Q: The missing piece in many of our lives? A: Chunks of time spent alone with God. Intentional prayer. Many of us have some moments in the mornings for quiet time, a bit of time in the evening, or grab a few minutes in the afternoon when the house is quiet. (SPECIAL offer at…
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Emerging out of the Christian Bubble
I don’t remember making the choice to be in the Bubble. I just remember looking up and finding myself reclining comfortably in the Christian bubble. I listened to Christian music, read Christian novels, subscribed to Christian blogs, attended Christian conferences, and wore Christian jewelry. I had become a valuable consumer of all things Christian. Don’t…
I Would Be So Much Wiser…
I used to stress a lot about fixing things… and people and situations. Everything that was wrong – as I perceived it to be – needed to be addressed right away. I pushed hard to overcome whatever I found to be wrong. Hours evaporated with pursuits gone on way too long…emails, meetings, conversations, phone calls,…
Complicated Life of Secrets
We are so very complicated. Our lives include secret layers and compartments about which we tell no one. Check out this desk that lots of secrets… What compartments are hidden away in your life? Secrets require much effort to remain hidden. They create a most complicated life! Sometimes we spend so much energy keeping ourselves…
Jesus as the “I Am”
The Book of John records Jesus using the phrase “I am” at least 23 times. In seven of them, he pairs the statement with a metaphor. They illustrate traits in common between Jesus and ordinary objects. Each statement has been the topic of many articles, books and sermons. When observed together, however, we see how Jesus…
God’s Promptings as Road Signs
Interstate highways in the United States are well marked. If you follow the big green signs, you can go to most any destination … without a GPS. If you ignore the signs, however, disaster strikes. You could pass an exit or even miss details of an unexpected detour. You will likely still arrive at your destination… but…
Devotional: The Vine
This post concludes the “I Am” devotional series. To begin the series, go to Bread for the Journey. In the final “I Am” statement, Jesus used a gardening metaphor… “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener… I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and…
Never Too Late to Make a Difference
“I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:15-16) We are never too late, old, or insignificant to make a difference. When Moses was eighty years old, God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. I imagine after forty years tending his father in-law’s flocks,…
Why?
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? These questions crash into our lives daily. We learn of fatal disease and terrible crises intruding on compassionate, loving friends. Then we hear about abundant privileges heaped on ruthless and cruel people. We can’t help ourselves, but we want…
Give Yourself Some Space
It happens in the shower all the time… With shampoo bubbling in my hair, the long-awaited solution to an formidable problem strolls casually into my brain. Why is that?? Why do the stellar ideas arrive when I am without-paper-and-pen and the water is pouring from the shower head? The answer: Because I are not multitasking. I shampoo….
