Pondering our ‘triumphal procession,’ seeing the work of God
“Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
Lessons from Paul on handling conflict and other difficulties
As I read the first chapter of 2 Corinthians, I am struck with how the apostle Paul managed a relationship with his brothers and sisters in Corinth in a season of tension and strained relationships.
Close friends, a painful loss, facing our grief and looking to God
God somehow takes our sadness, our faith, our hope, our confidence in the resurrection, our silence, and our honesty and uses them all mixed together.
‘Faith Beyond’: It can be our challenge for today and tomorrow
Buzz Lightyear, semester’s first chapel, a college’s new theme—and a challenge for every Christian to remember.
“I once was blind, but now I see.” It has happened often to me
One of our favorite posts, this one from August 2021.
Consider it a screenplay full of lessons about our suffering
It is a story of a man who appeared to have it all together in every area of life. Then suddenly, unexpected tragedy occurred. Many of us can relate.
The gift of work: unfortunately unopened by some people we know
In college, at work, in the church, with God—every area of human endeavor and progress needs the same.
Which kind of idol is trying to distract you from God’s Spirit?
Mute idols and noisy idols are still idols. And while the apostle Paul mentioned only the mute idols, he was well aware that humans, including church members, can get caught up following noisy idols, too.
Is our mission God’s mission? Maybe we should make a list
When we are actively seeking to accomplish God’s work, then we will become more aware of how our actions and plans align with God‘s plans.
No better invitation: ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good’
Consider the benefits of tasting the goodness of God. What he offers will never require an Alka-Seltzer!
Three tips for weeding your garden, and other untended places
A favorite post, deserving of a second read.
Worship fits us. Trusting God is our hope for finding strength
“Praise fits us.” And the purest praise wells up from the hearts of those who fully trust in God.
Why the search for power is not the pathway for the person of God
Paul did not seek to be an insider or power player. He did not seek fame or fortune. As he wrote to the church in Corinth, he clarified the difference between wisdom that comes from God and wisdom that comes from the world.
How to cope with whispers, the most insidious kind of opposition
When we know their whispers are not for our good, we can calmly count on God.
We can expect, we can face, God will help us with . . . opposition
We can learn from Nehemiah how to succeed when opposition comes at us and attempts to stop or slow the mission and work of God’s kingdom family.
As it always was, it still is: God will work through every one of us
Considering that God started his redemption and restoration plan for his creation at the Fall of man and that it is still going on today, we can agree that God’s timeframe is different than ours. All of the heroes of the Bible played a part in it. And God has a part for each of us to play today.
Mountain meditation: celebrating the diversity in all God has created
A favorite post from our archive of 2021 posts.
Mentored by many, changed forever by those who served like Christ
I remember several men and women of faith who clearly practiced the teachings of Scripture and in particular many principles the apostle Paul was teaching in the later chapters of Romans.
In a divided world, the gospel standard remains: let us be unified
Imagine the unity we could experience if we simply followed Paul’s advice: “Let him who boasts boat in the Lord.”
Nothing can stop the purposes of God, and we can be very glad
If God is all-powerful and all-knowing and his purposes cannot be stopped, then why do we sometimes have trouble trusting that we can trust him to be with us and get us through whatever we are experiencing?