Inner Beauty

As I was reading 1 Kings 6, I realized that so much of the inner beauty of the temple built by Solomon would be seen by only a handful of people. The elaborate carvings, cedar walls plated with gold, and cherubim statues were not built for show, but for God: It happened that when the […]

Being Me

Before God we only have to be ourself. Be still in His presence and be who God made you to be.

BOGO Faith

On a recent shopping trip I saw a BOGO (buy one get one free) sale. It made me stop and take notice. Two for the price of one is better than just one. That led me think of Ecclesiastes 4:9: “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor (NASB).” […]

A Heart Captured by God

There are times when the bad news someone gives us touches our heart in a deep and profound way. We can’t get it out of our mind. Nehemiah shows us what we should do when God touches our heart with empathy for the struggles of others. When Nehemiah learned that the remnant in Jerusalem “are […]

Prayer Journey—Self Control

This is the final installment of praying through the fruit of the Spirit. Each week I focused on one word in Galatians 5:22-23. Today’s word is self control. What does it mean dear God to control myself? To exercise restraint. To bound myself within your wisdom, your truth, your Word. To sow my love for […]

The All Powerful Self

Self is a powerful thing. It can puff us up and make us feel self righteous. It can inflate our ego to the point of self worship. It can beat others down to raise us up. Self can drive us to do things that solely benefit us. Self is a ravenous beast that is never […]

Angry Loss

What does anger cause us to miss? Our frustration, bitterness and resentment can taint our day and cause us to lash out at people, damage relationships and create difficult situations. This response does not convey God’s love, grace or holiness to others. When we respond to life with anger, we miss out on what God […]

Pride is Our Undoing

When things are going well in life, we can feel self confident about our success. The risk is that we become filled with pride, losing sight of how God equips and blesses us; forgetting that all we have is because God grants it to us. In 2 Chronicles 26:16-22, King Uziah has had much success. […]

Vignettes—Approval

Their eyes are upon me. What are they thinking when they look at me? I don’t feel like I fit in, but I remain standing in this crowd. Where do I belong? From across the street I see him standing there with welcoming eyes, telling me to join him. I want to cross the street […]

Friday Faith

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16 (NASB) How can you apply God’s wisdom today to bear fruit for His Kingdom?