The Fruit of a Clean Heart

In Psalm 51, David is expressing a repentant heart after he had “gone in with Bathsheba.” He seeks “a clean heart” and “a steadfast spirit (10, NASB).” David knows what his predecessor Saul experienced after he repeatedly sinned against God. “Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the […]

On Second Thought…

There are some things I pray for that seem hopeless; that appear to be headed for a horrible end. I pray fervently for a different outcome, but it seems nothing will change. It appears that God has his mind set on how things will turn out. As I pray, I wonder if God can change […]

A Confusing Path

There have been times in my life where I’ve wondered why God guided me along a certain path. At the time it didn’t make sense, but later I began to see the wisdom in some of these diversions. In some cases, He steered me away from something I wanted to do and ultimately saved me […]

#2 Humbled by Pain

Thorns under our skin can come in all sorts of things that cause us constant pain. It could be people who berate you; the tragic loss of a loved one; or chronic illness.

#3 Once Upon a Time There Was a Blog

It’s been eleven years since I started this blog. I think there’s a lesson in its history. When I first launched 140 Character Christian in 2010, I didn’t know anything about blogging…

Year New

Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. – Isaiah 43:18-19 (NASB) On this New Year, look for […]

Finders Seekers

I have often felt that those who push back the hardest on the truth in the Bible are the ones who feel the most convicted by it. John 3:20 tells us, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed (NASB).” […]

Bathing Everything in the Joy of the Lord

For too long I focused on the first part of the verse, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances,” as this challenge to be joyful about everything; to lift up everything to God in prayer. I was treating it almost as a chore, keeping track of how many times I failed to pray or be thankful about something.

Sticky Labels

There are labels that were stuck on me a long time ago. Labels that demean and tell me I’m not good enough. Some were put there decades ago with some pretty good adhesive that makes them hard to remove. I tug at them, reading their hurtful words, trying to peel them off. The ones I […]

You Are Uniquely Crafted

Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (NASB).” It is a reminder that we are created by God; we are His workmanship. We are uniquely crafted by God for His purposes. He desires for us […]