The Reality of Our Present World

In 1799, twelve-year-old Conrad Reed found a large, glittering rock in the stream that ran through his family’s small farm in North Carolina. He carried it home to show his father, a poor immigrant farmer. His father didn’t understand the rock’s potential value and used it as a doorstop. The family walked by it for years. Eventually Conrad’s rock—actually a seventeen-pound gold nugget—caught the eye of a local jeweler. Soon the Reed…

“One of the dangers of having a lot of money is that you may be quite satisfied with the kinds of happiness money can give, and so fail to realize your need for God. If everything seems to come simply by signing checks, you may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God.” - C. S. Lewis Do our motivations for work matter to God? Proverbs 16:2 tells us that, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.;…

As you work to make one or many areas of your life better, there is a powerful principle you can use called “The Consistency Effect,” which is simply, “Small things done consistently, over time, lead to big things.” Commitment is good; it can get you to the starting line. It can set your intention. It can get you through January. But consistency will get you to July, September, and next December. You can change your life with small, consistent steps…

After his resurrection, Jesus sends us all out to do what he did: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (John 20:21 NRSV). And he gives us his authority to do it: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go" (Matt. 28:18-19). Why else would he have given us his authority if we weren't supposed to use it? The attitude of so many Christians today is anything but fierce. We're passive, acquiescent. We're…

Jesus’ freedom is a difficult thing to teach on for many reasons; let me name two. First, there are certain types who will hear this and find it an excuse to live as they please. Many characters in our irreverent age “don’t care what others think.” Their freedom is abrasive and unholy. The freedom Jesus models is not a crass “giving the finger to the world.” Or the church, for that matter. Others will dismiss the freedom Jesus offers out…

Disappointment is an emotional response to dashed hopes, goals, and desires. Sometimes it’s the result of circumstances beyond our control, but when others are involved, it’s easy to blame them for the situation. We might even lose faith in the person we think let us down. Martha and Mary could relate. The gospel of John tells us that Jesus loved Martha, her sister Mary, and their brother Lazarus (John 11:5). Because of this, they expected He would come…

When we’re recovering from hurts or mistakes, some people will tell us to forget the past. “There’s no way of changing it,” they say, “so why worry about it?” Other well-intended people will tell us to focus on the future. But the truth is that we need to consider our past, present, and future if we want to build our life in a healthy and balanced way. Let’s consider the present. It’s true that we can’t change the past,…

Life is like a short-term mission trip. What does it feel like to know that we only get a limited time on this earth and that making the most of it is paramount? Satan has no intention of allowing us to be a difference maker for God’s Kingdom here on Earth. If he can influence us into bad behavior, otherwise known as sin, and get us sidetracked, he wins. In his world, we just become one more neutralized Christian. I found myself in a futile attempt to manage my sin…

We cannot allow our fears of failing to keep us from reaching our full potential. Too often do we allow fear to paralyze us. We sit and wait until we are no longer afraid, when we could have acted long before. God has a plan in place for you, and it may require you to step out of the realm of your comfort zone. You may be uncomfortable. You may be scared. You may not feel that you are ready, but you will be when it’s time. Fear is nothing. Fear is a mirage. It’s…