Today's blog is linked to my dear sweet friend, Lyn Smith. She asked me to guest blog for her, and God laid a pretty heavy message on my heart for the Church. You can read it here:
Suffering for Jesus
We use this term loosely in ministry, usually followed by a stay at an all-inclusive resort or a trip to some exotic place no one would consider “suffering” at all. But, despite our quips, suffering is a part of ministry; it is a part of relationship with God, in taking on His work in the…
Walking In His Will
I've had quite a few conversations lately with people who are downright scared they are messing up, that God is disappointed in them, and that He is one more bad decision away from disowning them altogether. Have you had that thought? It's actually rather common. I admit I have had those fears before, and let…
Happy Holidays… Not so much.
Just about the time my heart gets excited about all that Christmas holds and the celebration of Jesus, Christians everywhere ruin it for me. See, instead of rejoicing in the holiday, we make it a war against words and hatred of tradition. I've seen just as many rants in the last few weeks as I…
Mirror, mirror on the wall…
The wicked witch was only seeking what seems to elude us all - beauty, and she was willing to kill to get it. What I find ironic is that she was beautiful, but because the mirror spoke another name, she was determined to destroy her perceived threat. Many times we stand before mirrors and ask,…
Embrace Grace
Grace. It's hard for us to fathom... Something for nothing? There is always a catch. We look for the catch - surely I must do something to gain this great reward? So we involve ourselves with works, to be better, to be acceptable, to be worthy of a gift we are completely unworthy to receive.…
Forgive me, God, I’m depressed.
I hate it. I really do. I am a positive and hopeful person most of the time, but then like a thief in the night it sneaks up on me, stealing whatever positive thoughts and hopeful expectations my heart had settled on but not fully embraced. I feel guilty. How could one so loved and so…
October Rain
“The rain falls on the just and the unjust.” This is true. Only, when the rain falls on the unjust, we don’t feel it as much. It perhaps doesn’t look or feel like rain as much as karma. But, when the rain falls on the just, the delightful, beautiful souls that flavor life with salt and illuminate…
The Flip Side of Poverty
We see them - vagrants living on the streets, asking for handouts, and bumming rides. We judge them as runaways, addicts, alcoholics, or panhandlers. We rarely see little more than dirty clothes, mussed hair or the cardboard signs they carry. We might be bothered if we are stopped to hand them a crumpled up dollar…
Alleyway Jesus – Greg Milwee writes about “dirty” redemption
I just finished reading a book, “Alleyway Preacher,” by Greg Milwee, and it impressed me. Not that I am any expert, but I do read a lot of books and have written a couple of my own. With that, I know that there is an interesting balance that Christian writers are forced to make –…
Sifted Wheat Podcast | Where It All Began 