I was reading the book of Jonah this morning. And it struck me just how relevant his story is. To recap, God tells Jonah to “get up and go to the great city of Ninevah”, and Jonah really doesn’t want to go. Ninevah is a non-covenant enemy of Israel. Jonah can’t stand them. Instead of listening, Jonah runs in the … Read More
Sleeping with Lions
Samson slayed the lion. Daniel slept with them. God doesn’t always confront the same problem in the same manner. If we aren’t careful, it’s easy to miss how He’s moving, because we expect it to look a certain way. With Samson, God enabled him to eliminate the threat through power (Judges 14). With Daniel, God kept him safe while He worked … Read More
God Leads Us in Steps
God Leads Us in Steps … Not Leaps. Did you know that nowhere in the Bible does God call for a leap of faith? There’s not one instance where God commanded someone to do something physically or spiritually extraordinary for their particular situation. He always led His children in manageable steps just as He does now (Psalm 37:23). God … Read More
The Natural Always Precedes the Supernatural
We all want or need something. The thing about God is, He designed man to be in partnership with Him. He plays His role and we have a complementary part. When God put Adam in the Garden of Eden, Adam’s role was to plant seed. He didn’t have to make anything grow; there were no weeds or thorns to pull. … Read More
The Fallacy of Forgiveness
We live in such a unique and complex era. Granted, every decade, century, or millennia comes with its individual nuances, and as time and technology progress, it’s nearly impossible to foresee what will happen next. One thing that can be predicted, almost without question, is human behavior. Across the span of human existence, the evolution of our reactions has been noticeably … Read More
Hashtag: Trending Sin
“Do you believe (insert supposed transgression of choice here) is a sin?” How many times have you been asked this in your Christian life? How many more times are those in the spotlight asked this question? Most of us have prepared a response to whatever subject is broached. In fact, as Christians, God calls us to have answers for a … Read More
Rear View Potential
I have sort of a bad habit when it comes to relationships and sizing up humans. The foundation of my opinions is oftentimes based on (future) potential. I mentally acknowledge an individual’s gifts and abilities. I admire their strengths and imagine all the good they’re capable of. Seeing people for their potential is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, … Read More
God, Candy Bars, and Memory Loss
I was reading the story of Elijah this morning, and I couldn’t help but laugh. We see similar themes all throughout the Bible, detailing God’s promises and blessings as well as His warnings and eventual consequences. Yet people tap into their inner child, eyes wide and mouths agape, and act like they’re surprised when the faultless God follows through. … Read More
God, I’m Stuck.
Have you ever felt stuck in growth, in progress, or just in life? You think, “God, I could do so much more if You would just move me.” What we fail to realize though is the reason you aren’t being moved is because you’ve been planted. A few weeks ago, I shared my struggle with feeling stuck and how God has used … Read More
Where’s God When I Need Him?
I’ve felt kind of “stuck” in my circumstances lately, like I don’t have much of a say in my own life. The “stuckness” isn’t a result of anything except people and situations I have no control over. I’m a firm believer in growth and changing what’s in your power to do so. So naturally, stuckness isn’t a theme I’m fond … Read More