Our small town lights shine at the end of the dark country road, letting me know home is just ahead. We don’t have an airport or supercenter; the brightest lights in town shine over the football field. Yet in the distance porch lights and streetlights are enough to light up the night.
Jesus said that we are the light of the world; “a city on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 6:14). I’ve often read this passage and thought of it in individual terms. I have my light and you have yours, and we all shine.
But I don’t think that’s exactly how Jesus meant it.
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At a time when just being a young black man in America is enough to get you killed—you know what I’m talking about, you’ve read the headlines—I wonder what the other mommies tell their sons. All mommies worry about their sons, don’t they? All mommies tell their sons to be careful, to be respectful, to stand up for themselves, walking in the Truth of God in whose image they are made, right? Are other mommies afraid for their sons?
Here is what I know of fear. I am sufficiently realistic to acknowledge that I will never be free from them. However, I declare that they are not the boss of me, and will never paralyze me to the point of immobility.
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Today, I fought discouragement
Because I looked at me instead of God
I looked at circumstances
Instead of Him
But then, I fixed my gaze on Him
And by the time evening fell
Discouragement had also fallen away
Looking at our difficult circumstances can often get us into trouble. When we examine what is going on around us, it is easy to think this is bad, this is messed up, and there is no way this can be resolved. It is easy to fall into the trap of even saying to ourselves, I don’t see how God can work through this, or fix this.
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Christmas is not to far in the distance anymore so I thought this would be a great message to share. After reading Luke 1 and 2 I found myself marveling at the differences in the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah. It’s pretty remarkable to see how God wanted John’s arrival to be revealed at the center of the Jewish nation, but he picked for Jesus to be born in a manger. Another interesting point revealed to me – John was the son of Zechariah, a priest and his mother was also highly looked up to. Jesus’s parents, Mary and Joseph, were just average Jewish people.
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I originally wrote this a couple of years ago for my personal blog. I’ve been praying for the right season to share it here. I hope it will bless and encourage your heart today.
She stood at the edge of the cliff. With the sun beating down on her face, she could feel the cool breeze as it brushed against her checks. The smell of evergreen filled her senses as she took a deep breath. She stared ahead of her, eyes fixed on the other side. Her heart filled with passion, longing and desire. Yet she stood, at what seemed like the edge of all things.
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photo : flickr cc/ shoothead
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.” – Matthew 7:7 The Message
I shuffled the kids into the park just before dusk. It was a little too late in the day and a little too cool to stay long but we went anyway. It’s beautifully designed – big enough for all my children to enjoy and small enough so I can see the entire park.
I took a well deserved seat on the bench. And off they ran. Tire swings, for the moment friends and structures to climb. I’ll remember this summer as the first in a long while that I’ve actually been able to sit at the playground.
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“Just as I am…” If you grew up in the kind of church that ended almost every service with an invitation to “come forward” to invite Jesus into your heart, you know this song. You could hum it along with me right now couldn’t you?
The song was about how much God loved you…
just as you were…
warts and all.
He loved you before you started reading the Bible every morning. He loved you before you found a church to go to every Sunday. He loved you before you joined that Women’s Bible Study on Wednesdays. He loved you before you completed the New Believer’s Class.
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My posture corrects as its familiar tune begins. With back elongated and chin outstretched, I sing along and submit to worship. My hands raise instinctively as my soul stirs with praise.
Yes, Savior, I do find You in the mystery. I do find rest in Your embrace…
There’s a reason this Worship Song is taking sound waves by storm. It’s message portrays a feeble heart clinging with faith. Daring to be stretched for His glory; attributing where strength and peace truly come from: Our Savior. Always. And I enjoy the reminder that though my feet may fail, He is there.
Then the dreaded plea comes.
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