Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
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Even the hairs of your head are all counted. — Matthew 10:30 I often begin my daily devotions by recalling/celebrating what I consider calling cards from God: those times when the Spirit interrupts things with the wonderfully mysterious. They are wide-ranging and include weird happenings that sound either sublime or ridiculous, according to your perspective. Nonetheless, I …
Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. — Matthew 6:9 When I used to travel west and ski (before kids, in other words), the top of the mountain was a holy place. I simply seemed closer to God. Looking up, the sky was bluer and the clouds, whiter. Though I …
Can a woman forget her nursing child, fail to pity the child of her womb? Even these may forget, but I won’t forget you. — Isaiah 49:15 A fear in the petition psalms, where the writer is suffering and calls out to God for help, is that God is distracted and not paying attention. “Don’t hide your face from me!” …
He enacts justice for orphans and widows, and he loves immigrants, giving them food and clothing. — Deuteronomy 10:18 I enjoyed dropping into the English as Second Language classes in my church before retiring. The people in this program, sponsored by the Parkway School District, always inspired me. Journeying from around the world to a strange land, vulnerable and hopeful, they sat together …
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery …
The community of believers was of one mind and one heart. None of them claimed anything as their own; rather, everything was held in common. —Acts 4:32 The odds are pretty good that you share with me the dread of calling tech support for a computer or software issue. The reasons for such dread are …
I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. — John 15:15 You can learn a lot about friendships from your kids. My son has a best friend, Sam. My daughter …
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. — Matthew 6:12 (Christian Standard Bible) “Trespasses” are so ingrained in me that I simply gag trying to pray “debts” and “debtors” in the Lord’s Prayer. Yet, “debts” is the literal meaning of the biblical term. It’s something that’s owed another person that’s …
He told another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. It’s the smallest of all seeds. But when it’s grown, it’s the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.” …
A little child will lead them. — Isaiah 11:6b Yesterday in church, I sat behind a young family. The children, a brother and sister, were intently drawing pictures throughout the service. One of their pieces you see above, and another you’ll find below. It struck me that these children were worshipping just as devoutly as their parents or any …