I read a familiar passage this morning: For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound judgment. II Timothy 1:7 Although I have read and quoted this scripture often, this morning, it caused me to ponder. I questioned its truthfulness. (Now, don’t get your panties in a wad. I believe in the inherent word of God but sometimes in questioning you get a...
Love Like Jesus
He was a tax collector, not just any tax collector but the chief tax collector! He was a Cheater. A Thief. A Betrayer of his people. He was Selfish. Greedy. Rich. He was considered a chief sinner by his people. He was Rejected. Scorned. Despised. Avoided. Disliked. But as Jesus walked through the crowds of Jericho that day, Jesus invited Himself over to stay with this despised, unwanted, betrayer of...
How are you Known?
It was my birthday eve. My boys and I had a lovely meal and watched a cute movie. All was well until I made the mistake of reading a Facebook posts. I am learning to scroll past most of the craziness but every now and then, I can’t. This was one of those times. Despite my temptation, I didn’t respond to the sharer of the article. I took my anger...
Love God. Love People.
Love God. Love people. There is no other commandment greater than this. Friday, we were shopping in downtown Boone. All of the stores require masks. I walked into the store and greeted the salesperson. I sensed her heart was heavy. She told of an encounter she had earlier that day with a customer who refused to wear a mask. He yelled at her and was rude before stomping out of...
The Heart of the Father
My daily reading plan has me reading the book of Jeremiah. This is probably not a good idea during a pandemic and racial unrest and while so many Christians and prophets are “Prophesying, America is about to be judged.” (Side note: The same Christians who say God is about to judge America, are also the same Christians that say America is the best country. Do you see why Pre-Christians may...
A Kinder Nation
My oldest son did something dumb the other day. He is a runner and usually runs early in the morning. But this day he overslept and started his run in the late morning. He was about four miles from his apartment when the oppressive sun got the most of him. He found himself sick, vomiting in the bushes and dehydrated. His mind raced. How would he get home? His closest...
Not Angry
Come in close and let me tell you a secret. “If you are in Christ, God is NOT angry with you!” Yeah, I know you have done some things for which you are ashamed. I know you disappointed those around you. I know. But still, “God is not angry with you.” We were all subject to God’s anger. We all have messed up, disappointed, and cowered in shame. But God...
A Girl Without a Side
I’ve decided not to pick a side. Well, the Lord said to me, “Don’t pick a side.” I had to repent. Once a side is chosen, once the line is drawn, God’s truth becomes secondary to our chosen side’s truth. Once a side is chosen, we begin to scour the internet for voices to confirm our side’s point of view instead of listening to God. When a side is chosen,...
Love is All You Need
🎶 All you need is Love. Lalalala. All you need is Love. Love is all you need. 🎶 I’m meditating on that simple truth this morning. What does love look like in the middle of racial unrest? What does love look like in the middle of a pandemic? What does love look like in a contentious political season? Jesus defined love when He said, “Love each other as I have...
A Different Spirit
When I watch images of police officers using excessive force… Woman calling the police on African American males… White men detaining an African American delivery man… Southerners shooting a young black male for entering a house under construction.. What I see, what I hear, is a world with the inability to see God in each individual person. This is not a new phenomenal. It is as old as biblical days....