Jacob said to his household, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves… Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God.” So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. — Genesis 35:2–4 Maybe…
God Is Still There
A wilderness is defined as an uncultivated, uninhabited, inhospitable region. At least that’s the definition I was given when I googled it. I would also describe a wilderness as dry, barren, lonely, and rocky. And it was in a spiritual wilderness that I found myself several years ago. Because it was a time in my life that was…
Impossible Situations? He is the Lord of Possibilities
Mr. Football: Johnny U During the 1950s & 1960s, there was one name that became synonymous with football — Johnny Unitas. During these great growth years of the NFL, Unitas helped carry the sport to the forefront. His work ethic and passion for the game provided his teammates with great inspiration. Unitas was a self-made man…
The House Founded on the Rock
The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. — Matthew 7:25 If you’ve climbed on boulders like those found on beaches in the Pacific Northwest or New England, you’ve probably slipped a time or two. In…
Waiting on God: Trust in His Timing
Editors Note: This is an excerpt from Being Still with God Every Day. In this 366-day devotional, each day features a scripture and a short, meaningful devotion to set minds and hearts on practical, godly living every day of the year. “How Long?” The Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will…
Applying the Gospel to Suffering
The Gospel of Christ’s grace deals thoroughly both with the sins we have committed and with the evils we have suffered. Somewhere along the way, some of us may have gained the mistaken notion that to address suffering means minimizing sin and capitulating to a secular psychology perspective on victimization. While I understand that concern,…
Divine (Dis)Appointment
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” – Genesis 41:41 Isn’t it interesting that the word appointment comes from within the word disappointment? I’ve often marveled at that because I’ve seen again and again how disappointments take something from us: a dream, a piece of…
Why Should We Trust God?
Admit it. There are times when God and the things He does — or the things He allows — just don’t make sense to you. You wonder why He allows your funny, kind, compassionate friend to die in a violent car crash and lets a hardened criminal avoid prison on a technicality. It’s hard to…
The Daniel Plan Week 3 – Rejoice!
Life is messy and painful. What an uplifting start, huh? Merry Christmas to all! Life is messy and painful. But it’s the truth — heartbreak happens. And we have to decide what we choose to do with it. Before I give you my progress report on how I’m doing on The Daniel Plan and the…
Resurrection Year: Broken Dreams & New Beginnings
Expectation. Expectation. Expectation. Disappointment. After ten years of tear-soaked prayers, repeatedly dashed hopes, and multiple failed rounds of IVF, Sheridan Voysey and his wife come to a heart-breaking conclusion—their dream of having a child is over. Empty and confused from a decade of disappointment, they leave their jobs, pack their bags, and embark on a journey…