Over the years I’ve been confronted with the difficult truth about Hell as it pertains to unbelievers. The argument goes that if God (and His Christ) are loving and good, He wouldn’t “send” people to Hell. Now, we realize as Christians that Jesus and our Father don’t “send” people to Hell. Even so, for me […]
Mercy v. Grace
So often I find myself thanking God for His mercy and grace, paired together as I express my gratitude for both. Mercy and grace are similar in that they’re both loving manifestations, but they are different. Perhaps you’ve heard it said, “Grace is receiving what you don’t deserve, mercy is not receiving what you do.” […]
He is
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5 He is always the vine. I am always the branch, as are you. We are created to bear much fruit, a task we can […]
Resurrection
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. -Colossians 3:1 It’s Sunday. He is risen indeed! There is MUCH to be celebrated today. Even as I anticipate the celebration I’ll be attending, I recognize that many don’t celebrate for […]
Soul Siblings
In prayer this morning, I was struck more than usual regarding our “sibling” status with Jesus. Christ is a lot of things, and one that I pass over frequently is Brother. I meditated on how the “two” of us lived inside me, and how crazy cool that was, if mysterious. I thought it was even […]
Seeing Me in Him
I’ve admittedly wondered why God had allowed a raging, spirit-filled fire like mine to be quenched; even for a season. I thought I had been loving e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e well. I don’t claim perfection, but like Job, I’ve begged God to show me what I had done wrong, what I hadn’t done right, why He’d given me […]
He said
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12 Christ is who and what He say He is. We, made in His image, lay the same claim. We are who and what He says we are, and […]
Could it be?
Believers are consistently called to exercise gratitude. We are made in the Likeness of Christ and therefore God. Does this mean that Jesus could be grateful when we see Him? When we desire to be in relationship with Him? When we return His infinite love the very best way these human vessels know how? When […]
No fellowship with darkness
We are light, because Jesus is light. We are made in His image and that of our Father. “You are the light of the world.” -Matthew 5:14 Christ literally says so. We are light and love because Jesus paid every price necessary to bring us back into the Holy Presence of our Father. His sacrifice […]
Relief
I sit here day’s end, crawling into bed and removing my socks for a hopefully restful slumber. It’s March in Northern Michigan. The weather can’t decide what it wants to do, and my well-cared for foot even so told me it would appreciate a good scratching. I’d only moments before been thanking Jesus for allowing me […]