Ah, January! The enchantment of Christmas has passed, the temperatures have dropped well below freezing (and for some of us, well below zero), snow has blanketed the ground, and the grind has begun again after a blissful vacation with family and friends. ‘Tis the season for resolutions, improvements, and life-changes. This year, you decided to … Continue reading I Started a Bible-Reading Plan. Now What?
Category: gospel
Images of Hope
What do incense, letters of recommendation, and a blazing light have in common? If you answered (and I’m sure you did!) that they’re all metaphors that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 2 and 3 to help describe the Gospel, you win! Though Paul had spent much time in Corinth and written the church there multiple … Continue reading Images of Hope
What If Psalm 1 Isn’t Actually About You?
The Lion King is about lions; but it’s not really about lions. Remember the Titans is about football; but it’s not really about football. Titanic is about the Titanic; but it’s not really about the Titanic. The Life of Pi is about a guy on a boat with a tiger; but it’s not really about … Continue reading What If Psalm 1 Isn’t Actually About You?
“You Are Enough”…And Other Lies the Gospel Refutes
“Just do it.” “If you dream it, you can achieve it.” “Believe in yourself, and the world will believe in you too.” “Embrace yourself.” “You are enough.” Slogans like these came into vogue during the 1990s self-esteem movement, but they have proven to have significant staying power. They reinforce the most prominent idol of our … Continue reading “You Are Enough”…And Other Lies the Gospel Refutes
Drawing Water from the Springs of Salvation
Last winter I learned for sure (as if there had ever been any doubt) that I’m not cut out for pioneer life. This revelation came as the pump to our well bit the dust and we had to go without water for a couple of days. Before pictures of Laura Ingalls fill your head, our … Continue reading Drawing Water from the Springs of Salvation
Breaking Gender Stereotypes to the Glory of God: What Now?
God has a sense of humor. Do you believe that? I do. While I could give many reasons for this (Exhibit A: the duckbill platypus), I really need to look no farther than my own home. Going against the grain of “normal,” my husband and I opted not to find out the gender of either … Continue reading Breaking Gender Stereotypes to the Glory of God: What Now?
The Trouble with Competitiveness
I’d rather not write this article. Anyone who knows me knows that competitiveness lodges deep within my bones. I want to come out on top whether playing tic-tac-toe, four-square, taking a test, or parenting my kids. I size up the competition and track the most likely path to victory. Of course, I don’t always win. … Continue reading The Trouble with Competitiveness
Revive My Heart Every Morning
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see;all I have needed Thy hand hath provided:great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! “Morning by morning new mercies I see”? Really? You must be kidding! Maybe some days that’s true, but most of the time, the morning seems anything but merciful. … Continue reading Revive My Heart Every Morning
When I Just Keep Sinning
Failure. Again. I prayed about it, asked for help. And still, just a few hours later…failure. It’s humbling, frustrating, and discouraging. My heart resonates with Paul’s exclamation in Romans 7:15: For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. … Continue reading When I Just Keep Sinning
The Trap of Iron-Fisted Idolatry
“With a mischievous little smile on his face [Grandpa] said, ‘You wouldn’t think a fellow could catch a coon with this brace and bit, would you?’ I thought he was kidding me, and it made me feel bad. ‘Why, Grandpa,’ I said, ‘you couldn’t catch a coon in a jillion years with that thing. You … Continue reading The Trap of Iron-Fisted Idolatry
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