• Devotional

    Prayers for a Loving Church

    October 11, 2023

    In Colossians 1, we get a glimpse into the prayer life of an apostle- namely, the apostle Paul. He’s writing to the church in Colossae and goes into great detail about the prayers he has prayed for them. What has the Holy Spirit laid upon his heart for these believers? It is an interesting account! “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord…” Colossians…

  • Devotional

    Forgiving Others and Forgiving Yourself

    October 7, 2023

    Unforgiveness is one of the most painful burdens a person can carry. It’s something God speaks often of in his word- his forgiveness of our sins and our forgiveness of others. Forgiveness shows up, perhaps most famously, in the Lord’s prayer (“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12, ESV). We see it echoed in the old testament and in the new testament: there is forgiveness from the Lord for those who repent and the expectation that the forgiven in turn forgive others. An apostle’s question and a parable. Why are Christians called to…

  • Devotional

    Imitation

    October 4, 2023

    There are a lot of templates for living out there. There are secular camps that promise better things and ways to “self-actualize.” There are Christian resources that promise spiritual change. Mixed in with wise counsel, there can be a lot of brokenness. I take comfort that this isn’t a new issue for believers- there has always been a struggle for truth and Godly examples. The apostle Paul speaks openly about this several times in his letters to the churches. “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you…

  • Devotional

    Daniel and Arioch

    September 27, 2023

    In Daniel chapter 2, we find an interesting story surrounding the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar. The king had a dream that greatly distressed him- so much so, that in verse two he, “Commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned…” In an effort to make sure that none of the men were lying to him, the king made an impossible request: they must tell him the dream itself. The magicians and wise men were understandably upset! Not only did their summons come with an impossible task, but Nebuchadnezzar made it clear (in rather grisly terms) that…

  • Devotional

    Grief

    September 22, 2023

    I was sharing with a friend the other day about different times in my life where I remember vivid “carpet prayers” to the Lord. Do you know the prayers I’m talking about? The ones where you are face down on your living room floor before God- face pressed into the carpet. I’ve been there before, and I remember most of them vividly. I remember times where there were immediate answers, other times my faith was strengthened to wait for the provision, and still other times the answer was only the presence of God. As I walk through those memories, it…

  • Devotional

    How To Find Your Purpose

    September 20, 2023

    “What is my purpose- and how do I find it?” Pick up a dozen self-help magazines and you’ll get a dozen different answers to that question. I’d venture while some answers differ, there are probably multiple overlapping themes. One expert might encourage their reader to follow their joy or their passion. Others might suggest (or provide) a personality inventory. In almost every scenario, the reader is encouraged to ultimately listen to their heart, their experiences, and trust their gut instincts. As followers of Jesus, we take heed of the warning found in Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV): “The heart is deceitful above…

  • Devotional

    Patterns, Predictability, and Something New

    September 15, 2023

    This season, I’ve embarked on something I’ve never done before. I am the first to tout the benefits of a routine. I think routine is important, nay- essential. We’ve all seen the articles citing the benefits of creating patterns and predictability in our lives. Where would we be without routine when motivation fails and daily tasks beckon us with unfinished fervor? There seems to be just as many articles campaigning for the destruction of routine and advocating spontaneity as it’s replacement. For better or worse, I tend to side (at least in habit) with the former camp. I love routine!…

  • Devotional

    Lessons in Building Barns

    September 13, 2023

    I puzzled for the longest time over the story told in Luke 12:13. Maybe you’re like me and read the parable about the rich man’s experience with his crop and his barns, and secretly wondered why building a bigger structure was considered covetous. I had to go to the Lord in prayer about this one, as it seemed on the surface (to my 21st century brain), to be a simple business decision to safeguard his future. Thankfully, I know that when my own instinctive interpretation goes against what is clearly laid out in scripture, it is I who is at…

  • Dear Concerned Parent

    Students of Faith: first steps on the university road (pt. 1)

    August 8, 2023

    Another fall approaches and with it a new chapter opens for so many young people, chalked full of textbooks, professors, and student loans. If you’re reading this article, I assume you are a parent, student, or simply someone with a concern for the faith journey of our young people. It’s no secret that college campuses are one of the most difficult environments for faith to flourish, and yet as the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, it is not those who water who cause the seeds to grow, but rather God himself (1 Corinthians 3:7). The parents can provide training,…

  • Devotional

    Comfort in Affliction

    March 15, 2023

    In Acts 27, we find the Apostle Paul caught in a terrible storm. He is journeying to Rome as a prisoner, where he would eventually be put under house arrest. On his way, we see the provision of God in granting him favor and ultimately preserving his life (and the lives of those with him). In verse 10, we find an early warning from Paul to the centurion not to put out to sea, for there would be loss of life and property. Unfortunately, they did not heed his warning and eventually found themselves in a life threatening tempest. Luke gives…