“…if you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” (Isaiah 7:9 ESV). The world has tried to sell us a bill of goods. It wants us to believe that the most important thing is self-esteem. It wants us to think that we need to embrace who we are, whether or... Continue Reading →
What Are You Hiding?
"For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light" (Luke 8:17 ESV). Perhaps you can remember when, as a child, you were amazed that your parents always seemed to know when you had done something wrong despite your best attempts at... Continue Reading →
3 Steps To Success
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21 ESV). Who doesn’t want to be successful? I don’t know of anyone who has set out with dreams of failure. Oftentimes, however,... Continue Reading →
Not To Be Served
“…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28, ESV) I have a confession. I like to be pampered and served. I enjoy going out to eat and having the wait staff cater to my desires. It makes me... Continue Reading →
No Regrets
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV). I cannot tell a lie, I have some regrets in life. I regret not going on to seminary when I finished my Bachelor’s degree. I regret many poor financial decisions that I made early... Continue Reading →
Paradise Lost
“And to Adam he said, ‘Because you have…eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, “You shall not eat of it,” cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat... Continue Reading →
Wisdom Wednesday: Wounds of a Friend
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6 ESV). I’ve written recently about the value of community. In community we find and give comfort; we strengthen the faith of others and are strengthened by theirs. In community we encourage and are ourselves encouraged. But, while community is... Continue Reading →
Thoughts of Self
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3 ESV). When I sat down to write this I noticed the... Continue Reading →
Community
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV)! I’ve mentioned here before that I’m a bit of an... Continue Reading →
The Strength of Mary
**”And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her" (Luke 1:38 ESV).** Nowadays it is not uncommon that a young girl would be single and pregnant. A few short years ago, it would not have been uncommon for... Continue Reading →
Skipping Stones 