The Beautiful Things We Miss
When we miss what God is giving in life’s small moments, we quietly but clearly miss our very lives
“In the weeks since my daughter’s comment, uncomfortable but important questions have flashed through my mind. Where else are we missing God’s beauty in our lives? Why do we miss it? And what can we do about it? Let’s explore these questions so that we can be fully present to him, others and the blessings... Continue Reading
What Can We Learn about God from His Name?
“The LORD” is God’s personal name, and we must understand it if we are to understand God’s nature
The modern English lord is a simplification of the Middle English lovered, laverd, which is in turn from the Old English hlāford, made up of hlāf, “bread,” and ward, “keeper.” Our English word lord therefore derives ultimately from “bread-keeper” and refers to a feudal superior or titled nobleman. In a broad sense, it came to mean “master,”... Continue Reading
God Isn’t Impressed With Your Duty
We cannot compel Him by our actions to do anything contrary to His heart
“It is not enough that we would live simply from desire and willingness, and not compulsion and obligation. We want to live from righteous desire, not for shameful or sinful gain — desire that is fitting to its object.” One of the most liberating discoveries of my life has been coming to find that... Continue Reading
The Difference Between the Integrity of the Qur’an & the Bible
A book which claims to be from God must have characteristics that demonstrate it to be so
“If a piece of literature asserts that it is the very word of the Supreme Being in the universe, it should have characteristics which resemble an all-wise, omniscient, impeccable being. When we come to the Qur’an, however, it struggles to live up to its divine claim.” Years ago I had a friend come visit... Continue Reading
The Good Father of the Spiritually Fatherless
Young Christians are often left to fend for themselves in their own homes, having to teach themselves how to pray, hear from God in his word, and pursue holiness — all with just a Bible.
If your parents have not been positive spiritual influences on your faith, you are not as alone as you may feel. Many have met and followed Christ without godly parents, and each of them has been fathered in a deeper, more meaningful way. Many children begin walking with the Lord without parents to show... Continue Reading
When Rest is Stress: 3 Ways to Pause in the Middle of Pressure
Work is a wonderful gift, but it’s a terrible god.
I’m not alone, though. According to the CDC (American Center for Disease Control), we Americans work more than anyone else in the Western World. Presumably, this is to pursue the American Dream. But for many of us, busyness overtakes the dream, and, in a strange twist, becomes the way we determine who is important. For... Continue Reading
God’s Eternal Plan for You
Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I have a coffee mug and a journal with this very verse imprinted on them. These are too often taken out of context and used to teach that God wants to bless you; that he wants you to be healthy, wealthy, and happy all the time. Aside from glossing over parts of the Bible that... Continue Reading
6 Reasons Why Adam and Eve’s Eating of the Forbidden Fruit Was a Terrible Transgression against God
God created the world for his glory—so that his creation would live unto him, giving him praise in all things.
Genesis describes how everything God created was good (Gen. 1). God created humans as his royal image bearers to rule over creation, tend his garden, and care for his creatures—honoring their creator in all. Adam and Eve were righteous and upright, with the full ability to obey God and keep all his commands. The... Continue Reading
The One Thing We Can Know in Our Hurts
Looking at the cross, we can know we are very loved.
This is perhaps the chief way the Holy Spirit comforts us in our afflictions. He reminds us of what Christ has done for us. And this is not because the Spirit is at a loss as to how to encourage us. He’s not like our well-meaning friends who like to spout cheap inspirational clichés and... Continue Reading
Our Deepest Need
“Your sins are forgiven.”
Christ’s forgiveness is broad and general. It is not like the paralytic offended Jesus earlier in the day and now Jesus is forgiving him. Christ offers him something so much better by pronouncing upon him wholesale forgiveness for his sins. The account of the healing of the lame man in Mark 2:1–12 includes a... Continue Reading