Follow Well. Lead Well.
I was not an avid reader as a child like Dad. He had numerous books going simultaneously. I was always amazed by the wide variety of subjects he read. I, on the other hand, had a difficult time even finishing a book. And there were many times I peeked ahead to find out how things …
(There is) one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:6). A good part of my life I had a certain picture in mind of God and what He was like. He was sitting on His throne and really far away. This heavenly Father (with maybe …
What comes to mind when you think about the Holy Spirit? For some, they picture the Spirit of God as a type of force or power to tap into in order to see God do big things. Personally, for a long time, the Holy Spirit was the most mysterious of the Godhead, since I heard …
There has been a lot of ground covered over the last four posts and I want to attempt to put it altogether. Just as I started — if someone asks me about the Trinity, instead of looking puzzled and sidestepping the question, I would like to answer with what I do understand. There is mystery, …
Hope. What do you need hope for right now? I imagine we can each easily call something to mind for which we need hope. Or, we can anticipate the times that will come when finding hope will be a challenge. As I continue from Psalm 23 in Need Peace, this last part has given me …
One thing I wish was a constant in life is peace. On a superficial level, I just wish it wasn’t so busy during this season (and every season) of the year. I have to fight for moments of stillness and reflection. That sounds peaceful, right? Fight for peace! On a deeper level I think we …
Life is crazy. I just expect this time of year to be this way. There is the shopping, the decorating, the bombardment of emails, the hosting, the baking… Unfortunately, often the Christmas season equals busy. To sidestep this I have been turning Psalm 23 over in my mind. Yes it is familiar, but timeless and …
I like the ring of this phrase- “made marvelous.” Maybe because “marvelous” is not a customary part of my vocabulary, or maybe because marvelous is just a good sounding word, I like it. This morning I read these two words and became curious. What about you? I want to know, what was “made marvelous?” It …
Updated note: This was written before many of the challenging issues that followed 2018. I realize how much I don’t know still. I am also reminded that the heart of this post is still true for all my relationships. Being a learner of others, hearing others, and listening is always a good place to start. …
Think about when you are most satisfied. Something important to you makes you feel good or happy. Yet this may not be the thing that actually satisfies our soul. We need “soul satisfying.” Soul Satisfying The satisfied life is a content life. Content does not equal happy, but rather it is a full life with …
Part 2 in the Satisfied Life-Practically, in our everyday life we often treat God like a distant relative, or He is “up there” somewhere. We go for periods of time without talking to Him, consulting Him or thanking Him. We have more of a contractual relationship; if we do our part, He will reward or do …
What are you depending on? My conversations with others (and in my own head) of late have included this question. Or, I could say it this way, “What am I counting or relying on day-to-day to bring me satisfaction, fulfillment, rest, or reprieve?” As I reflect on this, I can see how much I anticipate …
Making a decision can often feel weighty, kind of like the scene towards the end of the movie, The Last Crusade, when Indian Jones must decide which cup is Christ’s cup. The knight says, “Choose wisely.” For one choice leads to life and the other, to destruction. How do you choose? Decision-making can be agonizing! …
God seeks our lowliness. He desires it — earnestly wanting it for us. Not because He is a God who wishes to crush us or takes pleasure in our unhappiness, no it is for the exact opposite. Because of His great love for us, He desires our lowliness. Becoming Like a Child Another way of …
For some, being in a discipleship relationship seems daunting. I remember thinking that if I discipled or mentored someone I really needed to have my act together. On the other hand, I thought if I was “discipled” by someone then I needed to share all my dirt and I wasn’t so sure I was ready …
