Happiness is rooted in circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, is rooted in biblical truth - regardless of our circumstances. This is precisely why, incarcerated for his faith, Paul, while still languishing in prison, could write, "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!" Make no mistake: the type of joy … Continue reading Joy vs. Happiness
Grace Notes
The Self-Correcting Property of Being Thankful
Our human-race default is to focus on what we lack, or wish we had. For instance: I wish I had more money and less bills. I wish I had a better job. I wish I had… (fill in the blank.) Some things are trivial: We all know how repelling that perpetually … Continue reading The Self-Correcting Property of Being Thankful
Finding Our Way
There are many biblical passages teaching us why we must “walk in the light.” (This would include avoiding friends who would influence us to “walk in the dark.”) Read on... “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while walking in darkness, we lie … Continue reading Finding Our Way
What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know
Why is a daily devotion/quiet time so vitally important to our spiritual growth. It’s inconceivable (credit “The Princess Bride”) that a musician or athlete would rehearse or practice once a month or worse, a few times a year. But, that’s exactly what Satan fools believers into doing all the time. And for good reason. Read … Continue reading What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know
Turning the Tables on the Devil
We all have awful days i.e. our car breaks down, the hot water heater goes out, something frustrating happens at work or school, someone hurts us, the list seems endless. Pastor/author, Charles Stanley, writing about Joseph (the one with “the coat of many colors” in the book of Genesis), pointed out, “we are all dealt, … Continue reading Turning the Tables on the Devil
The Supernatural World
On the book of Job, chapters 1-2... From award-winning author, Philip Yancey's, book, The Bible Jesus Read: “Nowhere else in the Bible are we more clearly informed of a realm beyond our own - one we cannot see but, nonetheless, exists. “Like Job, we live in ignorance of what is going on ‘behind the curtains.’ … Continue reading The Supernatural World
The Old Rugged Cross
NOTE: I wrote this four months after finding my 19 year old son after he'd taken his own life... There have been moments these past months that I've wanted to give up on God. I'm simply being honest. As one who grew up in a violent, alcoholic home, I witnessed more violence as a child … Continue reading The Old Rugged Cross
Bewitched
“O foolish Galatians,” Paul lamented. “Who has bewitched you?” Through Christ, all 613 Levitcal laws given to Israel were fulfilled. Yet Satan - and our human nature - still tell us, “The only way to please God is through human effort.” i.e. living a “good” life, making sure that - at the end of the … Continue reading Bewitched
For Those Who Laugh at the Thought of a Real Devil
The Bible is crystal clear: Satan exists. He is introduced to us in Genesis 3. And, Jesus refers to him repeatedly in the gospels. Yet, many people - including believers - forget about his relentless pursuit to make us lose our faith or, better yet, prevent us from coming to faith in Christ altogether. (For … Continue reading For Those Who Laugh at the Thought of a Real Devil
You are a Saint (and you don’t even have to live in New Orleans)
I've sat and listened to some preachers drone on, "We are wicked. We are sinners. We are unworthy." The news never gets any better. It's usually at that point I stop listening. Why? I already know that. God pulls no punches: "the human heart is deceitfully wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9), and "all have sinned and fall … Continue reading You are a Saint (and you don’t even have to live in New Orleans)