Forcing Fall
The calendar says it’s officially fall. Big box stores are covered in rustic pumpkins and Halloween decorations. Coffee shops are advertising pumpkin spice and maple-flavored everything. But despite all these signals, despite the truth that we’re actually, firmly in fall, our southern weather has not gotten the message. I want to break out my cute […]
Turning Complaints into Constructive Action
Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, or he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” Numbers 12:1-2 Miriam and Aaron complained about Moses’ wife being a Cushite. Their complaining turned into judgment of Moses and […]
Turning Darkness into Light
The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16 After Jesus was led into the desert and was tempted by Satan, He began to preach to the people. He came preaching with power and was filled […]
Sin
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 The Greek translation for sin is amartia. It means “missing the mark.” Sin begins with temptation. It doesn’t become sin until you give in to the temptation. As courageous leaders, we must resist temptation by having the […]
Christ the Stumbling Stone
As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Romans 9:33 In this passage in Romans 9, starting with verse 30, Paul concludes the chapter with a […]
Fully Persuaded
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the Father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead – since he was about a hundred years old – […]
God’s Strength Brings Peace
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 Jehovah Shalom tells Gideon through the visitation of an angel that Gideon is a mighty warrior. Gideon is stunned and explains to the angel that his clan is the weakest in Manasseh and that he is the least in his family. The […]
Jesus Reinstates Us
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? “Yes Lord, he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes Lord, you know […]
The Music in Your Soul
One summer, I had the pleasure of watching a violin maker go through the steps of creating a violin. It was a remarkable process, and each step had a vital purpose, from selecting the wood, creating the violin using a template, cutting it out, and spending endless hours carving and polishing. Early on in the […]
The Envy Trap
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom […]