Sometimes we think that God calls only impressive, competent people into his service. But I think we could not be more wrong. God is looking for willing people whom God would like to bless and equip for his service. Moses is a great example of this. Moses objected, “They won’t trust me. They won’t listen to a word I say. They’re going to say, ‘God? Appear to him? Hardly!’”(Exodus 4:1, MSG) Moses could not believe that he would be able…
“God majors in impossibility” is one of those uplifting, encouraging, and empowering facts of faith Mary DeMuth writes about in her new Everything book. Impossible is nothing to God, he is mighty powerful! Also nothing is impossible with God, he will empower us to thrive by grace. This quote encourages me to embrace life fully no matter what happens: “God’s heart…is not that we escape our lot, but that we learn to thrive in the midst of it” (Mary DeMuth)….
What does help you to stay strong and steady on your Christian walk? Are you aware of the enemy’s sneaky ways to steal your joy and peace? How do you deal with joy-stealers, doubt-raisers and hope-snatchers? I’ve found that I need to turn to God as soon as I wake up in the morning. Like John Piper says in his recent sermon “every morning there is a war in the Piper household”. Well said. I think there is a battle…
Isn’t it utterly amazing that in the midst of truly hard circumstances people still praise the Lord? How on earth do they do that? Why doesn’t everyone just quit believing in God when things get rough?
“What is it that you want? Do you want an easy life? Or do you want what’s best for you? Do you want to fit in with the crowd? Or do you want to abide in Me?” Can you hear God challenging us this morning? “So, Jeremiah [insert your own name here], if you’re worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can’t keep your wits during times of…
Spiritual disciplines are nothing more than ways to connect with God in such ways that increase spiritual growth. They are ways that help us to get to know God deeper and deeper. They are ways that get us refocused on God. They are also ways that prepare us for service and mission. The deeper we abide in Christ, the more God can use us in his service. That’s why Christians have used spiritual disciplines from the beginning. Just like Jesus….
Failure is something that we try to avoid at all costs. We think it will be the end of the world. Or, at least, the end of our personal world. But kingdom living IS upside down living. Failure is not the end in the kingdom of God. It is the beginning. Because when we have reached the lowest point, we are open for God in our lives. Then we are, like apostle Paul, ready to trust God and not our…
Do you think upright-living is uptight-living? Did you know that upright-living does not mean joy-less living? It means joy-filled living instead. Because upright-living is God-honoring and God is joy. But, sure, we do need to stick to Jesus with patient endurance. We do need to seize the word of God and hold on no matter of what. We do need to be sincere and honest in our beliefs until the end. Because if we don’t, we don’t mature. If we…
Are you tired of waiting for God’s answers? I know how you’re feeling. But our feelings of desolation does not mean God has abandoned us. When we are devastated, God is nearer than we can imagine. These silent seasons of the soul are part of our journey. We don’t need to understand. We can just trust that God is at work even when we feel he doesn’t care.
One of the great Christian mysteries and blessings is that Christ lives in us. What does it really mean? When we have -by grace- come to believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes residence in us. Then we are not alone anymore. It’s God with us.
