Guest posts from Mike
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” -Ephesians 5:1-2 Christians are often criticized for being critical….and we are. Christians are called judgmental…and too often we are. Christians can come across “better than thou” at times….but …
It happened more than 40 years ago. I was at university, sitting on a bench on campus talking to God. I wanted more, wanted to understand God’s love. I prayed, “Lord, let me see people the way you do.” In a moment a friend, Evelyn, walked by. We didn’t exchange a word, but my …
After many years of faith and a walk with God I’m learning that God’s will isn’t a path clearly marked out for years to come, but instead it’s guidance for the moment. God’s will and direction for life are much like a GPS. “In .3 miles turn left…” The directions of the GPS …
In my study of Matthew 6 in preparation for a message I came to a passage I have read hundreds of times before and always missed what Jesus was saying. Then it hit me….suddenly I began to weep as I saw it. Here’s the passage and then let’s talk, So do not worry, saying, ‘What …
“May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” 2 Thes. 3:5. I’m fascinated by this short, simple verse. It’s a prayer of Paul for those suffering in Thessalonica. I would have prayed “May the Lord direct your minds…” but Paul prays for heart direction. There is …
“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the …
Yesterday I ran to the store to get some things for family coming over for dinner. As I checked out I saw a middle aged woman behind me with the above phrase tattooed on her forearm. I couldn’t help myself, so I asked her, “What does it say?” She replied, “Better to live one …
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Christian life. Specifically MY Christian life. I’ve been trying to evaluate my route of recent years. Why has my odyssey gone this way? Why have I struggled at different times and why have other days been easy and inspired? It’s clear that my walk with God has …
2 Cor. 2:15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? “We are a fragrance of Christ.” What an amazing thought. …
Romans 11:36 ~ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. This amazing verse comes at the end of a difficult treatise by Paul about his people, the Jews. The question unasked in Romans, that Paul now answers in chapters 9-11, is this- what about the Jews? What is God’s …
Mat 6:33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Mat 6:34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever …
The movie “Toy Story” has some wonderful imagery in it that fascinates both children and adults. One of the key elements of the movie is the idea of identity, belonging. It’s a big deal to the toys that they belong to Andy and are part of his life. This idea of identity and belonging is …
There is an interesting parable that Jesus told about a farmer and his field. It was really a story about the word of God and our lives. Here’s the story explained to the disciples, Mark 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some …
“I believe”….these are words filled with content. They imply that I have made some choices about faith, life and eternity. It’s easy for the skeptic to jeer from the bleachers at those of us of faith, but to be a person of faith gives me a great place to rest and view the world around …
I know storms come into our lives. We can’t escape them. It’s part of being human. The storms of a family crisis, a death, a sickness, financial problems, relationship issues, etc. The big problem for me is that often I don’t see the storm coming and find I’m in it before I can prepare. Of …
One of the most amazing chapters in the bible is Daniel 11. It stands out because of its content. In this chapter of 45 verses you will find one little word repeated more than 116 times! Here’s how the chapter is set up- The angel Gabriel appears to Daniel near the end of the book …
Heb 4:1 God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the …
It strikes me that a Christian who knows God is the richest of people while in the world’s eyes he may be without what the world values. We are the people who have everything, but possess nothing. We walk with a God who owns everything that exists and supplies us with daily needs. The world …
Matthew 5: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out …
I woke in the night last night with this verse my first thought, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. It’s a much quoted verse, but I think we miss so much that it’s trying to say. May I rewrite it in Mike’s paraphrase? “Hush, be quiet, stop, rest, don’t move….just pause …
In April of 2008 I wrote the following post in two parts. It’s been a great blessing to me and to many others over the years. I thought I would share it with you once more…. Part 1 There is a passage of scripture that I often go to for comfort and reminder. It’s a …
Early this morning I met with one of our guys. We were talking about priorities, what’s important, how to use our days. It was a great visit, but what was clear was his frustration with simply not having enough time for all the things we discussed. He didn’t say so, but I could tell I …
Waiting. It’s one of the hardest things we do. Waiting for answers, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for someone to arrive. Waiting is loaded with expectations and anticipations. We are waiting for something, someone and things will change when the waiting is over. Waiting is a pause in our lives, as if the …
This morning, on the way to the church, I was listening to one of my favorite bible teachers. He was speaking about our culture and attempts by many to make all religions melt into one common pond. “All roads lead to God” is the claim. “We all have our own truth” another proclaims. All is …
A new year. A fresh start. Hope for better things. Desire for change. It was just another day. It wasn’t anything special in the grand scheme of things, but we have made calendars so for us it was the start of something new. Another year, a new beginning, fresh hopes. Maybe this year….. A new …
