Tag: grow

  • Dirty Work

    Dirty Work

    Effective spiritual growth begins with healthy spiritual soil.

  • Found and Find

    Found and Find

    The physical life should be crying, “I’m dying,” while the spiritual life is crying, “I’m gaining life.”

  • Cursing Blessings

    Cursing Blessings

    Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22; Ephesians 2:1–10; John 3:14–21 One of the biggest dangers of constant blessings is that we often disdain them. We become so accustomed to them that we become blind to them. Even worse, we then grow to despise them. The Israelites were in the middle of the desert. They were being…

  • Willing to be Sharpened

    Willing to be Sharpened

    Whether in church, work, or home, there will be times where people do not agree in approach. All too often, the only option seems to be separation. Yet, when two such “opposites” sharpen each other, that which comes from it will often be greater than the only one.

  • Believing Love

    Believing Love

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”—John 3:16 (NRSV) God loves you! Did you know that? Okay – if you are reading this…chances are that you did know that. But do you believe it? There…

  • Room Enough to Love

    Room Enough to Love

    “While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”—Luke 2:6-7 (NRSV) We just had our third child. I remember when…

  • Unplanned Joy

    Unplanned Joy

    “The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will name him Jesus.”—Luke 1:30-31 (NRSV) I was thinking about Mary as I read this passage and her journey after she found out she…

  • Peace-Filled Traditions

    Matthew 15:1–9; Luke 11:42–46 Yesterday (or the weeks prior to it), all Americans had the opportunity to participate in a great tradition…voting. Regardless of whether your candidates won or lost, there is something great in this tradition. People choosing their leaders is a great gift, and should not be squandered. As Halloween and All Saints’…