Perhaps you’ve seen the stickers, the magnets, the greeting cards: Life is good. Ever notice how easy it is to coast along—and even forget God—when things are going well . . . . . . when life is good ? Jesus came that we might have a more abundant life, yet He also warns us that in this world there will be trials. Unfortunately, it’s often when something big rocks our world—the unexpected crisis, the cancer diagnosis—that many people quickly cry out to God for help. Yet in the same verse, Jesus also tells us that in Him we can…
My family comes from a long line of worry warts. Not the mild concern type worry, but the all-consuming hand-wrenching worry that puts knots in your stomach and keeps you up at night. My dad was a master worrier. It intensified as he got older and moved to a nursing home. He worried about me driving at night, about his grandkids making good choices, about the weather tomorrow. He would often say with a smile “I have a lot of time on my hands. I need something to worry about!” He wasn’t alone. Many people’s lives are consumed with worry….
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…
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…
We’ve seen the pictures . . . Jesus, the Good Shepherd, serenely walking along a lush green meadow carrying a young lamb, sheep leisurely following behind. Jesus, walking through crowds, people thronging to be near Him. Jesus . . . always calm, caring, in control. But did He ever get upset? Angry? Sad? Stressed? Yes! Gospel records show us Jesus got angry at injustice. He wept and grieved when His friend Lazarus died. He had to contend with the Pharisees, constantly berating Him for healing people on Sabbath, the “wrong” day of the week. The Son of God was a…
