When God Said No to Jesus

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” These words in Matthew 26:39 came from the lips of Jesus as he groaned in agony to his Father over what he was about to endure in the crucifixion. And ponder the words he uttered right before this. “My soul is very sorrowful,…

Writing for God’s Glory

I love to write. From blog posts to books—and everything in between—writing has quickly become a passion of mine. I have only been writing seriously for a couple of years, so I know I have a long way to go, but I love the process of becoming better. Specifically as a writer of Christian content,…

Welcomed Hearts Become Welcoming Hearts

When society rejects, Christians should welcome. When culture ostracizes, believers should embrace. When the world “cancels,” followers of Jesus should look past mistakes.

How Do We Train for Godliness?

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy‬ ‭4:7-8‬ ‭ESV‬) For most of my life I exercised, since…

Disagreement Doesn’t Equal Hatred

There’s a hilarious episode of The Office where an employee–ahem–uses the bathroom in Michael Scott’s office. While waiting for it to be cleaned, Michael looks over at Stanley (who is African American) and says: “I am a victim of a hate crime. Stanley knows what I’m talking about.” To which Stanley, rather annoyed, retorts: “That’s…

Ministry Shouldn’t be Entered Hastily

About two years after I became a Christian, I sensed the tug on my heart to be in pastoral ministry. Early on as a new Christian, I desired to not only preach God’s Word, but to counsel God’s people. For me, however, the latter has always been tough for me, since I’m naturally an introvert….

Who — or What — is Discipling You?

The other day I started to think about how easily Christians are influenced. We don’t just live in the culture but we are, by every indication, being discipled by it. I wouldn’t imagine this is intentional, as I can’t fathom a Christian wanting to follow the waves of the culture rather than the firm foundation…

Guarding our Mouths

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (Proverbs‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬) Sarcasm is my second language. Whether I am at work, in church, or simply at home with my family, many times I respond with sarcasm. And sometimes it’s not the most appropriate way to respond. With…

A Heavenly Inheritance

“…to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4 ESV) When the Bible speaks of salvation, it also speaks of an inheritance. Our salvation — not just that our sins are forgiven but, ultimately, that we get God Himself — is also our inheritance, which is obtained…