God allows temptation and trial because they can be good for us. Seriously? Yep. The same Greek and Hebrew words are used in Scripture for both temptation and trial. The distinction depends on intent and motivation. Is the difficult situation for the purpose of tearing down? It’s a temptation. Is it for the purpose of…
Do You Know How Much God Loves You?
Eighteen years ago, a wondrous thing happened. On a torrential Valentine’s Day, in a small church in Southern California, I walked down the aisle and pledged my love and my life to a man I was ready to spend the rest of my days with. As part of our wedding ceremony, I spoke these words…
Encouraging Friends
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. — John 15:13 Treasure friends who encourage you, for they are precious gems. You can confidently share your dreams and hopes with a true friend. A true friend can be rare, but when friendship is proven, it must be treasured…
Friendship: No Greater Love
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. — John 15:13 What’s the most famous friendship in the history of pop culture? My money is on Captain James T. Kirk and his Vulcan first officer, Mr. Spock, from Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek. Where the rugged captain played from his gut, often finding unique…
Messy Beautiful Love Is Christ-Centered
It wasn’t your usual Saturday afternoon. We had a lot of talking to do. Money talk. You know – the uncomfortable, I-want-to-avoid-this-topic discussion, where we chat about our finances to see where our money’s being spent. We desperately try to avoid pointing fingers, but the temptation is strong nonetheless. Michael likes to spend on gifts. Whatever the occasion, I can…