Tag: encouragement

OUT OF THE CHAOS 02.04.2022

It’s Friday. How are you doing? Tired? Ready for a break in the routine? Looking forward to the weekend? Did the snow pile up in your yard and on the road the last few days? Were you one of those who enjoyed sunshine and warm weather? Wherever you are and whatever you experienced the last …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 02.02.2022

I received the calling to display God’s wisdom to the unseen world, the principalities, powers and authorities in the heavens. How do I live a life worthy of that calling? Paul didn’t leave us guessing as he plainly writes what it means to be an example of God’s wisdom.  2Always be humble and gentle. Be …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 02.01.2022

Do you read scripture with curiosity? If you find something that doesn’t quite make sense, do you go back and see what it connects with? Or do you read on with a shrug of your shoulders? Someone once said, “if you find a therefore, see what it is there for.” For instance: 1Therefore I, a …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 01.28.2022

8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 01.26.2022

Intimacy…Known…Chosen… Set apart…Desired These words all reflect the tenor of Paul’s opening sentence to the believers in Ephesus. As I read all the ways I am known by God, the lengths he went to in order to guarantee a relationship with me, my heart is stirred. The best gifts I ever received all have one …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 01.24.2022

Have you ever flown with a child? It is amazing how much one must carry on for the wellbeing of the child, especially when she is an infant. As she gets older, she is able to take more responsibility for herself and the things she brings with her. It might be a backpack with snacks, …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 01.21.2022

Sychronized movement captivates me. Whether it is perfectly timed dancing or sychronized swimming, the essential nature of being completely in tune with the other participants fascinates me. Perhaps my fascination is because I am not overly coordinated in that area. There is another arena where absolute sychronization creates a beautiful dance to behold. Paul says …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 01.20.2022

I moved away from home when I was eighteen years old. I first attended Bible college and then volunteered for a year working for a mission agency. Immediately following my year of service, I was married. We located in the midwest and I never moved back to my childhood home to live for longer than …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 01.19.2022

Rules have a place. If you or someone in your home is a football fan, this is an exciting time of year — the NFL playoffs. Without rules, the football field would be chaotic. Even with rules in place to govern play, the players routinely push the limits. This is evidenced by the number of …

OUT OF THE CHAOS 01.17.2022

Everyone struggles with something. It might be pride, recognition, approval or a dozen other issues. When I meet someone who overcomes what I struggle with, I am in awe. How does he do so easily what causes me so much struggle? The Apostle Paul is one such person for me. Saul, whom we first meet …