Sometimes that sweet steeple can have some ugly underneath it. I think it's safe to say it out loud. I don't know too many who haven't been disappointed by something ugly that has happened in church. There will be disappointments within the walls or under the steeples of our churches, but we are witnesses to a watching […]
"As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." […]
"Those ice cakes may have traveled all the way from South Dakota," my dad said as he clicked away on his camera. The Missouri River runs through my town carrying ice cakes with it toward the gulf. My dad, the kids and I explored it. We watched the cakes quickly race by while the stagnant water […]
Vasari, Giorgio, The Nativity, c. 1546 If we exalt Christ, we elevate Him to a high rank or position in our lives--our heart, mind and spirit. Are you allowing Christ the King to reign there right now...in these last days leading up to Christmas? Or do you sense other stuff vying for that place of position […]
Saraceni, Carlo, The Birth of Christ, c.1610 Hebrews 7:24-28 “24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we […]
Correggio, Nativity (Holy Night), 1528-30 Galations 4:4-5 “4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Aren’t you glad that “the fullness of time” had […]
My last post on The Jesus Ripple Effect seemed to resonate with many of my readers. In it I pondered the radical life of simply following the Lord through turning away from sin and loving others. So I'm revisiting a post from over a year ago while I prepare to blog over the Christmas season. This […]
I want beauty in my life. I want it to be in the form of refreshment for myself and others. I want to see Jesus more in my life. I want the Jesus ripple effect. I see it play out in chapter seven of the second book of Corinthians. This beauty and refreshment released in the […]
The leaves are looking more brown than red now days and most are on the ground. We had our first frost this week with a low of twenty-six . I do believe I feel the earth tilting farther away from the sun. But the glorious sunrise and some good news warms my heart this chilly November […]
That sweet moment when you're brought back to gospel sanity. The truth, once again, falls fresh on your heart and mind and you feel like you've heard it anew. Like it is the most amazing fresh insight from God. That it is for sure. You know it must be from God because who longs for […]
Advent Joy isn’t shallow or sentimental—it is rooted in the appearing of Christ. When Scripture speaks of Christ being manifested, it means that God has made Himself clearly seen, known, and encountered in order to save. “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation…” — Titus 2:11, ESV The Child in the manger is the […]
Where do you long for Christ’s Peace to enter your story this week? Or have you given up hope for that? Perhaps it would be good for you and me to remember Jesus' words about the kind of peace He gives. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the […]