From the beginning of creation, God has asked for honesty — not perfection. I suppose it was easy for Adam and Eve to be honest with God at first, because they had not yet disobeyed Him. They had no secrets or hidden agendas, only full transparency with each other and with God. But after…
Balance Is Overrated
Because if everything is important, nothing is. Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terror, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them. ~ Anaïs Nin, The Diary of Anaïs Nin Every year in my company, I send out an in-depth survey to find out just a little…
How Long Should You Pray for Something?
I have often been asked, “Pastor Ronnie, how long should I pray for something?” I do not believe there is a Christian anywhere in the world today who has not asked at one time or another, “How long should I pray for something?” Years ago, some began to teach that if you really had enough…
Trade Your Cares for Calm: Handling Guilt
Antidote to Guilt Our guilt may be the result of a moment or a season in life. You failed as a parent. You blew it in your career. You squandered your youth or your money. The result? Guilt. A harsh consequence of the guilt? Anxiety. Surprised? Lists of anxiety-triggers typically include busy schedules, unrealistic demands,…
Letting Go: My Justice Fantasy
Editor’s note: Wilma Derksen’s world collapsed when her teenage daughter, Candace, was taken hostage and murdered. Through the process of grief and enduring the legal trials that followed the murder, Wilma learned to choose to “let go” and trust God with the outcome. * I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict…
The Shame Monster
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. —Romans 8:1 The reason it is so hard for us to admit to the secrets hidden in our hearts is that we’re ashamed of them. We think that if we keep denying our ugly stuff, then maybe we’ll look better than we…
Puppies, Butterflies, and a Savior
What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord! – Romans 7:24-25 When I was ten years old, I had a puppy named Tina. You would have loved her. She was the perfect pet. An irresistible,…
God Is a Good Judge
The Bible says that God’s wrath is coming on the entire world. But this is out of step with the God that Americans, by an overwhelming majority, say they believe in. How can the God who is love bring wrath and punishment? Who wants that God around? God’s wrath is coming because He is the God of…
Say No to Guilt!
The apostle Paul offers good advice in Philippians 3:13 where he says (my paraphrase), I don’t consider that I’ve already arrived but here is what I do. I forget those things that are in my past and focus on my future in Christ Jesus. This is the guy who was complicit in many state-sponsored incarcerations…
A Healthy Regret
There is an old story about the time Emperor Frederick the Great visited Potsdam Prison. He spoke with the prisoners, and each man claimed to be innocent, a victim of the system. One man, however, sat silently in the corner. The ruler asked him, “And you, sir, who do you blame for your sentence?” His…
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