Tag: Christian Living

Hope

I don’t like disappointment. You don’t either. Nobody does. And let’s be honest, waiting gets old— real old, real fast. In a co-writing session yesterday we talked about how hard it is to sit around the table at a small group study listening to others share about their answers to prayer. Of course, you’re legitimately happy for them, but inside you’re secretly praying, “When is it my turn?” “When is my day going to come?” You’re hoping for it, but the hard reality is that it may never come—at least in the way you imagined and in the time frame you so desperately want. We’ve all been there—if...

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God: A Redeemer of Shame

Guilt and Shame. Ugh! Don’t those two words make you want to close your eyes and mumble, “please, no!” I feel my cheeks grow warm at the thought of those two words. Guilt is heavy. Guilt makes our heads droop. But Shame? UGH! Shame has a way of shutting us down and shutting our mouths. I’ve been thinking about shame- and how it works in our lives. Shame is a pillow that snuffs the voice. It’s the hand over the mouth. I read an article recently that asked what shame tastes like, sounds like, and smells like. This is what I wrote in my journal: Shame tastes like lukewarm water—or maybe a bland...

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Prayer For Refreshing

Father of Life, King of Mercy, Lord of Grace, YOU are the author and sustainer of everything good. From You flows a river of Holy Love. I’m stepping out into Your waters with an open soul. Wash my heart, rinse my mind with Your pure, clean, refreshing stream until it seeps into every dry crack and crevice in the depths of my being. Sweep me away in Your current. I want to go with You because, “Wherever the river flows every living creature that swarms will live and there will be many fish once these waters reach there. It will become fresh and everything will live where the river goes.” Ezekiel...

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Mercy-The Heart of the Gospel

The Gospel is about receiving the mercy of Christ. There is no way one can save him/herself. It is only through mercy God extends His love and grace to offer salvation. Without it, we’re doomed. Mercy is a big deal. Mercy is at the heart of the Gospel. And since that is so, extending mercy to others is a mark of a true, born-again believer. If our Gospel isn’t oozing with mercy, it may be a good time to re-evaluate. There is no way around it. The Gospel is all about otherness.  No doubt, some folks may say, the Gospel is all about repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Some folks may...

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Come on- God Isn’t Shady

God isn’t shady. God isn’t sketchy. God isn’t incompetent. God isn’t impotent. God isn’t deaf nor blind. But why are we skeptical and suspicious? Why do we shrug Him off? Why do we doubt Him? Sometimes we treat God as if He’s out there somewhere floating in distant shadows unaware, but even if He were right there in front of us, we’d probably still think He doesn’t know what He’s doing.        It is interesting to think that God’s other created beings don’t have a problem with taking Him at His word, but we less-intelligent humans, think we know it all, or at least know...

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“I’ve Come, Lord” Prayers

She Said: God, I can’t seem to find my voice or move into my skin? Will you make a place where I…. “just as I am” will fit in? Feeling like a fish out of water, flopping on the sand, I need someone to “get me” I really need a friend. .  Will you be my refuge… I need a place inside. I want a shelter I can trust until my frustrations subside. Will you console me, bless me and wipe my tears away? And will you hold my hand and walk with me with me when I return to face the day?  He Said: Beloved, just look into your heart and...

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