“Locked Away”, by the brother duo, R. City, with Adam Levine, is a song that I’m sure many of you are familiar with. It was one of the biggest pop hits of the summer of 2015. The lyrics seem to hit on the most basic of human desires…to be loved unconditionally and to have someone who will never leave us. Being truly known is a scary thing. We can wonder, would that person still love us if they knew everything about us?
Read moreKinder than Necessary
Kinder than is necessary-it’s just another way of describing grace. It’s a phrase that has been running through my head more often than not, lately. Maybe it’s because I’ve been on the receiving end. Receiving grace makes me want to give it- not as a payback, but as an act of gratitude. Those little kindnesses from other people, unexpected, no strings attached, just because…they humble me. They remind me of a bigger picture of grace, as displayed in the gospel.
Read moreHow We Can Pay Attention to God's Faithfulness
Yesterday, Trent was telling me how sad he was because he missed his friends in Wenatchee. I pointed out that he had a lot of friends at school, but he said that none of them were friends that he "could just call up". My heart ached for him, so I prayed a little prayer. One hour later, there was a knock on the door, and an invitation for a play date was extended by one of our neighbors. Today, he was cruising around the neighborhood with these two sweet boys while I had a cup of coffee and a chat with their grandma.
Read moreWhat kind of purpose do my mistakes serve?
What kind of purpose do my mistakes serve? I know that I’ve experienced God’s grace throughout my life- but do I still carry shame? Do I allow myself to believe these following words?
"Grace means that all of your mistakes now serve a purpose instead of serving shame." -Mike Rusch
Read moreHow Christianity is Different from All Other Religions
I saw a meme the other day that was trying to show how all religions are basically the same. It said that the basic premise of Christianity could be summed up in the Golden Rule…”So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12. Then it showed how other major religions had similar instructions. I believe the intent behind the meme came from a good place, of wanting to bring people together, and it's a popular idea- but it’s completely wrong.
Read moreWhere does faith come from?
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
Where does faith come from? As a kid who grew up in church, faith in God has long been a part of my life. Christianity was the faith of my parents, and as a young child, I would have said it was mine, too. But mostly, I was going through the motions- no personal relationship with Jesus.
Read moreWhat is true humility?
How often, when I feel offended or hurt, would I be more at peace, if I were simply more humble? That is the question that has been rolling around my head lately. When I put away the thoughts of myself, about how I think I deserve to be treated, what do I have left to be offended about? Not much.
There’s no avoiding this simple fact: to be like Jesus is to practice humility.
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:5-7
How do I put away thoughts of myself when I don’t like the way I’m treated? I like how C.S. Lewis said it, in Mere Christianity,
Read moreFinding Rest in God's Grace
I’ve been reading Elyse Fitzpatrick’s book, Good News for the Weary Women. It’s about escaping the bondage of perfectionism and the striving to please. She explains that as Christians, we don’t have to earn God’s favor because we already have it, through Jesus. I wasn’t feeling like the book was especially relevant to me, because I felt that I do understand a few things about God’s grace and forgiveness. I write about those things here on the blog, often. I know he loves us, no matter what. And yet, I identified with the “weary woman” part- the rules, the lists, etc. I figured my motivation was different, though, and that since I wasn’t doing those things to measure my worth with God, this book wasn’t for me. Then I read these words,
Read moreWhat Does It Mean for the Kingdom of Heaven to Draw Near?
What does it even mean for the kingdom of heaven to draw near? Growing up in Christian circles, I’ve heard that phrase often, but I never paused to consider what it might mean, until recently.
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