• sheep
    Spirit

    If You Love Me…

    Whenever I’m going through something, I always try to find someone in the Bible who went through a similar experience. Job, Paul, Jonah, Ruth – there’s always someone I can relate to and learn from. This time, it’s Peter. We all know Peter. The walking-on-water, Jesus-denying, ear-slicing, ever faithful Peter. Peter was enthusiastic (to say the least) about pleasing Jesus. He wanted to make Jesus proud and offer his fully devoted service. He wanted to show just how much he believed and how faithful he was. Yet, he was always tripping up. Always failing. Always falling. But hiccups and all, he kept pursuing Jesus. One of the last conversations Jesus…

  • woman holding up sign saying Jesus in the city streetswhile people are blurred walking around her
    Spirit

    Jesus Loves You – But Not Your Sin

     (A Preface to “When God Brings Judgment – An Isaiah 1 Commentary”) God is many things. Most notably, we know Him as our Creator and Savior, our Healer and Redeemer. God is love. He is just. He is patient and full of grace and mercy. Yes, God is a good God. So much so that we refer to Him as Our Father. He cares for us endlessly and only wants the best for us. But like a Father, God has rules. Laws – commandments, actually. And He expects us to obey them like any parent would desire of their child. But when any parent sees their child is being disruptive…

  • black man with glasses placing arms on a white desk staring at an analog clock in front of him
    Spirit

    Could You Wait One Hour?

    When Jesus said He was coming back soon, more than likely His disciples and followers took that literally. They had seen Jesus. They had seen Him live and die and rise again. They had seen Him return, and they lived expecting that He could return again at any moment.  Soon. He said soon. And they made sure to live as blameless as possible because His return could be any minute. But time went on. And how impatient did the church get through time! How tired of waiting did we get! Since the time of Jesus’ departure, we’ve only grown more and more lax in our Christian walk because maybe “soon”…

  • woman standing in the streets alone covering her ears
    Spirit

    Oh Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear

    You can hear it almost anywhere you go. It relaxes you, invigorates you, and takes you back to the oldest of memories. It sets the mood to every minute you’re exposed to it. It is the sound of music filling the air. And while many share this common interest for a love of music, I can honestly say, I’ve always taken it two steps further. Music was rich in my family before I was even a thought. It was always played and always encouraged to be played. Upon entering my teenage years, it quickly became an obsession. My walls were plastered with posters and album covers. I could tell you…

  • greyscale of woman reading Bible at table
    Spirit

    What to Do When You Can’t Read the Bible

    I get it. Reading the Bible is not an easy task. It can sound like Shakespeare, and the size is nothing but intimidating. So what are we supposed to do when God wants us to read it, but we simply cant figure out how? I would like to share with you a few tips that have helped me overcome the hurdle of consistently reading the Bible. And perhaps you too will see what God is capable of doing through you when you truly desire Him. It begins with praying for five things: 1.) Desire You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. –…

  • close up of old book spine with old rough pages open
    Spirit

    The Vision of the Sealed Book

    I saw it all like words in a sealed book. It was delivered by men unto someone with one simple request: “Read this, please.” But the person responded, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” So the men delivered the book to someone who was illiterate with the same request, “Read this, please.” But this person responded, “I can’t. I don’t know how to read.” The prophet Isaiah wrote about this vision centuries before Jesus was even born. Perhaps you don’t understand. Why couldn’t the first person simply have unwrapped the book? Or maybe you’re wondering why the second person never learned to read at all. But what if this story…

  • woman walking the line on a road
    Spirit

    Where Do You Draw the Line?

    Have you ever been in so much pain that you would do anything to make it go away? Has life ever been so terrible that you would sacrifice anything to God if He would just make it stop? I’ve been there. I know. When 2018 hit, my surrounding world felt as if it was crawling all over me like ants. I wanted so badly to shake everything off. The pain. The depression. The sickness. The worry. He could have whatever He wanted; Just heal me! Things started small at first. I ran to Him on every bad day and went back to my old world on every good day. Eventually,…

  • dead maple leaves floating on a still lake
    Spirit

    Slow Down

    Slow down. Slow down your body. Slow down your mind. Slow down your heart. Life isn’t about quantity. It’s about quality. What sort of quality of life are you living? Slow down and take your time. Do not focus on your progress adding up. Focus on how you’re making that progress – In this moment – Right now. I am not telling you to stop. I’m telling you to pace yourself. I’m not telling you to be lazy. I’m telling you to rest. Just slow down. Solving the Puzzle Blame it on my heritage, but it seems as though I have always had a determination to get from point A…

  • silhouette of a cross with a cloudy background
    Spirit

    The Scripture of My Salvation

    If you are ready to leave your old life behind and become a clean slate, free and whole, there is no better time than this moment. Now is the time to accept Jesus Christ into your life and allow Him to transform you and renew you to a clean creation once again. There are no fancy, religious rituals. There are no set prayers that needs to be said. It is all about trusting and believing that Jesus Christ died for your freedom from sin. Jesus Christ died for your healing and to make you whole. All it takes is faith. Trust in the Lord with all your heart,And lean not…