Have you ever considered yourself or someone else “far from God?” In fact, take a moment. Who comes to your mind right now when you think of someone who is “far from God?” What is the “kind of person” you might consider “furthest from God?”.
When you consider that God is all-powerful, or omnipotent, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the vastness of creation and the immense power we find in nature—an erupting volcano, a pride of lions, or the mass and energy of a star. Considering these things can be humbling let alone the even greater God who formed and holds them all.
I feel the familiar pit of anxiety in my stomach, and I sigh. I think about how I haven’t spent enough time reading my Bible or praying lately, and I feel the guilt. The guilt that pushes me in the opposite direction of the thing I need most.
January is a significant month. It marks the beginning of a new calendar year and brings with it opportunities for reflection and goal-setting. In all of this reflection, there is a heartbeat below the surface: God, what are You up to? Let's examine the transition from the challenges of 2020 to the new horizons of 2021.
What picture enters your mind when you consider the word peace? A quiet beach somewhere? Perhaps a big comfy chair and a hot drink next to a warm fire? Some days, my version of peace is simply a few minutes of respite from my kids and their chaos! But maybe you’d go a bit deeper and say that peace is an...
You know what I like? Well, actually there’s a lot of things. Ice-cream, musicals, kittens – I could go on. Want to know what I really really like? When someone extends patience, kindness, and tenderheartedness toward me. It’s like an ice-cream kitten musical in my heart!.
Deuteronomy 7:9 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Moses beautifully describes God’s immutable commitment to His people through His promises and covenants. But wait… what about the conditional statement outlined in the second half of the verse? It’s there as plain as day.
When God designed me He didn’t make mistakes. I know He very intentionally chose for me to lack the ability to reach things sitting on the top shelf of the kitchen, I know he instilled in me a love for all things coffee-related, and I especially know he gave me a heart for being a servant of his.
I could feel a sense of urgency building inside me all day long, and I didn’t know why. When I got home, I laced up my tennis shoes and headed outside, hoping for some clarity. I took some deep breaths and prayed as my feet hit the pavement, “What’s going on inside me today, Lord?”.
Is anyone else sick and tired of hearing the phrase “unprecedented times?” I’m becoming convinced that our use of the word “unprecedented” may actually be the most unprecedented development of the year, and that’s saying something! Or to put it another way: if you had “unprecedented times” on your “2020 Lingo Bingo” card, you’ve probably already won by now.
