Deliverance or dominance?

What proverbial mountain is staring down at you right now? How intimidatingly tall is it? How much of your world has it cast in shadow? What would it look like if God leveled it for you? What would it look like if He helped you climb it? Sometimes, like in Zerubbabel’s case, God displays His power by smashing our mountains down to flattened out plains…

Burning incense revisited

Well, unfortunately another little woodland creature decided to die inside the wall of our church office and reek out the building. Last year Pastor Jerry’s office was their favorite dying site but this week it’s been mine. Luckily, Jessica recently bought me a cupcake-scented candle and it’s been helping me cope. These experiences with contending smells have reminded me that sometimes the only answer for…

Trapped in yesterday

You would never know it’s fall in Los Angeles. The leaves haven’t changed, the temperature is in the 100s, and I didn’t know my body could produce this much sweat. And yet it’s officially autumn—the calendar told me so. Sometimes the seasons of our lives are like that too. The season has shifted and things are brand new, but everything still feels like yesterday. If…

Fasting by accident

I accidentally fasted on Tuesday, and I think God still counted it. Last Sunday at Grace our church family committed to a week of collective prayer and fasting. We were each going to choose a customized fasting plan that ranged from fasting from one meal or activity to an entire week. The emphasis was not on how long we fasted or what we fasted from,…