Do you know Jesus? Or do you just pretend to know him? Or do you know about him but not him? Those are two utterly different things. Because if we rationalize faith we start doubting. But if we enter into the presence of God and get to know him we are filled with joyful awe and peaceful certainty. Do you hang around Jesus because you want to be blessed? Or because you want to personally know him and love him?…
Often people think that they’d get more out of life if their goal was simply to satisfy all their needs and wants. But the opposite is true! It might first look like that people who pile up most material goods win. But that’s little short-sighted. When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens: the more you get, the less you are. (Proverbs 1: 19, MSG) Isn’t that the saddest thing? People who want to “create themselves” by buying…
My last post was about repentance, forgiveness and becoming holy by God’s grace. I still stand behind those words but God has been teaching me some more on the subject during the weekend. I don’t want anyone to think that salvation depends on anything but God’s grace. Even though the Holy Spirit brings some matters to our attention so that we could repent (and we are wise to do so) we can never be fully aware of and hence repent…
One of the many temptations in life is to forget where our blessings come from. We explain the blessings away thinking things happened by accident or it was serendibity. Or we take the credit for ourselves. But the middle verses of the Bible emphasize the importance of counting our blessings and remembering them. And giving credit where credit is due. O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t…
Picking up your cross is not popular. This world talks about everything but the cross of Christ. Even Christians would like to take the good and easy parts of the gospel and leave the tough ones out. We all would just like to hear about God’s love and leave the carrying your cross part for others. Francois Fenelon asks us a hard question: “He asks nothing but death, and you desire nothing but life. How can you put up to…
Is your faith an accessory or an addition to your life? Or is it the foundation of your life? Too often we push God and his will in the corner. Faith is nice and God makes us feel good but we leave it there. We go on with out lives without God and radical faith. “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words…
How are you doing? Are you living in the fullness of God? Or are you running on empty? We all need refueling. Constantly. We make a big mistake if we think that once we’ve embraced Christ we’d always be spiritually full no matter what we do or leave undone. We all know from our own experience that it’s not true. The first sign that I have gone too long without refueling is getting cranky or impatient. Then my hubby kindly…
The way to life – to God! – has been given to us in Jesus. The empty cross is a sign of victory over death and sin and brokenness. We are saved and guided to the way of Life by grace through faith in Jesus. We are not to look for shortcuts to God. There sure are plenty of empty promises floating around: quick answers, easygoing formulas for success and happiness. But those are not directing us to the way…
Our spiritual eyes need to be kept on Jesus. That is the only way we can be sure we are on the right path. Jesus is the key for worth while living. I know it sounds crazy for many but that’s the bottom line of faith. Jesus doesn’t only save us but gives us meaning, purpose, and direction. Once you’ve experienced the peace and love God is pouring out on you there’s no other way. The visible world really is…
Don’t let the world define you. You are a child of God. Your value derives directly from God. As a heir of Almighty God your value is beyond measure. It doesn’t matter whether you’re single or divorced. It doesn’t matter if you’re jobless or homeless. it doesn’t matter if you’re sick or handicapped. Don’t let those things define you. Let God take over your life and step into freedom in Christ! And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or…
