Tag Archive: Jesus

The Antidote to Worry

 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me

–John 14:1.

How many times have I read this verse? Quite a few, yet because I am prone to worry, I come back to it again and again.

John 14

Isn’t it easy to grab hold of a verse and try to stick it onto our souls like a bandaid? As if one quick fix and the bleeding of our hearts will stop.

No more worries and no more struggles.

Yet bandaids will not cure the troubles of our souls, any more than pulling a single verse out of context will fix our brokenness.

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Lighting Up The New Year!

Every year, when the calendar season starts fresh, I get super excited. It’s like the slate is wiped clean and I have a fresh start.

Then I ruin it by creating all these lists of things I want to do. Lose more weight, eat healthier, read my bible more, exercise more. Usually by this time, three weeks or so into the New Year, I’ve already failed at most of my resolutions.

It’s exhausting. Wanting to be more. And feeling like you are never enough.

Can you relate at all?

What if this year we stopped wanting to do more, more, more?

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Searching for the Gift of Christmas

When Angel’s Sing

Shepherds stand on the dark hillsides outside Bethlehem, working a job few wanted and none respected. The glory of God cracks open the night sky with news that will change the world.

Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

Glory to God in the Highest

No ordinary night.

Shocked to the core at this unimaginable sight, the shepherds respond with urgency,”Let us go straight to…and see.” Wonder turns to action as they leave in haste, seeking to find this child, born to save the hearts of men.

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When One More Thing Might Push You Over the Edge

Come with me

I wasn’t here at 5 Minutes for Faith last month. It’s been a trying year and I found myself worn out, weary, and very tired. I kept trying to push forward, but that only adds to the exhaustion. So, I did something I don’t usually do…I asked for help. I e-mailed our editor here and she graciously gave me the month off.

As we’re in one of the busiest times of the year—between Thanksgiving and Christmas—I wonder if you might be in the same place…tired, weary, worn out, and still trying to push forward. If you are, I understand.

It often feels as though the load rests solely on our shoulders, and in truth, sometimes it does.

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When the Waiting Gets to Be Too Hard

Psalm 62.5I remember as a child waiting in anticipation for my birthday or for Christmas to arrive. Time moved slowly and the waiting dragged on forever.

As an adult, that time moves much more quickly. It seems like Christmas is around the corner again before last year’s gifts are put away. And birthdays…well, each one is not quite as exciting anymore. The anticipated wait doesn’t drag anymore. Now it flies by.

Waiting for the calendar page to turn—that’s not so hard. Unless time ends, one month will flow into the next, guaranteed.

But waiting on God? It. Is. Hard. Some days waiting on God feels impossible.

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When You Can’t Hold Back

Have you ever been tempted to think of Jesus as one who was so spiritual that He didn’t need to pray?

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Surely He had a special connection with God, an influence because He was God’s son. Right?

Here’s what the Bible has to say about that:

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:7-8 NASB).

We have a glimpse of the depth of Christ’s heart as He prayed.

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New Life in Jesus Christ

Stock photo. Spring Crocus 3
Spring has always been my favorite season. I like that although 50 degrees in the fall feels cold, in the spring it feels like a heat wave. And with the warmer air, there’s hope that winter is nearing its end.

Spring reminds me of new life—buds on the trees, flowers peeking through the ground, the subtle shift of everything turning from brown to green…

And the new life we have in Jesus Christ.

New life because Jesus took on our punishment, and through His death and resurrection, we are set free from sin.

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.

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Am I Willing to Learn From Jesus?

Jesus tells us to serve one another through love.

 Jesus… got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.–John 13:4-5

Am I willing?

Acts of service require that we get up from the table. Service begins with a willingness to stop and serve others.

Laying aside his garments…Jesus prepared to do the menial work of a servant, washing the feet of his disciples. As I read these words, the Holy Spirit quietly asks, “Are you willing to get up and lay aside in order to serve?”

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