Tag: Jesus

OUT OF THE CHAOS 01.31.2022

I love to talk. Not just chatter or meaningless words, but talk to help bring understanding to something that might be hazy or unclear in some way. It has always been my passion to help others understand by breaking down difficult ideas into manageable, bite-size bits and present them in a way that is grasped …

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 01.27.2022

3When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—4what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Psalm 8:3-4 Have you ever looked at the night sky with the stars shining brightly and …

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 01.25.2022

I have one more thought before I fold up Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia and open his letter to the church in Ephesus. There is an admonition he gives to these dear people at the close of his letter that has troubled me greatly in the past. 1Dear brothers and sisters, if another …

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 01.18.2022

21I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. Galatians 2:21 In what way do I treat the grace of God as meaningless? I think there are more ways to do that than is …