If the avenue of prayer keeps us anchored in an intimate relationship with God, then perhaps when we find our communication with God becoming less frequent, less prioritized, less transparent, less vital, we can safely assume we are drifting. When we find that we are moving away from dependence on God to self-reliance and…
Grace for the Mess
For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ. — Romans 5:17 NLT The meaning of life. The wasted…
You Are Never Alone Week 5 — God Is with You in the Valley
For our sake [God] made [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. — 2 Corinthians 5:21 His command at Bethany had been enough to call Lazarus from the grave. His announcement at Calvary was sufficient to save all who believe in Him from…
The Passion Code: Up
During His intense struggle on the Cross, our Lord spoke seven times as He hung suspended between heaven and earth. The strangest of these cries was, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? — Matthew 27:46 He knew well what it was to be forsaken. In Galilee, He was forsaken by His family.…
Hoping When Doubts Darken Our Way
It’s tempting to think that many of us will reach a point in our lives where we’ll be forced to question all that we believe, and then after this struggle we’ll never doubt again. The truth, however, is that all of us test our beliefs every day. Every time you make a decision about how…
How to Confuse an Angel
How to Confuse an Angel What does it take to impress an angel? There’s not much angels haven’t seen, after all. They had a front row seat at creation. They have seen God make a donkey talk. They filled the heavens with praise at the birth of the baby Jesus and rolled the stone away…
Be the Gift: Cruciform and Blessed
Cruciform When we walk in the back door from Sunday service, from the breaking of bread and thick intimacy of exchange, there’s this black pen lying on the table. I pick up the pen and turn my wrist over. How many years had I cut that paling wrist, wearing my brokenness on the outside? I pick…
He Chose the Nails: He Chose to Be One of Us
God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. — Romans 8:3 NLT You alone are the God for us…