Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled: A Word for Today
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV One commentary says at the time of Jesus’ words in John 14, “Let not heart be troubled,” there were lots of reasons for “anxiety and alarm” among the disciples. They had just learned their world was about to be turned upside down– that they had a traitor among them; that Peter would deny Jesus; and in the midst of it all, Jesus, their teacher, friend and hope was saying He had to go away to a place they could not follow....
Read MoreLost My Place
“Absolutely unmixed attention is prayer.” ~ Simone Weil In the last two centuries, globalization has exploded. Communication, collaboration and relocation are accessible in unimaginable ways. Opportunities to connect with others are endless. Ways to work together are plentiful. Options of places to go are abundant. In the 1980s, the prevalent educational mantra for youth went something like this, “You can do anything, if you put your mind to it.” Years later, our society is still struggling to shed this mentality. It permeates our culture in all sorts of ways. It sets the tone for...
Read MoreThe Purpose of Scars
John 20:24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand,...
Read MoreFriendship In A Time Of Technology
It’s easy for pastors, church leaders, and even counselors to forego self-care and even easier to neglect family and friends in the name of doing “greater” Sadly, this happened to me. In the hurry of work, ministry, completing my degree, family crisis with my elderly father, and discipleship ministry at my church, I failed to understand the void my absence had created in my best friend’s life. I justified my actions with thoughts of how she must be busy with her husband, homeschooling her three children, and her own church leadership responsibilities. The last straw came when I texted my...
Read MoreSo Much Depends on the Weather
“And I feel, so much depends on the weather.” Scott Weiland As I sit at home, entrapped by another apocalyptic snowfall occurrence in the South, my mind is drawn to the extent our moods are impacted by the weather. According to the DSM-V, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a subcategory of major depression that repeats occurrence cyclically with the seasons, and usually during the fall/winter months. Why does this happen? Scripture does not delve into detail of the biological process (or lack thereof) in mood disorders. However, Scripture does paint us a rich, poetic portrait of how God...
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