Strengthening Faith, Love, and Hope
If you have recently faced any prolonged seasons of testing, challenge, spiritual battle, or temptation, I want to encourage you (and maybe even help save you from doubting your sanity). In the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we are told that after Jesus’ baptism, He spent forty days in the wilderness fasting, praying, and … Continue reading Everything gets weird after forty days
In Luke 22:31, Jesus said to Simon Peter and the other disciples, “Satan has asked to sift you like wheat (other translations say that Satan demanded to sift them).” When wheat is sifted it gets broken and separated. So, Jesus was telling His followers that a test was coming—led by Satan himself—with the potential to … Continue reading But I have prayed for you
When was the last time you read the little four-chapter, Old Testament book of Ruth? If it has been a while since you have read Ruth’s story, pick it up and read it again. You will find that it is a book for our times that speaks to us on multiple levels. However, before you … Continue reading The book of Ruth–a story for our times
Are we actually protected when we put our trust in God? One of the promises that Christianity asserts is that when a person places his or her trust in God, God will watch over them and protect them. God will be their defender and their fortress against life’s storms. This protective language shows up all … Continue reading Are we actually protected?
There are two things that happen in all of our lives that can become obstacles to faith. All humans face times of tragedy and monotony, crisis and boredom. And both the tragic and the monotonous times can be great barriers to faith. Surprisingly, even though tragedies sound far more sinister and hazardous to faith, people … Continue reading tragedy and monotony: two killers
