Everything we’ve been learning is only knowledge unless we apply it. James 1:22-24 says, “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk ...
Have you seen the movie Awakenings with Robin Williams? The movie came out in 1990 and is based on a true story about victims of an encephalitis epidemic that left people in a catatonic state. In the 1970’s, Dr. Oliver Sacks tried a new drug regimen that offered the prospect of reviving these people from their unconscious condition. One thing ...
One of my favorite quotes ever is: “The wheel’s still spinning, but the hamster’s dead” (author unknown). I think it speaks to me because my early Christian life was a vicious cycle of trying to do good, failing, trying to do better, etc, etc. — all because I was trapped in my own unforgiveness. I tried to reach God through ...
I’m not much of a roller coaster gal, but I’ve been to plenty of amusement parks in my life (mostly for the food!) and I’ve noticed how many rides have a height requirement at the entrance. Many times you’ll see a child approach the measuring stick with hesitancy in hopes they grew a little taller since the year before, and ...
I recently told you righteousness is God’s RIGHT SYSTEM. The real definition of righteousness is right-standing with God; the ability to stand before Him without guilt or inferiority as if you had never sinned. What’s interesting about this definition is, if righteousness means to stand before God without guilt, it’s easy to see why the devil wants to feed us ...
So let’s talk about condemnation. Number one, it’s a mean trick of the devil. Number two, it’s a self-pronounced sentence of guilt (meaning, it’s fed to you by the devil). And hopefully the obvious number three is (just to be clear), God’s not the author of it. CONVICTION IS HOW GOD CORRECTS US.CONDEMNATION IS HOW THE DEVIL DEFEATS US. To ...
If your car doesn’t have a built-in GPS, your smart phone probably does. It’s your map or guidance system (to keep you on the right course). And now that paper maps are a thing of the past, we need a GPS. Why? Because it’s easy to get lost on our own. In other words, we need directions and help. Life ...
Beautiful GodLaying Your majesty asideYou reached out in love to show me lifeLifted from darkness into lightKing for a slaveTrading Your righteousness for shame These are the opening words of the song, Like An Avalanche by Hillsong United. I am especially touched by the last phrase: Trading Your righteousness for shame. I remember when God first began opening my understanding ...
With any kind of sickness (big or small), I always remember my prayer for healing works on this principle: Natural + Supernatural = Work Together Too often, we rely on one or the other (most people leaning only on the natural). But as Christians, you and I are spirit beings living in a physical body. We are filled with the ...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 The Professional School of Psychology did an interesting study on the life of Abraham Lincoln. Due to documented reports of depression, they handed out an assignment to students that focused on the psychological study of his life. Each student prepared an essay describing the manner in which a contemporary psychologist might have ...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 One of the things I find stunning in the scriptures is the confidence of Jesus regarding His purpose. I have never chalked it up as, “Oh, He’s the Son of God, so of course He should know…”–although I know this is true. But instead it has intrigued me because we are made ...
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 When I was preparing for Facing the Mirror to be released, I mulled over a few titles trying to decide which one best described what the book would be about, while also wanting a title that intrigues people to want to read it. Without a doubt, the book is about righteousness, so ...
Part 1 | Part 2 Recently, I talked about the importance of discretion. And I made statement I want to clarify: A lack of discretion is a sign of insecurity. We can blame ignorance on our lack of discretion (Oh, I wasn’t thinking…. or I didn’t know…) but I can tell you from first-hand experience that insecurity might be the ...
“Is it about me? Or is it about them?” “Or is it about me being transparent to help them?” This was part of my conversation with the Lord this morning. As a writer, I want to help people. And because of that, I’m very aware of trends in writing and blogging and what the industry says is popular or necessary ...
I was recently visiting with a respected minister friend of mine and the subject of righteousness came up. He said, “I think Malachi 4:2 is the best righteousness scripture in the whole Bible. You know what it says, right?” Well, at the moment, no. I drew a blank. Then he said, “But to you who fear My name the Sun ...
You know I care about helping people find a “self to live with” through an understanding of who we’ve been made to be in Christ. But I was quite surprised to discover the scriptures use the word self quite a bit in the negative–not the positive. For example, you’ll find words like: self-confident, self-seeking, self-condemned, self-sufficiency, self-imposed, and self-willed. Yuck. Those ...
“In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death” (Proverbs 12:28). Hold a man’s head under water, and he will fight you to come up for air. It’s in every person to LIVE and not die. This is how God created us… with breath in our lungs, hope in our hearts, and a desire ...
Are you familiar with the Bible story of the woman caught in adultery? You and I may or may not have ever been in shoes like hers, but nonetheless, in our own mind, our sin is just as hard to bear. So despite her obvious guilt (and ours), let’s look at this story not just as a picture of initial ...