Mouth vs. Heart

The prophet Jeremiah gives us a captivating picture of the wicked. He says, “you [God] are near in their mouth and far from their heart” (12:2). He is not alone in this assessment. In Isaiah, God describes a people as “honor[ing Him] with their lips, but their hearts are far from [Him]” (29:13). Then, in … Continue reading Mouth vs. Heart →

Cling to the Word

As I have been doing my student teaching, I have been pleasantly surprised to see students incorporate Scripture into their work. They will use Bible verses in a speech or a slideshow to communicate their faith and share how it teaches and inspires them. This is a wonderful thing, and I am delighted to see … Continue reading Cling to the Word →

There IS Something Wrong With a Comfort Zone

Someone once said the following statement to me: “There’s nothing wrong with a comfort zone.” As I thought about this later, I realized that I 100% disagree with this. If we never do anything outside of our comfort zones, we will never grow. The times in my life when I have seen the most growth … Continue reading There IS Something Wrong With a Comfort Zone →

The Naughty List

One year, in the midst of the Christmas season, I read a church sign that prompted a great deal of thought. I don’t remember the exact wording, but the sign said something along the lines of, “Don’t worry about Santa, God also has a naughty and nice list.” Friends, this simply is not true. This … Continue reading The Naughty List →

Come, Lord Jesus

“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21) This year, as I have listened to Christmas music, a couple of songs have stood out to me. These are songs about the anticipation of Jesus’ coming. … Continue reading Come, Lord Jesus →

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Thanksgiving has passed, and we’re in the Christmas season! Now, nobody can passive-aggressively state their opinions on when is the right time to Christmas music or put up your tree, because ‘tis officially the season to be jolly. I truly believe that this is the most wonderful time of the year. I know that sounds … Continue reading The Most Wonderful Time of the Year →

Washed in the Blood

DISCLAIMER: Spoilers for The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis ahead! C.S. Lewis’ sixth Narnia book, The Silver Chair, ends with the death of one of Narnia’s most beloved characters. However, Lewis transforms a truly sad moment into one of unrivaled hope. He does this by showing the reader the glory of resurrection. King Caspian was … Continue reading Washed in the Blood →

Rest

Happy Labor Day! If you are like many Americans, today is a day off of work and school. It’s a day you don’t have to go anywhere or do anything and are free to rest. The way we celebrate this holiday and its purpose got me thinking about what the Bible says about rest. We … Continue reading Rest →

Like a dog…

My family has 2 beagles, and I have learned a lot from our family dogs. One of the main things they have taught us is that dogs have some weird habits. Our beagles make it their personal mission to sniff every blade of grass in our yard, chase every other living creature they see, and … Continue reading Like a dog… →

Light and Dark

One of my favorite moments in the Harry Potter movies comes in the 5th installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. At around the midpoint of the movie, Harry is deeply troubled and in need of consolation. He is continually having dark visions sent from the series’ villain and begins to wonder if … Continue reading Light and Dark →