RETREATING WITH GOD

Isolation is one of the most painful conditions a person can be in. I heard a speaker tell the stories of the persecuted believers in one particular country. He reported that the imprisoned believers were beaten...

We call it pride. God calls it sin. We all struggle with it. We see it in others yet we’re blind to it in ourselves.  Jesus demonstrated the opposite quality, right up to his final breath on earth. Hanging on a...

I’m sure you’ve called out someone’s salvation at one time or another. “Jim can’t possibly be a Christian.” “I know Barb’s not a Christian. Look at the way she lives.” I understand. I do a bit of salvation analysis at...

Two tables down, a man was talking. But no one was with him. I’m not sure who he was talking to, but it may have been God. He had a pocket New Testament on the table as he dozed off in that corner booth. Before I had a...

Do we pray because we have faith, or do we have faith because we pray? That might be too much of a mind-twister if you’re reading this before your morning coffee. Imagine being the father in Mark 9 whose son was...

Knowing God’s will. It’s something every believer hungers for, especially at critical crossroads of life. You might be in that place right now. Are you seeking God about something? Are you trying to find an answer about...

This is a world of instant results. However, some things are better with time. Take oatmeal, for example. There’s nothing like slow-cooked, creamy oatmeal. I don’t care for the instant variety.  It tastes a little...

God commands us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength. You know what? He has given his heart, soul and strength for us . Picture Jesus on the cross. He’s giving his heart and soul for us. He’s giving...

What’s chipping away at your faith these days? Sure, we can often lean into God when major trials and hardships meet us, but how about when the little things wear us down? I often ask myself why I can be a...

The world’s view of death, which is centered on loss, can dominate our thinking. “Her time was too soon,” or “He was taken from us too early” are common statements. No doubt, we feel that way when we lose a young...

When our heart is broken, there’s only one Person who can comfort our soul. God. Knowing that and experiencing it are two different things. Travelling through Scripture, we find powerful verses on comfort. Read them...

We need to celebrate the next generation and the generation after that. Imparting our presence with godly values rubs off on them. We are the reflection of Jesus to them. Let’s look for ways to love them. Our hearts are...

You’ve undoubtedly faced conflict because your Christian values are opposed to culture. It makes you afraid to speak up, doesn’t it? You don’t want to be ridiculed, mocked or seen as intolerant. This is the world in...

I’ve never heard anyone say they thrive on conflict. Unfortunately, life greets us with this unwanted visitor all the time. It takes a well-conditioned courage muscle to face interpersonal conflict and handle it...

Change is hard. We get comfortable with the familiar and become fearful when change shows up. We can learn from Peter, who went through a change that rocked him to the core of his being. The Apostle Paul points out, “I...