Tag: jesus
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Remember What Freedom Is Not
It’s easy to get caught up in the traditional festivities surrounding July 4th and miss the true celebration. Don’t’ get me wrong. I love the fireworks, the picnics, and the parades as much as anyone. But it’s always good to step back and ponder the deeper significance of freedom: What it is and more importantly,…
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The Art of Story: Offering Hope in This Weary World
Earlier this week, I woke around 3:30 am and no matter what I tried, I simply couldn’t go back to sleep. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. I often have trouble either falling asleep or waking too early. The burden of being a light sleeper has plagued me since my nights on call as a family…
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Learning to Love Beyond Labels
The human brain is an amazing superpowered personal computer tailored uniquely to each individual. It recognizes, analyzes, and labels inputted data within seconds. No matter how much we try to mimic it, nothing quite compares to the mind’s ability to imagine and create. For good or for bad, our brains make split-second judgements about the…
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Encountering An Easter Morning Surprise
Jesus was dead—or so they thought. Mary Magdalene and the other women had witnessed the horrific act of crucifixion from the foot of the cross. Who could possibly survive a Roman execution? In modern times, we try to downplay its brutality with the gold crosses we wear as jewelry. In reality, it was anything but…
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In a World Full of Discouragement, Be a Barnabas
We live in tough times. Even a casual glance at events in the national and global news leave most of us shaking our heads. Add personal problems with finances or health to these outside forces and it’s easy to lose heart. How do we combat the darkness that threatens to invade our souls? There are…
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Lord, Let Me Offer My Breath as a Prayer
The mountain air is clear and crisp this morning. I inhale its freshness, releasing a deep sigh. Oh, how thankful I am to return to Appalachia. Its sheer beauty calms my troubled soul. I offer my breath as a prayer—not knowing exactly what to pray, I allow the Spirit to work in me and through…
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Every One of Us is An Influencer
Every one of us is an influencer whether we realize it or not. We can’t change the fact that we impact the world around us. But we do have a choice how we exert that influence. With all our words and every action, we make a decision. Will I spread light to those around me…
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Look Up: Behold a Great Light
It’s chilly in the mountains these last days before Christmas. Yesterday evening I hurried out in the cold to take a bag of trash to the garage. With gift wrapping, we unfortunately make a lot of trash. As I shuffled my feet to avoid slipping on the new crust of snow on our driveway, the…
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How To Respond When Thankfulness Doesn’t Come Easy
It’s Thanksgiving week and turkey with all the fixings await me. As I ponder all I have to be thankful for, my thoughts are juxtaposed against all my worries and challenges. I find myself weighing one against the other. In reality, the challenges I face are small in comparison to my blessings. Yet, the worries…
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Stepping Out Within the Storm
Self-preservation is a strong instinct. When waves lap over the bow and wind batters my ship, human nature urges me to hunker below deck. Stepping out within the storm wouldn’t even cross my mind. But this is exactly what the apostle Peter did. Were Peter’s actions simply a moment of impulsiveness? Or is there more…
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Beauty Found Within the Ashes
Life is so full of confusing contrasts. Isn’t it odd how often unexpected beauty is found within the ashes? Its boldness brightens our day and pushes away worries that threaten to weigh us down. Out of the darkness, beauty offers hope within a world blanketed in sorrow. During my recent drive back to East Tennessee,…
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I Think I Can: A Mindset of Confidence
When my children were young, one of my favorite stories to read to them was The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. Now that my grandchildren are old enough to listen to books, I find joy in this classic tale once again. The best line in the story comes as the little engine chugs…
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Living Hope: Faith in Action
Do you sometimes leave worship services with more questions than when you entered? I know I do. Since this past Sunday, I’ve wrestled with Pastor Doug’s sermon. His message spoke of living hope which is not a new term for me. According to the Bible, Jesus is our living hope. However, our guest minister didn’t…
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Embracing Hope Despite the Soul Pains of Life
Here you are again blindsided by pain. Just when you thought the rollercoaster of life was on level ground, your world has been turned upside down by grief once more. I’m not writing about physical pain but soul pain–the kind that squeezes your heart and steals your breath. There are not enough tears to wash…
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Gleaning Wisdom from Nature: Be Like the Bees
If you pay attention to the natural world, it will teach you many helpful lessons. It always amazes me how my bees offer me bits of wisdom applicable to my own life. When I observe their daily habits and compare them to my own, I’m convicted and a little envious. Oh, that I could be…
