It seems we have lost the value of and appreciation for self-discipline. We want it now. We feel we are owed something. We don’t want to sweat. But there is grea power in regaining the art of discipline. https://youtu.be/p5FbE7-3D6Y Also, here’s an invite to the upcoming couples conference. Continue Reading
Continually. “They devoted themselves continually…” Acts 2:42 Last night we talked about a similar word, unceasing. Paul says, “Pray without ceasing.” I Thess. 5:17 Here are three possibilities. 1. Pray permanently. We should always be people of prayer. Never stop. I’ve never arrived to the point that I do not need to pray.2. Pray persistently.… Continue Reading
I am seldom distracted by the meaningless, the paltry, the obvious waste of time. I am quite often, though, distracted by the good. I want to please people. I want to be liked. I want to be be known. And I put off the best for the sake of some really good things, just not… Continue Reading
And we are off and running. The New Year is officially underway. Some businesses were closed yesterday because New Year’s Day was on Sunday. School was still out. Many Christmas decorations are still up. (Of course, this is Tennessee. That could be true in July.) But today, the world is back in full force, holiday… Continue Reading
There are four priorities for the believer, discipleship, fellowship, worship, and prayer. (Acts 2:42) Only one of those can really be done alone, prayer. Our walk with God was never intended to be a solitary event. It is communal. God’s first redemptive act was making clothes for Adam AND Eve. Then He saves Noah’s entire… Continue Reading
On Lasts and Firsts New Year’s Day, 2023 I was cleaning the garage this week. I do my best thinking there. We have a 2-car garage that has not had room for my car for 20 years. There are 2 baby-strollers, a huge box of baseball cards, every old musical instrument that you Jacob ever… Continue Reading
Just as we are making the final arrangements to be ready to celebrate Christmas, so we can be thinking about the preparations we need to make to create a better, stronger, more joyful walk with God is 2023 than we have ever known before. Today we talk about the things we need to do to… Continue Reading
Research says that people that are connected have less anxiety, more self-esteem, and better health. Why is that? This is a brief reflection after a week of being connected to some dear friends. https://youtu.be/J1oiHk2x-Wg Continue Reading
https://youtu.be/lbn5g9g8ExM Using the last month of the year to prepare for a better devotional life makes both this year and next better. Here are 4 things to begin now to make next year the best devotional year ever. Begin reading. Begin reflecting. Begin recording. And begin renewing. Continue Reading
Gratitude is more caught than taught. It is an environment we create more than a thing we do. Thankful living is more art than science. Here is a conversation about the why and how of thankfulness. https://youtu.be/duYa2JDfUaw Continue Reading