What We Were Created For

"Ask Jesus to show you his kingdom. Sanctify your imagination to him, all your spiritual gifting, and ask him to reveal to you pictures of the coming kingdom. Be specific—if you want to see the city, ask to see the city. If you want to see those waterfalls, ask to see them. You will need to be open to being surprised; do not “script” what you think you “should” see. I dreamed of ships last night—great, three-masted sailing ships. The…

“Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life…The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity.” From Victory Over the Darkness, by Dr. Neil Anderson Here’s what God’s Word has to say about it. John 1:12 I am God’s child John 15:15 I am a friend of God Matthew 5:13 I am the salt of the earth Matthew 5:14 I…

I’m writing this memo on my birthday although you’re reading it much later than that. I began saying it’s just another day many years ago, but as I woke up this morning God had something else to say about that. It’s a pretty special day in our household when we celebrate the birth of one of our family members. But far too many times I characterize it internally on my own big day as less than that. Then I was reminded of how God clearly stated it in…

We see Jesus withdrawing in order to work through tragic news, such as when he learns that his friend John the Baptist has died. He withdraws to gain insight on important decisions, such as which men to call to follow him. He withdraws so that he simply can pray. He withdraws to enjoy time with his closest companions. He withdraws as a means of teaching his disciples the unparalleled value of rest. He doesn’t wait until his mission is accomplished. He doesn’t…

“Does anybody know what we are living for?” asked Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock group Queen, in the lyrics of the last song on their album, Innuendo. Millions are implicitly asking just that question. Jonathan Gabay, a thirty-one-year-old professional writer, was facing employment challenges and stress when he hit rock bottom. He began to ask questions about the meaning of life. He wrote to people in all walks of life: world leaders, the homeless, Oscar…

In my book Visioneering, I use the biblical figure of Nehemiah to illustrate the effective pursuit of a vision for one’s life. Nehemiah got the war-damaged city of Jerusalem back together and functioning as it was supposed to. He organized the people to rebuild the city’s wall. He instituted social and spiritual reform. He got the temple operating again. And he convinced the people to observe the Sabbath as God intended. As I’ve said, everybody ends…

The spotted lanternfly is a pretty insect with speckled outer wings and a splotch of bright red on its inner wings that flashes when it flies. But its beauty is a bit deceptive. This insect, first seen in the US in 2014, is considered invasive to North America, which means it has the potential to harm the environment and economy. The lanternfly will “eat the innards of practically any woody plant,” which includes cherry and other fruit trees, and leaves a sticky…

It’s a challenge we each face regularly: How can we live in peace with other people and restore peace when conflict erupts? The fact is, God desires for us to live in peace with others. He also knows that we’ll not always be at peace with others. Conflicts occur. At times, conflicts aren’t easily resolved. In fact, there are occasions when conflicts cannot be resolved. However, God wants us to do all we can to be at peace with everyone. We who are…

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…