"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation..." -Psalm 68:19-20 What do you think of when you hear the word, salvation? Many of us would say that it reminds us of when we were "saved" by placing our trust in Jesus. That is,... Continue Reading →
My friend, Tommy, got high every day during lunch period. He would go to his secret spot outside of the school building, wherever that was, and smoke some weed. It's just what he did. Every day. Tommy, a senior, sat in front of me, a freshman, in our 5th period math class. He gave me... Continue Reading →
Have you ever noticed when you're in a difficult situation and someone asks if there is anything they can do, the response often goes like this: "Just pray for me"? It's as if we're saying, "There's really nothing you can actually do to help so...just pray for me." May I suggest it is time we... Continue Reading →
This is what the conversation between faith and fear sounds like in my head sometimes: Faith: "God is good and I'm going to trust Him." Fear: "But what are you going to do if _X__ happens?" Faith: "I don't need to worry about that. My future is in God's hands." Fear: "You sure? Because that would be really bad."... Continue Reading →
If you have ever felt like you're in an exhausting fight, it's because you are. As much as the enemy would like to convince you otherwise, your spiritual battle is a real one. It is not a figment of your imagination. Simply put, if Jesus is your Savior then the devil is your relentless opponent. To help,... Continue Reading →
As we launch into a new year, it may be helpful to revisit one of the names of Jesus that we heard so much about at Christmas: Immanuel. Remember it? It means "God is with us." Since a new year can bring both excitement and anxiety, it is reassuring to know that we're not alone. God... Continue Reading →
If you're feeling dissed in December, welcome to the party. I mean, maybe it's just me, but have you noticed how family drama escalates during the holidays? Actually, it is well-documented that "the happiest season of all" can also be the most stressful. There is just something about the month of December that can be... Continue Reading →
Jen is dealing with a situation right now that has her feeling stuck. She's not sure what to do about it and doesn't feel like she can take it much longer. She feels like she is just a step away from panicking and doing something desperate. There's nothing worse than feeling stuck. Whether it's an... Continue Reading →
Look at the world around you today and chances are you may see more ugliness than beauty. Scanning the headlines and listening to news reports can have a depressing effect, to say the least. Near and far, the outlook is often bleak. This is exactly the tension that David described in Psalm 36. In the... Continue Reading →
