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Sacred Stories; Perseverance and Hope
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us. Hebrews 12:1 The words to Nightbirde’s (Jane Marczewski) chart climbing hit, “It’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok, if you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright”, roll through bringing relief like thunder from a summer storm. Her stunning smile carries a story and a sacred song, “the voice we all need to hear right now”. An admission of hopeful questions and acceptance that not all answers are meant for…
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An Invitation to Join a Kingdom Advancing
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 I envision the kingdom of God advancing, strong men on wild beasts brandishing their swords as they push time forward, ever expanding a kingdom that will know no end, making the way for Christ followers from all of eternity to join them at some designated point in time to live and reign forever. I am envisioning a Braveheart remake, enhanced with all of the cinematic advancements that have been made over the last 16 years. What I read in the word of God doesn’t quite align with my thoughts. The kingdom of God came…
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The Invitation of the Cross; Walking Like Jesus
Fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 My preference is to skip the gospel accounts of Christ’s crucifixion. I begin the preceding chapters that tell the story of the last supper, the betrayal by Judas and the tears in Gethsemane, and I want to stop. I want to jump over the next chapter and celebrate the resurrection. I won’t describe the gory details of death by crucifixion. But the word “excruciating” is derived from the words, “out of the…
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Is the Abundant Life for You?
The dismantling of our checkbox list reveals itself to be the pathway to abundance. I thought it was a lie. A smiley face to put on for Sunday morning, to tack on for Bible Study. Abundant life, what does this even mean? A checkbox list of accomplishments, acquisitions, firsts. Checked boxes of fleeting satisfaction chalking up to nothing. The pursuit of more that leaves a trail of nothing but next. Sounds a bit like Solomon’s rant in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon, the man of great wisdom. Solomon, the man of great wealth, of women too numerous to count, the one who finally built the temple. Was his life not…
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Boundary Lines and Obedience ; Living your Best Life
LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6 They make it, finally, to the Promised Land. Joshua leads the way after a chorus of reminders from Moses and the LORD God to be strong and courageous, to not be afraid, to remember and to know. Joshua was not a battle novice, many years before he had gallantly fought the Amalekites (Exodus 17) with a ragamuffin army under the prayers of one somewhat elderly man whose arms were held high by the strength of two…
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A Girl, Her Mom, and a Map; What to do When You’re Headed Someplace You’ve Never Been
Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. Joshua 3:4 May I have a map, please? A paper one. The kind that unfolds wide, and then never quite folds back to its original tidy state. It is not uncommon for me to purchase a map, or two, before traveling to a new place. I want to know where I am going in the context of where I am. I want to trace the driving route before my plane touches the ground. I want my biggest navigation hurdle to be finding my way out of the rental car parking lot (which is, by…
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Almost but not Quite; Stopping Short of the Promised Land
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land – from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants,’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you…
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Be Still; The Ever Powerful Presence of God
See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and His arm rules for Him. See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him. Isaiah 40:10 The earth is abuzz with spring, birdsong has been calling forth the morning since before dawn. There are whitecaps on the lake across the road, small waves awakened by the wind. Chainsaws are humming in the distance, clearing what winter has left behind. Children are playing, shouting, pups are claiming their boundary lines. The world is loud on this typically quiet goes nowhere street. I sit as the morning sun hits my face, bombarded with the noise, trying to discern what is what, wondering…
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Discipleship; More than You can Ask or Imagine
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said. “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When He had gone a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with hired men and followed Him. Mark 1:16-20 The beauty of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is its simplicity. Before time was yet time, He…
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Sustainable Shoes; Longing for a New Pair
The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4-5 Time stretches and flies simultaneously. Hazy, it seems I have lived this day before, this pattern. Seems like these feet have been walking this same dusty path for days that have run into years, counting steps and turning over miles. Circling. They wore the same shoes for forty years. A commentary on the quality of God’s provision? Or…
