His Unfolding Grace 