Spiritual Formation

There is a widespread belief in the church that to be a Christian somehow satisfies our every desire. As one camp song has it, “I’m inright, outright, upright, downright happy all day long.” What complete nonsense! Augustine emphasized, “The whole life of the good Christian is a holy longing. What you desire ardently, as yet you do not see.” So, “let us long because we are to be filled ... That is our life, to be exercised by longing.;…

By the grace of God, we cannot quite pull it off. In the quiet moments of the day we sense a nagging within, a discontentment, a hunger for something else. But because we have not solved the riddle of our existence, we assume that something is wrong—not with life, but with us. Everyone else seems to be getting on with things. What's wrong with me? We feel guilty about our chronic disappointment. Why can't I just learn to be happier in my job, in my marriage,…

Your wounds brought messages with them. Lots of messages. Somehow they all usually land in the same place. They had a similar theme. “You’re worthless.” “You’re not a woman.” “You’re too much ... and not enough.” “You’re a disappointment.” “You are repulsive.” On and on they go. Because they were delivered with such pain, they felt true. They pierced our hearts, and they seemed so true. So…

As we close out 2023, it’s natural to consider this period as an ending. But each ending is also a beginning; it’s a matter of perspective. And while it’s healthy to reflect on the year we’ve completed, it’s important to embrace each day God gives us and approach it with openness, gratitude, and hope. With His help, we can be like the snowdrop flower—the first to emerge from the winter ground and bloom. The snowdrop is a symbol of resilience&mdash…

Some people have the wrong idea about the Christian life. Once they become believers, they expect smooth sailing. However, Jesus made it clear that we’ll all face troubles. His own life was no exception—He endured false accusation, rejection, betrayal, and separation from His Father. As His followers, we too can expect difficulty. Some problems arise from the fallen nature of the world, while others result from spiritual warfare. And we can cause our own…

In the realm of Christianity, the concept of spiritual brokenness is often viewed as a challenge, a test of faith, or a period of hardship to be endured. However, it's essential to recognize that embracing spiritual brokenness can be a powerful catalyst for personal growth, transformation, and a deeper connection with God. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of spiritual brokenness and how, as Christians, we can navigate this journey with grace,,…

David Whyte, the Welsh Poet, wrote, “When we discover what seems like a clear path, what we're really discovering is our place in that gravitational field, in that trajectory, from the deep, intimate sense of origin in our body that lies below the horizon of our understanding, out to as far a horizon as we can understand and then - beyond it.” Spiritually speaking it’s not obvious where David Whyte lands, but in his writing there’s an element of.…

We need God to help us understand his Word. We can’t separate a walk with God from our reading of Scripture. The two go hand in hand. Like having a tour guide as you wander the halls of the Louvre. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives…

The story of Bernie Madoff is a sad one. He was addicted to adulation—and money was his way of earning that praise. Throughout his life he elbowed and clawed his way to the top of the mountain . . . only to discover its peak was slippery and crowded. Madoff masterminded a twenty-year-long shell game, the largest financial crime in U.S. history. At seventy-one years of age, he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life as prisoner number 61727-054 in a Federal…