• Devotional

    Simplicity Unfolded (Plus a personal note)

    March 20, 2024

    Note to readers: Greetings, friends! I’ve received some feedback that posts sometimes get buried and revisiting topics can be helpful. This, paired with taking some time away to write new content, I’ve decided to re-post the series on simplicity. I hope you enjoy! I am looking forward to this new season. All the best from my home to yours, Sarah Simplicity “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and Godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” 2 Corinthians 1:12…

  • Devotional

    Knowledge and Discernment

    December 30, 2023

    “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV). In the last post we talked about the beginning of this prayer- how abundant love is the direct result of abiding in Christ. The apostle didn’t stop his intersession for the church with his request that their love would abound more and…

  • Current Series - Devotional

    In Love

    December 27, 2023

    “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV). Over the next couple posts, we’ll be exploring this entire prayer! Today, we’ll start by looking at the beginning. Anytime the apostle Paul references specific aspects of his walk or prayer life, my feet come to a halt. “And it is my…

  • Devotional

    Sincerity Unfolded (Part II)

    December 8, 2023

    In our last post, we explored the Godly simplicity with which the apostle Paul behaved in the world (that article can be found here!: Simplicity Unfolded). We also talked about how that simplicity takes on the connotation of being “unfolded.” Paul and the brothers with him didn’t walk in the world carrying a myriad of hidden motives- they were simple (unfolded) in their dealing with people. Today, we’ll explore the other word that is used to describe their behavior and how it helps to complete the example they left for believers today. Defining sincerity “For our boast is this, the…

  • Devotional

    Simplicity Unfolded

    December 6, 2023

    “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and Godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” 2 Corinthians 1:12 (ESV). This verse hangs above my desk. It’s not on anything fancy, just a piece of paper from a notebook. I haven’t adjusted to it’s presence there (and I hope I never will!). This verse stops me every time I read it. The apostle Paul encouraged the early church to follow after his example, as he followed after Christ (if you’d…

  • Current Series - Devotional

    Walking it Out

    November 29, 2023

    “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV). The first lie that humankind listened to in the garden: “Did God really say…” A spiritual sleep can come over us when we begin to doubt the authority of God’s word or the intent behind clearly defined boundaries in scripture. “Did God really say…” “Yes, he did.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 is a good scripture to tuck away for that moment of decision. God’s word is our sword and it demolishes…

  • Current Series - Devotional

    Why a Narrow Path?

    November 15, 2023

    “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV). Why? After reading this passage, the natural question is: why is the way narrow? Why aren’t there lots of paths and options that all ultimately lead to the same place? The answer to this question is found in the pages of scripture: the way is narrow because we are…

  • Current Series - Devotional

    A Way For The Lord: Can we talk about sin?

    November 10, 2023

    “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know…

  • Devotional

    A Heart Guarded (Part I)

    October 27, 2023

    “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (ESV). It seems like everything we encounter vies for the attention of our hearts. After all, marketing is most effective when it touches on emotions, when it’s made personal. We’re asked: what do you want? We’re advised: follow your heart! We’re told that all answers and healing lie within us, if only we could become still enough, process our emotions more thoroughly, connect with who we truly are. There is a Biblical principle at work in this approach- but it’s not what it seems…

  • 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…