Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. — Matthew 4:1 After His baptism but before He began His public ministry, Jesus was led into the desert to undergo an attack by Satan. It was a profound testing of Christ’s human nature and a profound blasphemy against…
Prayer
Do The Heart Work: Examine and Confess
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. — Reinhold Niebuhr One fateful day in June, I found myself poring over volumes of photos on my computer. I was on a tight project deadline, so naturally, scrolling…
Bible
Dance Stand Run: Let’s Go Back
It’s okay if we’ve had some misconceptions about grace, holiness, and mission. But it’s time for us to go back to the beginning of our faith and sort them out. ✦ Suggested Reading in Dance, Stand, Run: Intro, Chapter 1 (To be read by facilitator) Intro Ladies, friends, sisters: are you ready? This week, we’re…
Women
The Upside: Purpose
One cool Saturday night in September 2015, my mama hung the next day’s church clothes on her closet door. She placed a cup of water on her nightstand next to my novel and climbed into her plush bed. Sometime during the night, while my mother slept, her soul went to be with Jesus. I watched…
Men
The Reason God Hasn’t Fixed You Yet
I saw a story on 60 Minutes a few months ago about the happiest country in the world. It was Denmark. A study done by a British university ranked the happiest countries, and America was far down the list, but Denmark was on top. Morley Safer explored why. Ruling out financial status, physical health,…
Family
Remembering Jesus This Christmas Despite the Mess
Our family is in the middle of a major renovation. We broke ground in June, hoping it would be completed by Thanksgiving. Our plans include a mudroom, an open concept kitchen, updated bathrooms, and much needed storage for our 1930s home. We are still weeks away from completion and I find myself hoping for a…
