Persecution or Consequences?
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" ~2 Timothy 3:12 Oh how we love to play the martyr, don’t we?! From our youngest years we will claim that we haven’t be treated fairly, that people are being mean to us for no good reason, and that we are entitled to better treatment, a bigger portion, a longer turn on the iPad, and more. And it doesn’t end in childhood. As teenagers and young adults it seems at least one teacher doesn’t giv
Changing Expectations of Christmas
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." ~Matthew 24:35 This past weekend, as I was driving with my mom, we got to talking about how different Christmas feels this year. Her rural Minnesota town only put up a small part of their usual Christmas decorations and are not playing Christmas music over the speakers on Main Street this year. Almost everyone we know didn’t decorate their homes as elaborately this year because holiday parties aren’t happeni
The Apple Doesn't Fall Far
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 Children are often compared to their parents. As infants and toddlers, people often wonder who a child will look more like, mom or dad. They compare eyes and noses, smiles and personalities, hair color and level of curliness. As a child grows, and their features more defined, there is often a strong resemblance to one parent’s genetics or the other’s and yet, for most of us, we are a solid mi
Create In Me
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ~ I Samuel 16:7 The sixth beatitude focuses exclusively on what is going on inside of us, on those parts of us only God can really see and judge, our hearts. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) In today’s world, an log
Have Mercy
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings. ~Hosea 6:6 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. ~ Matthew 9:13 The first four beatitudes have focused largely on our recognition of our utter dependence on God and our need for His mercy. As we launch into the last four beatitudes, they will begin to turn our focus more outward, challenging us to pract
