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 →

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 →

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 →

Greater Than the Greatest Love

Jesus says in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” We might read this verse and receive comfort, knowing that Jesus laid down His life for us. After all, Jesus says two verses later, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant … Continue reading Greater Than the Greatest Love →