-
In the Face of Accusation, Face the King: How God Stands in Our Defense
“Edmund was on the other side of Aslan, looking all the time at Aslan’s face. He felt a choking feeling and wondered if he ought to say something; but a moment later he felt that he was not expected to do anything except to wait, and do what he was told.” – C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe This week I decided to re-read one of my favorite series: The Chronicles of Narnia. While reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I noticed a powerful paragraph for the first time. This is the iconic scene where the witch, Jadis, comes before Aslan to stake her…
-
One Step Forward, Three Steps Back: How Persevering Is Winning
Walking with God can sometimes feel like taking one step forward only to then take three steps back. One day we may achieve a great victory in our spiritual life, only to feel attacked in the same area the very next day. This can leave us wondering whether we are making any progress at all and moving forward. Are the victories we are receiving real and complete? Why is it that sometimes moving forward looks and feels like going backward? The Purpose of Perseverance The Bible has much to say on perseverance, and Paul reminds us that there is a purpose in it. “And not only that, but we also…
-
Two Shepherds, One Flock: What Your Pastor Can Give and What Only Christ Can Fulfill
The word shepherd conveys a mental image of a man with a rod standing watch over a vast field carefully tending his sheep. In the Christian world, a shepherd conveys the image of Christ and passages such as John 10. In our daily context, this word may even bring up a mental image of our local church pastor or our spiritual leaders. This meaningful word is charged with meaning—theological, spiritual and practical. But have we mistakenly placed expectations on our human leaders that can only be upheld by Christ as the Good Shepherd? What is it reasonable to expect from our church leaders and what needs can only be met…
-
Discovering How God Speaks: A Practical Guide
Have you ever wished God would simply speak to you in an audible voice and tell you exactly what to do? I believe we’ve all been there. We’ve all wished we could hear God speak just like that. In many of our minds, the very concept of hearing God’s voice conjures mental images of a deep, booming voice giving out orders. And yet… it simply isn’t like that. At least, not the vast majority of the time. Which is why learning the different ways God speaks is essential for us as believers. Here’s the thing, we all can hear God’s voice. We were all designed to hear him and know…
-
When Disappointment Hits: God Restoring and Reviving Our Soul
I recently heard someone say that the two main things that take people out the most in life and ministry are bitterness and not dealing well with disappointment. What is it about disappointment that makes it such an essential thing to deal with? The way you deal with it will either bring you closer to God or it will pull you away. And here’s the thing, if you let it pull you away from him, then you’re drifting away from the source of healing for your pain and your disappointment. Other solutions will only become quick fixes in an attempt to deal with the very real bitterness festering inside against…
-
Opening the Word: A Friendly Guide to Starting Your Bible Reading Adventure
Welcome reader and happy April! This month, I’ve decided to delve into one of my favorite topics: the Bible! If this does not excite, do not worry. My goal is to help you find a new love and passion for reading and studying the Bible. I will be sharing some helpful tips to begin reading the Bible, fall in love with it again, and understand it better. Today, let’s dive into basics and talk about how to begin reading the Bible. If you’ve been reading the Bible for a long time, don’t worry! It’s always good to dust off some cobwebs and refresh our minds a bit. Remember the Purpose…
-
Get to Know Me: My Faith and Reading Journey
Hello again, friend! It’s a joy to have you drop by for another visit. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable and help yourself to some tea and cookies while we chat? I just made them fresh. Well, virtually fresh. As fresh as virtual cookies can be. Anyway, I thought we’d take some time to get to know each other. So get comfy and make yourself at home. As you may know, I’m passionate about my relationship with Jesus and I’m also an avid bookworm. Being that the case, I thought I’d share a few snapshots of my life. I’ll first share about my faith, and then I’ll share about my…
