Let’s take a quick look at things from God’s perspective. 17 billion years ago or so, God set this creation into motion. Presumably when God did it, it was with the knowledge that eventually a life form such as ourselves would come into existance. But in the meantime, it takes about a million years for the first stars to form. Some explode, some go on … Continue reading God Plays the Long Game
A while ago I shared a story about a woman who needed potatoes. To make potato salad. And apparently she needed a lot of potatoes. I probably wasn’t listening very attentively, because I have no idea why she needed to make potato salad – church picnic, family reunion, Paula Dean was coming for a cook-out, I don’t know. But the woman needed potatoes and had no money for … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Unanswered Prayer
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. -Psalm 63:6 Today I’m sharing the last of my top 5 slacker tips for building a fantastic prayer life. And it’s a super easy one: Bookend Your Days Ideally, every good Christian will rise early in the morning to spend time in prayer before beginning his or her day. … Continue reading Bookend Your Days
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. ~ Psalm 139:2-3 A few days ago, I began this series on developing a vibrant, faith-building prayer life with this simple observation: if you have no real prayer life, you also have no real relationship with … Continue reading Use Your Wandering, Waiting Mind Well
Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~ Colossians 3:17 If you listen to non-Christians talk about Christians, probably the most common criticism is that Christians do a very bad job of living out their faith. As Ghandi famously said, “I like your Christ, but not your Christians.” Anyone who pastors has struggled over what to do about the fact that it … Continue reading Expand Your Concept of Prayer
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. ~ Job 42:5 Sometimes I wonder if the real problem with the church is that it is filled with people whose primary relationship with God is through what they have heard, thought and believed about him rather than with God himself. People are sometimes startled to hear me say it, but the … Continue reading Find a Prayer Trigger
Once upon a time, back when I was a young, single mom trying to get my crap car to start, or wishing for money to fall from the sky to get my electricity turned back on or hoping I could make it to the gas station on fumes, I prayed many desperate prayers. I was queen of the desperate prayer, in fact. But my prayers … Continue reading Is Your Faith Good Enough? Yes. Always.
God, what is it you want me to be doing with my life? Nothing. You’re fine. Isn’t there something I’m supposed to be doing? No. You don’t have to do anything. Just do you. It’s fine. Ummmm . . . Okaaaay . . . So I don’t need to be doing anything. And you don’t want or need anything from me. But I’d kind of … Continue reading “You Don’t Have to do Anything . . . “
Back when I was a kid, I would hear the words of Jesus telling us to love our enemies and pray for those who hurt us and wonder . . . do I have enemies? Did the popular girls at school who seemed to be snearing at me all the time count as enemies? How about the teachers who kept insisting that I do my … Continue reading Making the Most of an Enemy
Recently one of my friends on facebook did a 10 day juice cleanse. Now, I’m always a bit sceptical about this whole concept of a cleanse because I want to believe that I can eat all the chemical food I want, in moderation and be just fine. Plus I’m really, really bad at fasting so it must be unnecessary and probably bad for you, right? … Continue reading How the Dark Night of the Soul Is Like a Juice Cleanse
The Upside Down World 