Where I live, there are a lot of dogwood trees. I love to see these beautiful trees in full bloom in the spring. This year, I have noticed and been able to appreciate them more. These trees are unique in their flowering appearance, but their glory is short-lived. Their bloom may be admirable, but it … Continue reading Lessons from the Dogwood Tree
Tag: christ
Our One Desire
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” Psalm 73:25 God should not only be our primary desire when we get to Heaven, but we must desire God on earth as well. There are many things we desire on earth. We want to have a … Continue reading Our One Desire
Heartache in Laughter
Proverbs 14:13 says, “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.” How often do we tell everyone we’re fine when we’re not? We put on a painted smile or a brave face and pretend we’ve got it all together. This verse speaks to the depth of human nature … Continue reading Heartache in Laughter
The Past Tense
In certain instances, I hate using the past tense. Allow me to explain. When someone passes away, we typically refer to them in the past tense. We no longer say that they are kind but that they were kind. We no longer say that they have anything but that they had something. We do not … Continue reading The Past Tense
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
Set Your Mind Above 