“God loves me.” I say this all the time when good things happen. When circumstances are good, it’s easy to feel God’s presence and His favor, but when times get hard, it’s not so easy. Sometimes frustration, discouragement, or grief makes it impossible for me to feel the presence or love of God. When earthly blessings prevail, we feel …
What Do We Do With Suffering? #WordWednesday (Part 1)
I am an emotional eater. The other day, I was upset so I drove my minivan through the McDonald’s drive-thru for some comfort food. I never get a Quarter Pounder hamburger, much less the whole meal (French fries and soda included.) But yesterday my heart hurt, so eat I did. I’m also an emotional cook. Yesterday’s grief resulted in …
Wrestling with God: Holding onto the Promise of Purpose/ Epiteleo
I’m convinced that the people who walk in their God purpose, no matter how big or small, are content because they are supernaturally fully satisfied. I’m also convinced that as long as we are seeking, maybe even wrestling, after what God’s purpose is for us, we will run into it. I’ve heard sermons explaining that wrestling with God is not …
Learning the Shema Part I: The Lord is Alone
A long time ago in a land far away, a dry, dusty, and desert land, God gave these words to Moses so that the Israelites would remember His commands. And so for thousands of years the Jewish people have recited the Shema morning and night with their families. The Shema is made up of three Scripture sections: Deuteronomy …
Do You Participate in the Divine Nature?: Doxa and Arete
“….Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:4 This scripture has always excited me. What a promise. What would it look like for me to participate …