Kesha WeekesYour Mind: Renovated
What do our minds have in common with a dilapidated old house? More than you might think… hear me out.
Revelation: More Than Knowledge
Have you ever thought you knew something, then suddenly it really just clicked and you understood it so much better that it was almost like you really hadn’t known it at all before?
A Prayer for Character
Heavenly Father...
The “Why” Matters
Imagine this scenario:
Judge Not
I don’t know about you but when I see something wrong, I can be pretty quick to form an opinion on the matter, take sides, and even pronounce judgment on whoever I consider to be the guilty party (or parties.) Often, I even feel justified- after all, there are plenty of bad things being done all around us all the time. And it can almost distract me from my own shortcomings when I focus on how bad I think someone else is! But that’s just the problem- it might distract me, but it doesn’t fool anyone else, and certainly not God.
What God Wants
Have you ever wondered just what it is that God wants from us? After all, He is all-powerful and all-knowing. What could we have to offer Him? It turns out, it’s the one thing we have the power to withhold or give freely.
New Year's Resolutions?
Listen or Read - you choose!
Go Back to Start
In many board games when you get sent back to start it’s a penalty. However, in the Lord it can be a good thing - because “in the beginning, GOD.”
No Regrets: God First
What happens when we know what God wants us to do, but it’s totally at odds with our own desires and preferences?
The Prosperous Soul
According to dictionary.com, “to prosper” means to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects; to thrive or flourish. But what does that mean when it’s applied to our souls? Clearly, spiritual success can’t be measured according to an economy that is limited to the natural world. Instead, we have to look to the supernatural to assess the condition of our souls.
Today’s Idolatry
Of all the ten commandments, this first one prohibiting idolatry may be the most likely to be regarded as outdated in today’s culture. For many, it may call to mind images of ancient rituals and sacrifices that could seem irrelevant in modern life. But if we get a more proper understanding of what idol worship really is, the relevance to our lives today becomes quite apparent.
Love vs. Approval: There’s a Difference
If God really loves us just as we are, does that mean that He approves of everything that we do? After all, He has made it abundantly clear in the scriptures that we don’t have to act a certain way to earn His love
Living Word or Dead Letter?
Have you ever read the Bible and felt like every word was exploding off the page? Where you marveled at how it spoke directly to your immediate circumstances or the secret questions in your heart?
Be Honest…
Have you ever found it easier to gloss over a problem than to face it head on? I know I have. For example, just recently it was pointed out to me that I was being rather self-centered when I got an attitude and went on a rant about what someone else was doing to annoy me. In that moment, it would have felt easier to make excuses and avert my eyes, rather than look in the mirror that was being held up for me. But God wants us to keep our eyes open, and when He brings something to our attention related to our behavior or character, we must remember that it’s for our benefit, so that we can change and grow.
How Far is Too Far?
Do you ever find yourself wondering just how far you can go before you’re actually sinning? We can keep things vague here, but maybe, like so many, you’ve pondered the question of whether something is really so bad, or if it’s okay to do X as long as you don’t go further and do Y. But as it turns out, when our mentality is to focus on how much we can get away with before we’re really in the doghouse with God (so to speak), we’re totally missing the point.
Bible Math: Less Me = More God
Getting to know God - The One True God, Creator of everything- is pretty much the ultimate. It is the greatest, highest, most desirable thing ever. And God Himself wants us to know Him, and to experience the life, peace, joy, and love that are all a part of a relationship with Him. So what stops us from receiving all of that if God wants to give it to us? Sometimes, it’s simply a little bit of arithmetic:
Just Right
Fact: When God made you, He did not make a mistake! He formed each of us perfectly for the life He intended for us, no matter what we or anyone else says or thinks. When we put credence in the idea that we are somehow defective, we set ourselves up for problems.
Standing Strong in Troubles
Sometimes it can feel like the hits just keep on coming. One trial comes and before it’s even over we’re dealing with another one. And maybe yet another one after that. It can be disorienting and difficult to keep perspective, which is why it is vital that we hold onto our faith in those seasons.
On Courage
That’s quite a command- “Be strong and courageous.” It is what God said to Joshua as he was about to lead the children of Israel into the promised land, and it’s just as relevant to our own lives today. Whether we are facing a physical danger or the threat of being rejected by those around us, it takes courage to go ahead and do the right thing.
Love: The Ultimate Litmus Test
Even when we know what the Bible says is right or wrong, how do we know what to do or say about it? Not just in our own behavior, but when responding to the culture around us and the actions of others- when do we speak up? When do we stay silent? When is it more important to make peace and when is addressing injustice the priority? How do we know? It turns out, it’s less about the situation itself and more about the heart of God:
Taming the Tongue
The things we say to and about people are so important, and it can be very easy to lose sight of their significance. A few words can wreak havoc on someone's self-esteem or send them on a path of destruction, whether it’s name-calling, put-downs, or being mean and hurtful in any way- and that includes online as well as in-person. The Bible’s perspective on this is one of love because everyone is precious to God, no matter what they have done or even how they feel about God Himself.
You've got a Purpose! Praise God!
What an amazing statement! God not only sees us, but He has a specific plan- a GOOD plan- for each of us. It’s true that it doesn’t always feel that way… As it turns out, the prophet who wrote that scripture was delivering a message to the people of Israel at a time when they were feeling pretty hopeless. But God gave both them and us that clear message to help us all face the future with confidence no matter what.
Equipping Us For A Supernatural Life
Why do we go to church? The Bible teaches us to meet together to encourage each other (Hebrews 10:25), but is it simply a social gathering to get together with friends and do nice things? No, it’s much more than that. It’s meant to be a place we can go to get what we need to live the Christian life God has called us to. It is not just a Sunday meeting but the corporate body of believers gathering together to teach, learn, worship, and grow in faith so that we can put that faith into action. And God appoints certain men and women to provide what we need in order to be successful:
I Can Help God?!
Did you ever think that it could be possible to actually help God? I mean, how could an omnipotent God actually need our help? Well it turns out, there is a way that we can offer assistance to the Lord Himself, and that’s by helping the people around us every day. Jesus put it this way:
