Do not be mistaken or surprised. You will face opposition. You will experience struggle. You will face tough choices. You will walk through darkness, challenge, and fear. You will experience defeat, set backs, and obstacles. You will have hard times. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart,
Tag: Overcoming Challenges
Why I Am Pro Life
So, let’s talk about life. I am pro-life because God is pro-life. God is the creator, redeemer, sustainer, and savior of life. God is so invested in life that not only did He create humans to be born, He also designed them to be born again so that their life would not only be a
Embrace the Mess
Life is messy. People make mistakes. People make poor choices. People sin. The fabric of life is corrupted, interrupted, mixed and confused with messages, lies, misinformation, destructive paths, dysfunctional interactions, harmful experiences, and brokenness in indefinite variety. The tapestry of your own life is not yet complete, but already as you look over the work
Do It Because You Want To
God does not want your unwilling obedience. If you believe your religious adherence to certain behaviors, practices, rituals, or beliefs is saving, think again. Salvation is a matter of your heart, your soul, your mind, your identity, your whole self being remade in the image and likeness of God — being born again to new
Choose Freedom Even When It Isn’t Free
You’ve probably heard the old saying that “Freedom isn’t free.” It’s most often used to remind us of the sacrifices of the men and women who fought and died to establish our nation and then defend it through the course of its history. Their bravery and example are indeed something we should all carry with
God Didn’t Promise Easier, God Promised Better
God’s answers are always simple, and God’s answers always work. However… …God’s answers are not always easy, and God’s answers are not always unopposed. The fact is, God didn’t promise that following Him would make your life easier — God promised that following Him would make your life better. Jesus told his followers, “Look, I
Down, But Never Out
Don’t be surprised when the enemy hits you when you are down. One of the key strategies of the enemy is to wait until you are weak, depressed, sad, grieving, angry, frustrated, hungry, oppressed, sick, in a bad mood, struggling, or having a bad day for whatever reason — and that is when the enemy
One Voice Can Make a Difference
One voice can make a difference. It is easy to look at circumstances, to evaluate your chances of success, and to question why you would risk failure or go against the odds. It’s common to wait for someone else to discover the same solution that you have already figured out before you share your findings
Following the Way, Understanding the Truth, Living the Life
As Jesus neared the end of His life on earth, His disciples became more and more concerned that Jesus said He was going to leave them. They had dropped so much to follow Him, and yet here they were coming to the end of their walk with Him, and He seemed to be saying that He
The Power of a Positive Response
No matter what the situation, God is calling you to respond with love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, grace, and understanding. Jesus put it this way, “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an
Complex, Flawed, and Victorious
Every life is a story. Every person is a book worth reading. Every human is a complex collage of influences, decisions, and experiences. So, if you are letting your dark and complex past define you, if you are looking at your flaws and thinking they are insurmountable, or telling yourself that you just aren’t capable
Boldly Declare Grace
Shame. Guilt. Fear. Judgment. Condemnation. Punishment. Isolation. For thousands of years these have been the prescription for and the expected result of sin. They have been codified in legal systems, embedded culturally in societies, and preached from pulpits the world over. They have transcended dogma and tradition, reaching from the major world religions all the