Mmmmmm. I don’t like what’s happened to the reputation of the phrase “thoughts and prayers.” When there’s a gross tragedy, we hear some outraged official say, “I’m tired of hearing about thoughts and prayers.” And I get it – it can feel like a way to dodge responsibility. But for those serious about their faith,… Read More »

“‘What message does my Lord have for His servant?’ The Commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:14-15). Before Joshua received any instructions, he was told to take off his sandals. Hold on a moment, Joshua. Take off… Read More »

There are many today facing deep hardship and uncertainty brought on by unexpected forces beyond their control. Some have lost their jobs. Some are not receiving paychecks. Others have watched government cutbacks shrink the safety nets they once relied on. And while many suffer, others continue to live as they are accustomed to, without much… Read More »

Back in college, in the days of platform shoes, printed shirts, and bell-bottomed pants, a State Discount Day was a beautiful Friday when my classes were winding down. I’d roam Michigan State’s campus, and the highlight of the day was stopping by State Discount drug store to buy a new album, usually $3.99 ($4.15 with… Read More »

As magnificent as the blessing of forgiveness in Christ is – and let’s not miss how magnificent it truly is – it is only the introduction to the grace we’ve received. Forgiveness is not the whole show. It’s the hand stamp at the door, not the concert itself. It’s the welcome mat, not the feast.… Read More »

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and My sheep know Me.” The Lord knows you. No, I mean really knows you! Not just your name or your needs, but your story. All the relationships and events that have brought you to this place in your life. He knows your aspirations. He knows your… Read More »

What would the Lord do with an old man who had spent all of his years chasing everything but Him? A man who had burned through the so-called best years of his life on reckless living, never once pausing to consider the God who made him. Not on a Sunday morning. Not in a quiet… Read More »

Have you noticed how the prayers we send out often return with gifts we didn’t expect? Sometimes God’s answers arrive in vivid, stunning clarity. A door opens; a problem is solved. Other times they bloom elsewhere, show up in ways we didn’t anticipate, or land in a time we’ll never see. For example, a grandmother… Read More »

The scariest monsters aren’t the ones a child sees; they’re the ones he imagines hiding in the closet or under the bed. And often, our greatest fears work the same way. It’s not the actual situation, but the shadow it casts in our minds. Not what’s actually happening in the moment, but the story we… Read More »

Yet another riff on my life verse: “Let the one who boasts boast in this: that they understand and know Me” (Jeremiah 9:24). The Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, isn’t asking us to impress Him; He’s inviting us to know Him. It’s the most magnificent offer we’ll ever receive. Therefore, let’s not just… Read More »