Nature sometimes shouts about God. While enjoying this lake at a retreat recently, I noticed something quite simple and wonderful. When the water was calm, the surface nearly perfectly reflected the beauty of the shoreline. If the shoreline represents God, we want to reflect Him, just as this water reflects the trees. When our […]
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12 (ESV) ~~~ At most equestrian events, you ride your well-trained horse as fast and as well as you can. You give […]
I don’t know about you but when I have a little extra money in the bank I experience a certain kind of feeling that is quite unique. I feel a little lighter, a little bit freer, happier, more generous, safer, stronger, more at peace and more confident. I was thinking about this recently because I […]
In my last blog, I suggested that to let go and let God did not mean we were to just stop doing any activity and wait for some mysterious force to solve all our problems. Letting go and letting God is more about letting go of our will, expected outcomes, dreams, impulses, grand ideas, plans and […]
There’s always that one person that says “let go and let God” right when you are in the middle of a hyper-stressful situation of your life….when you’re trying to do whatever you can to resolve something that seems on the edge of disaster. But, “let go and let God” sounds a bit too passive for […]
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10 ESV ~~~~~ Perhaps you remember the movie – Groundhog Day. Each day Bill Murray wakes up and relives the same day as before. When he first realizes that his days are repeating, he […]
Sometimes it seems our world is only filled with wars, civil unrest, beheadings, evil rampages and moral decline. It must pain God to see how we treat each other….in both unspoken ways (like prejudice) and in more outward ways like murder and the bombing of innocents. Isaiah 60:2 (ESV) says: For behold, darkness shall cover the […]
Because the heart is the center of our motivations it’s really important for us to listen to our heart – especially in times of stress, hurt or big decisions. It may be that we have heart motivations that need to be challenged or it may be that God is well pleased with our heart. Our heart gets messages […]
In Luke 8 Jesus says our heart’s ability to receive Him and His Word is like different kinds of soil. Packed Soil that’s packed down like a well-worn path…or a hardened heart; Satan comes and steals the seed from this soil. When my heart is hardened or bitter I find it nearly impossible to receive truth from God. Rocky Soil […]
I may be oversimplifying things, but it seems to me that there are three important layers to how we process this life around us: Stimulus: The world around us. (top layer) Our Mind: This is where we perceive, reason and react to the world around us. (middle layer) Our Heart: This is where our core motivations […]