Religiosity

The term, “God Willing” has been used as a type of hashtag (#) by Christians, even back when a hashtag was simply a pound or number sign. Many add it to the end of a sentence when they are sharing things they want to do that may be considered either life changing or possibly out of their reach. A quick search of #godwilling on Twitter can show numerous examples like these: Just finished interviewing for the teaching position!!! #godwilling Big news on the way! Let’s see if all of these singing lessons pay off… #godwilling I’m finally able to afford to go on a mission trip, but waiting on the Lord to release me! #godwilling Mom’s heading into surgery. If you pray, pray for a miracle. #godwilling All of these situations, even though they are all based on different hopes or desires, have one thing in common. They desire God’s will to be in line with their own, and they leave enough room in their hopeful prayer to respect that the Lord is still in control, even if it doesn’t g...

Water for Your Soul by Max Lucado Where do you find water for the soul? Jesus gave an answer one October day in Jerusalem. People had packed the streets for the annual reenactment of the rock-giving-water miracle of Moses. Each morning a priest filled a golden pitcher with water from the Gihon spring and carried it down a people-lined path to the temple. He did this every day, once a day, for seven days. “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’ ” ( John 7:37-38 ). He “stood and shouted” (NLT). The traditional rabbinic teaching posture was sitting and speaking. But Jesus stood up and shouted out. Forget a kind clearing of the throat. God was pounding his gavel on  heaven ’s bench. Christ demanded attention. He shouted because his time was short. The sand in the neck of his hourglass was ...

Depression Bible Verses 1 Peter 5:7 ESV Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Psalm 143:7-8 ESV Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Philippians 4:6-7 ESV Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Psalm 23:4 ESV Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Romans 8:28 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ...

The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid, the sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares

“‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked.”  John 1:46 a (NIV) My car was jammed with my daughter’s belongings. As we drove to the university a few hours away, we talked about the adventure she was about to experience. Once we arrived, we carried in heavy boxes and arranged her room. We strolled around the buildings, and I pointed out how beautiful everything was.   Hours later, we said goodbye. As the heavy door clanged behind her, I walked briskly to the car, put my head on my steering wheel and wept like a baby.   I wasn’t pretending when I told her I was excited. I was happy for her, but my normal was changing. What I didn’t realize back then was that this was my adventure, too. Just as my daughter was launching into a new season, God had good things for me as well.   My child was growing and finding her place in the world, but so was I.   My role as a child of God didn’t begin with my role as a mom, and it didn’t end as ...

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  Hebrews 12:1 b (NIV)   I huffed. I puffed. I hunched over in pain. I wanted to make it to the end of the run. Yet as much as I tried to go, my legs, mind and oozy head wouldn’t. All this was too much.   I hobbled home with squeaky, worn, blue shoes and a defeated spirit. I don't know how I ever thought I was cut out for this.   How I ever thought I could do this … others are stronger. I’m weak. I don’t have the energy. I’m embarrassing. A loser. For me, running is a battle. But, so is life. One battle after another. Early in my life, I faced an eating disorder, depression and debt. More recently, I hit a near-debilitating health scare, relational issues and a never-ending waiting period. And, I continually battle the idea,   I'm not enough. Do battles tend to defeat you, too? Or, do you rise up victoriously? We all face battles, especially within our mind. Here, emotional reactions, qui...

Often in the church,  marriage  is esteemed as the preferred, better, more desirable relationship status. Illustrations about marriage are woven into countless sermons, many  pastors  reference their wives from the pulpit, and many small groups focus on married couples or families, leaving singles feeling excluded and lonely. “If you ask anyone in the Church,” Lizzy Harford  writes for Relevant Magazine , “for the most part, they despair at their single years. Singleness is hard, often lonely, and unwanted.” As a single woman, I admit that this is often true -- singleness is overwhelming, frustrating at times, intimidating, tiring, and very often isolating. There are many joys that come from living an independent lifestyle, too, don’t get me wrong, but I often wonder if marriage would be harder than singleness, or if being on my own is actually as difficult as it daily can feel. While marriage isn’t without its own set of challenges, singleness often come...