Dwelling on the problem draws us deeper into it, distancing us from the solution. As believers, we have a better way to respond. We can turn away from the dread, the fear, the stuck-in-the-mud feeling, and look at the One who is the Way. It takes boldness to do it.
Abraham stepped into the boldness. He focused on God. Tapping into grace to look away from the challenge and to refocus upon the Source of life was his solution. Abraham was strengthened
Changing the world, one little step at a time, can be accomplished by any Jesus-lover. Jesus was THE radical world-changer of His day. And now this same Man lives in you and me.
We are all born with a desire to have an impact, to be important. Our good Father gives us areas of influence – like parcels of “land” – where we can express passion for change that leads to righteous justice, peace, hope. It takes some creativity and boldness to express this
It’s a hunch. It seems like some believers consider their regular in-the-world vocation as less valuable and influential as a full-time minister’s vocation. Maybe it is because a church minister’s role appears more God-connected. It looks more priestly.
You, at your workplace, is sacred. It is your zone, your field of influence, to bring good to those around you. Your pastor has his zone and you have yours. Together it is a beautiful symphony.
Do you
For billions across the globe -- 9-5 desk jobs, night shifts, virtual offices, constant travel jobs, farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and coffee baristas -- their income-producing vocations are pregnant with God-worship and God-presence possibilities. Business places can be a regular place to worship God, if we purpose to thrive there according to our calling.
Doing your job can be a vibrant expression of close partnership with God. I’m thinking of se...
I want to start chipping away at a disheartening myth about Christians in the workplace – the belief that my workplace job is subpar to a pastor’s job, or full-time intercessor’s vocation, or any other “full-time ministry” description. Any field in which our wise, kind Father God places us is not less than; it is always greater than. Because He led you there and gave you it to you. He is the God who is everywhere with us, longing to be known in love and...
Some of us remember going to birthday parties and summer camps as a child. Sometimes we played a game called Treasure Hunt. Clues were hidden in various places in a field, or in the woods, or at your campsite. To start, you were given a paper scrap with a written clue scribbled on it. Clues were hints designed to steer you to another hiding place where the next clue would be found (under a rock, stuck in a tree’s bark, in your friend’s pillowcase). The...
Grumpy. Or critical, demanding. Words people use to describe God.
Loads of people don’t perceive God as enjoying humans. Because of misunderstandings, false teachings, our own hurts, He is repeatedly criticized.
Somehow we got the idea that God loves to punish people. And the word “judge” seems really scary to us. He is Judge, but I think most of us have been misinformed about what this means for us as His sons and daughters. It’s not supposed to
We feel alive when we feel and know that others enjoy us. My friend pointed to The Seven Longings of the Human Heart book and said, “Every person was created with a craving in their heart to be pursued and enjoyed by others. This is the most significant yearning in our souls.”*
I found enjoy in the dictionary and read: to take delight in, find satisfaction in, be happy, to like, to love. Yes, my heart sings when I feel like someone enjoys me, he is hap
If Jesus walked into the room where you are right now, certainly He would dramatically change your day! I want this kind of drama.
Let us consider the bold reality of Jesus’ goodbye assurance to His disciples and friends, as He looked upon His Father and heavenly home, “Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20 ). To “be sure” means you are undisputably convinced, definitely guaranteed, unquestionably certain. Wou...
We have to be careful what we say because it will return to us. Hahaha. It happened to me when I was in Moscow last October, during my first solo missions trip.
Traveling as a solo-team was new for me. Wisdom tells us that at least two together is better than one. And it’s true. But it was a divine setup. Jesus wanted to change my anxious view of ministering alone. He used my favorite teaching theme to do it.
My favorite theme is Jesus, the Ever-Pre