We can have joy, because we can know God’s strength in our weakness. Because God’s mercies are new every morning. Because as we walk through this valley of this shadow of death, we are never abandoned or alone. Our God goes before us, and He is...
READ MOREGod is coming. He has not abandoned us, and he never will. Yes, the pain of life is sometimes too intense to be borne. But when from that place we cry out to Jesus to save us, the heavens rejoice, the demons tremble in defeat, and the Holy Spirit...
READ MOREThe battle of desire is not something that just takes place within us or even between us. It is also taking place against us, all the time. Our desire is under nearly constant attack. “We come into the world longing,” says Gil Bailie, “...
READ MOREThe way to render a man happy, is to engage him with an object that will make him forget his private troubles. — Pascal
Don't be fooled by the apparent innocence of the object you've chosen as an idol; what is the function...
READ MOREStasi Eldredge's book "Free to Be Me" helps teen girls become the young women God created them to be.
Sometimes I am absolutely amazed at how much Jesus loves people. Some days—okay, most days—people can be...
READ MOREI was reading the prophet Jeremiah a few weeks ago when I ran across a passage that referred to God as "the Lord Almighty." To be honest, it didn't resonate. There's something too religious about the phrase; it sounds churchy, sanctimonious. The...
READ MOREI think everyone prays at some point in their life, even if they’re not sure someone is listening. And I’ll bet that one of the most common prayers goes something like, Lord help me; give me strength.
I really like that prayer. It...
READ MOREYears ago some kind soul sent me a book on the devil. It was rather dated, from the 1960s I believe, complete with little caricature drawings of Satan as our adversary. I’m ashamed to admit my first thought was, I know plenty about spiritual...
READ MOREWhen we first think of being in a relationship with God, we probably picture him as somewhat flashy, even as many of us tried to be (at least us guys) when we were dating. He gave Jacob visions of angels descending and ascending to heaven; he...
READ MOREYou can tell a lot about a person by his effect on others. What is Jesus like to be around? What is the aftertaste he leaves in your mouth? Is this someone you’d want to take a long car ride with? We saw Zacchaeus’ reaction. Here are two more,...
READ MORENow — to find God, I have to look where God is. This might help folks who report that God “seems distant,” or as a friend recently commented (with a touch of cynicism), “He doesn’t seem to come around much.” If I want to find a hawk I look up in...
READ MOREWritten centuries ago by St. Patrick, this is a profound and simple prayer for protection. We find ourselves returning to again and again:
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity.
Through...
You are going to have to come to terms with the partial nature of this life. Have you come to terms yet with the partial?
Are you able to hold on to your faith when only some prayers are answered?
It takes genuine maturity.
...
READ MOREI think if we could recover a vision of what holiness actually is, we would be absolutely captured by it. I think we would see it as not only completely desirable, but attainable as well. King David was a man who knew well his character flaws,...
READ MOREYou have been ransomed by Christ. Your treachery is forgiven. You are entirely pardoned for every wrong thought and desire and deed. This is what the vast majority of Christians understand as the central work of Christ for us. And make no mistake...
READ MOREToday’s Daily Reading is an excerpt from Morgan Snyder's book “Becoming a King”
What is the Enemy’s plan for your life? It’s an important question for each of us to ask and keep asking.
There are daily strategies,...
READ MOREIgnoring reality does not breed joy. Pretending that what is true does not exist is not holy defiance. The seeds of joy can only be firmly planted in the pungent soil of the here and now while at the same time being tethered to eternity. Joy is...
READ MOREDo not give way to fear. (1 Peter 3:6)
Isn’t that why we hide, why we strive, why we control, why we do anything but offer beauty? We are afraid. We have given way to fear. Just think about your life—why...
READ MOREThe book "Killing Lions" is a conversation between John and Sam Eldredge about the trials young men face.
[Sam] I recently read an article about a young Maasai man who came to the United States to pursue his master’s...
We know a time will come for us to look back with our Lord over the story of our lives. Every hidden thing shall be made known, every word spoken in secret shall be uttered. My soul shrinks back; how will this not be an utter horror? The whole...
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