Last Saturday, in 'Oceans Deep, Part 5', we saw that in order to walk over the surface of our storms instead of bobbing along at their will, we have to step out of our safety nets. We have to be willing to get out of the boat and into the heart of the storm! But wait....
Last week, in "Ultimate Rest," Part 3, we saw that God purposefully left some Canaanites in Israel. He didn't drive them all out in the initial conquest, and in so doing, he worked a little "test of faith" into the system. It is only when we are under temptation and...
Last Tuesday, in 'Oceans Deep, Part 6', we saw that God doesn't penalize us when we aren't quite ready to take that extra step in faith and abandon our safety nets. Nonetheless, the rewards of taking the opportunities He gives us to grow our faith are beyond...
One of the big things I struggle with every time I'm going through trials is the question, ‘Why?' I'm sure I'm not alone in this, for it is innately human to want to understand things, and somehow, it makes what we're going through easier when we understand the ‘why'...
I was alone, seated at the dining room table in the house who hosted me during my trip to Quito, Ecuador. The chair moved a bit. I thought it was my imagination. Then the table moved from side to side. I jumped to my feet and my heart beat fast. What flashed through...
Last Thursday, in "Understanding the 'Why', Part 1", we saw that though it makes it a lot easier to go through trials when we understand why, we can trust God to know why, even when we don't see it. We can take comfort in the fact that God is always in control. Is it...
Today in the concluding part of series on truth in each of the three cardinal Christian doctrines, today we shall focus on the truth regarding... Glorification... "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or...
"He has made everything beautiful in its time." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Snow-on-the-mountain shrubs are beautiful when sporting new growth. The leaves unfurl pink and white before turning deep green. Unfortunately our lovely bushes looked like spindly sticks fit for...
Over the last 7 devotionals, we've been looking at the story of Jesus--and Peter!--walking on water. We've seen: 1. How God has indeed called each of us out upon the waters, into situations where ‘our feet may fail'! But it is there that we find Him in the mystery,...
Last Saturday, in "Preparing the Mango, Part 2", we saw that we get through our trials, not by focusing on them, but by surrendering them to the God of the universe. This frees us to focus on the needs of others, and when we do, our own troubles shrink back to a...