Identity Security

You were created with God’s purpose in mind. And until you discover his purpose for you—and follow through on it—there will always be a hole in your soul. As Ephesians 2:10 says, you are God’s workmanship. Don’t let this important reality slip by. Say it out loud: “I am God’s workmanship.” Do you know what that means? It means you are the product of God’s vision. God has decided what you could be and should be. And…

What is the purpose of life? Throughout human history, people have been trying to answer that question. Books have been written on the subject, and philosophers have postulated many answers. But for Christians, God’s purpose is concisely outlined in today’s passage. Believers are called according to His purpose and are foreknown by Him. God’s foreknowledge is much more than His ability to see future events in advance. It also includes bringing to pass what…

I recently found myself in the midst of a discouraging emotional funk.  It started as an "off day" and the next thing I knew two weeks passed, full of negativity and discouragement, lacking hope and faith for the future, and I will be honest - even moments of wondering whether God could salvage anything good from my life and circumstances.  Normally, I am rather even-keeled and not prone to bouts of negativity that last more than a day.  I tried…

Workplace conversations often revolve around achievements, recognition and advancement—as well as the energy people put into reaching these goals. Although the culture values a spirit of competition and the drive it takes to win accolades, these are not the qualities by which the Lord evaluates our work. God calls His children to a different way of thinking and working—one that marks us as belonging to Him. It is called servanthood, and it is the Lord Jesus…

In the fourth century A.D., the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, and Persia were peopled by a race of men who left behind them a strange reputation. They were the first Christian hermits, who abandoned the cities of the pagan world to live in solitude. One of the reasons why they fled from the world of men was that in that world men were divided into those who were successful, and imposed their will on others, and those who had to give in and be imposed upon. The Desert…

Every woman knows now that she is not what she was meant to be. And she fears that soon it will be known—if it hasn't already been discovered—and that she will be abandoned. Left alone to die a death of the heart. That is a woman's worst fear—abandonment. (Isn't it?) Rather than turning back to God, reversing the posture that brought about our crisis in the first place (what Eve set in motion and we have repeated ad nauseum), we continue…

The battleground over racisms' ugly tentacles is continuing to dominate the political and social landscapes. With a backdrop of rioting and looting by anarchists and agitators that are simply opportunists, there lies the reality of a world at war. Spiritual war. A battle for the heart of man that Satan has whipped into a desperate frenzy in these last days. The voices are many and the messages predictable. It truly is a heart issue. Racism has been in existence since…

“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” (Ecl 10:10 NIV) Wow, is that packed with wisdom? Let’s dig in. Basically, Solomon is saying that if the axe is not sharpened it requires more strength to get the job done. Simple, right? But if you’re smart, you’ll sharpen the darn axe. It’s just way easier to cut wood if the axe is sharp. Abe Lincoln said if someone gave me 6 hours…

"For twenty-nine years after World War II ended, Hiroo Onoda hid in the jungle, refusing to believe his country had surrendered. Japanese military leaders had dispatched Onoda to a remote island in the Philippines (Lubang) with orders to spy on the Allied forces. Long after a peace treaty had been signed and hostilities ceased, Onoda remained in the wilderness. In 1974, Onoda’s commanding officer traveled to the island to find him and convince him the war was.…