“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]..” (James 1:2-3). Notice what James does not say. He does not say count it some joy. He does not say rejoice when the trial is manageable, or when the loss is small, or when the diagnosis is treatable. He says count it all joy — the totality, the whole weight of it. Not a fraction carved off and handed to God while we keep the rest for Read More
Tag: patience
The Calendar Test: Appointments With God
We keep careful track of our appointments. The doctor, the dentist, the lawyer, the professor’s office hours, we write them on the calendar, set a reminder, and show up, often ten minutes early with our paperwork in hand. We wouldn’t dream of not showing up for the dentist. We’d never casually skip a meeting with our attorney. These appointments matter to us, so we honor them. But what about our appointments with God? Do we even make them? Is there a set time when we say, “This hour belongs to my Father”? And if we do make that appointment, are Read More
From Grass to Grace: Lessons from Your Lawn
I was awakened early this morning by someone mowing their lawn. As I lay there listening to the roar of that engine, I thought about how mowing the lawn relates to our walk of faith. Here are my thoughts: *Regular Maintenance Prevents Overgrowth Just as grass grows continuously and requires regular cutting to stay healthy and manageable, our spiritual lives need consistent attention. When we neglect daily prayer, Bible reading, and fellowship, spiritual “weeds” like pride, bitterness, or worldly desires can quickly take root and choke out our relationship with God. Regular spiritual maintenance through daily disciplines keeps our hearts Read More
Mindset Mondays: Keep Going
At times the ride of life is tough. I am here to tell you to keep going, keep riding. I have been dealing with a particularly frustrating situation, and there are days when I really want to say that’s enough. I want to let someone else do the adulting for the day. But, you know what? I realized that I am the adult and only I can handle my frustrations. I have to keep going. I have a poem hanging in my office directly above my desk. It’s a picture of a carousel horse and a prayer. The poem reminds Read More
Holy Spirit – Fruit
What kind of fruit are you producing?
Daily Affirmations: Hope With Faith
Hope is my anchor!