Don’t Just Read Devotionals… Be Devoted!
Quiet Time. Daily Watch. Morning Devotional. Time Alone with God. Daily Office. All these terms are used to mean the same thing—a personal time with God and His Word in worship, prayer, and meditation, that lead you into a deeper commitment toward Jesus as your Lord. I first learned how to have a “quiet time” with the Lord when I was 16 years old. That’s—gulp—41 years ago. And while there isn’t “one way” along to have a quiet time with God, here are some simple guidelines: Find a place where you can be alone. This can be hard if [...]
Quit Trying to Change Into a Christian
As the new realities of our world begin to dawn on us, change seems more difficult than ever before. But of all people, Christians should be leading the world in change. The Apostle Paul knew this would be difficult for us. He wrote in Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” For Paul it was not enough to say that you knew Christ. The Christian life was to be marked by transformation, by change. But sometimes it seems that Christians are the most opposed to change. Yet all living things change or they die. God’s goal for [...]
Toward A Place Where Roots Are Deepening
I’m thankful for all the seasons, but spring is hard to beat. From the Red Bud Trees (Cercis Canadensis for those of you keeping score at home) that blossom in the median of Kingwood Drive, to the Oak and Ash that seem to burst with lush verdancy almost overnight, spring reminds me of the life we have in Christ more than any other season. And since we reside in the “Livable Forest,” it’s hard to miss the spiritual parallels between what The Gardener does in and around the soil of a tree, and how He tends to the soil [...]