It is said that a ship traveling even one degree off course can end up on a completely different continent. Traveling from San Francisco to L.A. one degree off will cause you to end up 6 miles off course, and from San Francisco to Washington D.C. would have you end up in Boston. One degree seems so trivial, but stay the course long enough, and you end up on a path to a completely different destination than you may have originally hoped.
Read MoreThe word theology sounds pretty daunting to understand. It’s a word we try to avoid and steer off into another topic which we may feel a little bit more comfortable with. When we think about the word ‘theology’ we tend to think about Biblical academics, Christian history, and a lot of other subjects that we may think that is too difficult or irrelevant to jump into.
Read MoreThe simple thought of introducing myself to a room full of people makes my heart race. Even though this is something I have done countless times, it never gets any easier. I usually go over what I’m going to say to introduce myself in my head, and it usually ends up being something short and sweet with the possibility of getting a bit awkward.
Read MoreAs I was writing out Scripture the other day, I settled in Philippians 2:12-18. I'm going to write it out for you because I love the passage in its entirety, but if you have a Bible, open up on your own and read it in your version. Any time we can open up the word of God on our own, we need to do that, even if it's on a screen in front of us. Here are some things the Holy Spirit taught me through the study of this passage.
Read MoreWe serve a God who is omnipotent. Omnipotence is the quality of having unlimited or very great power. This means His power is unmatched - He created everything and everyone that previously existed and currently exists. This aspect of God's character is all over the pages of Scripture.
Read MoreEven the most committed and strong of God’s servants may at times experience discouragement, depression, and a desire to withdraw from their calling. I’m encouraged to know that the mighty Bible hero Elijah also experienced this and succumbed to his human weakness subject to fear and vulnerability.
Read MoreI don’t think there has ever been a point in my life that I wasn’t apart of a church family. I honestly love attending a church service on a Sunday morning. It’s so uplifting and encouraging to see so many other people love and worship Jesus with you. Attending church is definitely been something I want to do, rather than something I have to.
Read MoreI love the book of Psalms. Over the last few weeks I have found myself going there often when I reach for my Bible. I love to read them, because you can hear the intensity with which the writer writes. They’re very raw and vulnerable—just like we are sometimes when we’re at our worst or lowest.
Read MoreSeveral times in my life - for one reason or another - I have found myself in seasons during which I didn’t take communion. I moved and didn’t have a church home. I was travelling every weekend. Or I just felt disconnected from God
Read MoreDo you know who is saying this? It’s surprising how many confessing Christians have never heard this scripture. This was spoken by Jesus Christ, the one our entire faith rests upon. In the slew of social media platforms, blogs, podcasts, magazines, and literature, his name sometimes gets cut out. God has a much larger platform presence than Jesus Christ.
Read MoreRecently I heard a sermon online about blessings and curses. The pastor mentioned Deuteronomy 28, which led me on an exegesis (an in-depth study of the meaning behind this passage) of the chapter. What leads to blessings and what leads to curses? It all came down to one thing - obedience.
Read MoreSeeing people with the worth God created within them can change your entire outlook on life. It makes missions more valuable to you, because you care whether those in another city, state, or country hear about Jesus. It makes prison ministry seem more important than ever, because no matter what they've done, you know God still values them as equal in worth compared to you.
Read MoreHave you ever studied the history of marriage? Many people know the story of Adam and Eve. How God said “It is not good for man to be alone”. Then, He created Eve. This tends to be the start of the Christian concept of marriage.
Read MoreDoes anyone else feel the heaviness of grief as the death toll continues to skyrocket overnight? Are you experiencing overwhelming disappointment as more and more events are cancelled? As another day goes by without a cure for this virus? Does anyone feel insulted by the enemy’s tactics to isolate and divide God’s people during this national crisis?
Read MoreThere are seasons when it’s tempting to give up and simply stop reading the Bible and praying entirely. Because you’re just not feeling it, so what’s the point? You try to pray, but your mind just wanders anyways. You try to read the Bible but get nothing out of it - it’s just words on a page. Maybe it will fix itself tomorrow. So, how do you get out of this funk? How do you find your way back to your first love?
Read MoreLast night my family took communion around our dinner table. Normally we do this at church, surrounded by other believers. But as we all know, things are not normal. Given the state of the current world, it is no longer possible to share this sacrament as we always have. My country, just like yours, has restricted the gathering of many people together.
Read MoreHave you read the story of Caleb and Joshua and the other men from each tribe of Israel that Moses sent to spy out some land for the Israelites to enter into? This telling of events and what took place begins in the Old Testament book of Numbers, starting in chapter thirteen.
Read MoreChapters 10 through 12 of 2 Corinthians are basically Apostle Paul trying to explain his authority as an apostle: why he is completely not worthy, but also how that makes him the most qualified minister of the Gospel. So, let’s break down how although Apostle Paul had grounds for experiencing imposter syndrome, he was able to overcome any weaknesses and feelings of inferiority through the Gospel.
Read MoreShabbat shalom! For those who don’t know this is a common Jewish greeting wishing peace to those celebrating the traditional Sabbath of Friday evening through Saturday evening. In our westernized, Christian culture we tend to miss this very important commandment God gave. I recently started to research what God meant by “rest” when He rested on the 7th day. This also made me ponder what “rest” meant when the Lord commands the Israelites in the ten commandments to take a day devoted to Him.
Read MoreAs humans, we try to avoid pain. We do everything we can to fill our soul’s aches and needs by self-medicating. Some turn to drugs and alcohol to cope; others fill our schedules with work 20 hours a day until we drop into bed exhausted; and yet others fill their minds with social media, television, friends, parties, travel, and any kind of noise or distraction just so we wouldn’t have to feel the depth of our pain and need. Because hurting sucks. Having a need only God can - but won’t - fill is really hard. It is the deep, personal, felt needs that maybe no one even knows about but we carry with us every day, year after year.
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