Last week I enjoyed an afternoon bike ride with my husband on a scenic rail trail in Pennsylvania. It was one of those October days in which the sun felt warm and the shade cool. Trees hinting yellow leaves lined both sides of the seemingly endless path, while the only sound was leaves crunching beneath bike tires. Robert Frost’s well-known poem “The Road Not Taken” came to mind—“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood . . . .” The poet expresses coming to a juncture and pondering which path to take—knowing all too well that as he starts down one…
Yoked With The Master
As we busily move through our days—and especially when things are going well—it’s easy to leave God on the back burner. So often, it’s when the burdens of life become overwhelming or too tough to handle on our own, that we cry out to Him. And although in His graciousness and goodness He hears us any time, God never intended that we navigate through life alone. In Christ, by way of the Holy Spirit, He’s given us a helper, or comforter, a companion and friend to walk with us through the peaks and valleys of our journey. When the burdens of…
Delighting in God
Psalm 1 describes the person who doesn’t follow worldly methods and means, but who takes their greatest delight in the Lord. Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1:1-3) Great joy, blessings, fruit, and prosperity follow this person. So how do I make the Lord…
The Lost Art of Stillness: Part 2
In a recent interview on Christian radio, world-renowned vocal artist Wintley Phipps talked about his rise from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most celebrated gospel singers of our time. Phipps is a two-time Grammy award nominee, has sung in Billy Graham crusades, and performed for six American presidents. His rendition of Amazing Grace has upward of 7 million views on YouTube. His secret to success may surprise you. “To be successful in anything, we must begin by preparing our hearts with stillness and prayer,” Phipps said. He says the key to all the successes God has allowed him…
The Lost Art of Stillness: Part 1
Have you ever considered that our greatest need is stillness? In our wildly accelerating world, our lives are perpetually overloaded, chaotic, and noisy. The demands of daily life, coupled with our devices constantly informing, entertaining, and distracting us, lead us to a place of endless inner buzz. We become increasingly desperate to slow down, unplug, and seek quiet—but find it foreign and elusive. Did God intend that we push stillness out of our lives to the degree that we no longer experience His presence? That we love and serve the god of busy instead of Him? Without a smartphone, even Jesus…
