Replaced or Re-placed!
When I first became a true follower of Jesus I was in a church on the OSU campus. I was encouraged to serve, which I was happy to do because I was so excited about my new life in Christ! We were a mobile church, which meant we had to set up everything each week. Someone mentioned that I could...
Feeling The Father's Affirming Embrace - In Christ!
These two quotes, one from Scripture and one not, put forward a wonderful truth about gospel identity. "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with...
A Potentially Powerful Moment For You
It’s January 1st, so let me ask you…what’s your resolution? Diet and exercise? Be nicer to people? Spend more time at home with the kids? Eat less donuts? Start reading these emails? I joke every year about how seldom we actually follow through on our resolutions and how we...
Was Jesus REALLY born on December 25th?
Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year, don’t you think?? Christmastime is the season we celebrate the birth of that baby boy Jesus!! The message of Jesus the Messiah coming to earth as a human, living a sinless life, dying at the hands of executioners (not for His crimes but for...
It ain’t easy, but it ain’t optional either…
This week, I’ve been reflecting on something that is both incredibly simple and deeply challenging: forgiveness. I’m sure we’ve all heard Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:14-15: For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do...
Donuts, Gifts, and Thankfulness
Growing up I had 10 siblings, so finances were always tight for a household of 13. But every once in awhile, we would stop and get Jolly Pirate Donuts! Not only are JPD the best but they also did a bakers dozen and we needed that 13th donut! With 13 people you avoid going into stores as much as...
Annoyed by all the Terms & Conditions
Are you annoyed by all the “Terms & Conditions” that seem to apply to everything these days? Whether signing up for a new phone line or enrolling your kid in soccer there are pages of these “Terms & Conditions.” It can be mind boggling and quite frustrating. Maybe...
Our Good Shepherd
God is so good to us in every way….Amen!!?? I just love Jesus, don’t you? I’m so thankful for his grace and mercy! I think a lot about his gracious attitude toward us, he has every right to be vindictive and harsh toward you and I…right??!! I’m so glad he’s...
I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me
Have you ever heard the verse “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”? It’s a pretty popular one. It shows up on bumper stickers, t-shirts, and Facebook posts all the time. This project is killing me…but I can do all things through Christ...
Tongues of Hellfire
Have you ever said something you regretted and thought, what just happened? Why did I say that? We all know the guy (or girl) who constantly lets stuff leak out of his mouth that shouldn’t (whether it’s filth or judgment or discouragement). But why is it so hard to control what comes...