What is it about mountains? Moses met with God there. The Samaritans and Jews argued over which one people should worship on. People have called them holy. Jesus went up them to pray. We marvel at photos of them, take vacations to climb them, and even use them in reference to the best points of our lives. Called “mountaintop experiences,” we see ascending to the highest heights we can reach as arriving at the pinnacles of life. It’s there we feel close to the Lord and immensely Continue Reading
3 Biblical Responses to Others {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
Jesus’ words are clear: “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). We expect it. Often, though, we wish that "you" wasn't so all-inclusive. It can be harder to watch those we love struggle than it is to suffer ourselves. We don’t always know how to help. During the holiday season of 2020, this is something that might be particularly true, as many of us won't be gathering and spending time together the way we're used to. Whether we're in person or on a call, here are several ways God's Continue Reading
Lord, Help My Countenance!
Sometimes all our favorite coping mechanisms fail us. Sometimes clearing our heads just makes the clutter in our hearts stand out more. Sometimes it’s not a matter of unbelief or challenging circumstances. Call it hormones. Label it mood. The fact is, sometimes despite what we believe, we just aren’t “feeling” it. While there are many ways to help get the truth from our heads to our hearts, I’ve found sometimes hearts are just tired. We get worn out. Weariness settles in. As with Continue Reading
What Can Separate Us? {Recharge Wednesday}
Words like those in Romans 8:35-39 tend to come to mind and comfort us in deep hardship, like when facing death, demons, uncertain futures, and the depths suffering. But it isn’t just the “negatives” of life we feel keep us from God. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?….. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to Continue Reading
3 Ways to Get Truth from Your Head to Your Heart {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
You might have heard the famous quote: “The longest journey you will ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart.” 18 inches doesn’t seem that far. We can cover that distance in one swift step with our feet. Many of our pets are about that length, and we can run our hands over their soft backs in a matter of seconds. Somehow, though, letting what we know to be true in our minds settle into our hearts tends to be more complicated. God’s Word is for the head and the heart. We’re Continue Reading
The Promise of Presence
A promise. Several generations passed. 400 years of captivity. 40 years wandering the desert. The Promised Land in sight, then out of sight, then in it again. Amazing victories. Devastating losses. Seasons of sin. Periods of rejoicing and serving the Lord. Finally, the death of Moses. It wouldn’t be long. All they’d waited for was about to be realized. The promise they’d clung to their whole lives, generation after generation was about to come true. Tomorrow, Joshua said, God Continue Reading
