In our society, we wear busyness like a badge of honor. How many conversations go like this: “How are you doing?” “Oh, I’m so busy!” “I know, right? Me too!” Ever have conversations where you try to out-busy the other person? Where whoever is the most busy wins? Somehow, I think we’re missing something here. […]
Our neighborhood’s polling place is the local elementary school. When I voted in the last election, I saw a huge banner hanging in the school cafeteria that read, “You Are Defined by Your Actions.” Nothing could be further from the truth. I get it. The school is trying to instill good behavior. That’s a good, […]
Thriving. Not just surviving. Is that even possible? Believe it or not, yes, it is possible. And it’s actually not that hard, which is really counter-intuitive when you’re just trying to keep your head above water in survival mode. But you can’t get there by trying harder, which, although counter-intuitive, is really good news. Thriving […]
Sleep is a spiritual practice. Honoring the sleep your body needs is a spiritual non-negotiable. It’s stewarding the temple of your body well. But honoring your season of life is also a non-negotiable. And in some seasons of life, like parenting small children, sleep seems like a luxury. These non-negotiables can be at odds with […]
So often we shame our “bad” emotions. You know the ones – sadness, fear, anger, shame, etc. And, too often, we use the Bible to do it, something God’s Word was never intended for. “Are you sad? You know James 1:2, ‘Consider pure joy when you face trials’! So just choose joy!” “Are you angry? […]
When we’ve been deeply hurt, and we see the patterns caused by that hurt reoccurring again and again in our lives, we often write a script for ourselves. That script is called, “Broken.” It’s a label we put on ourselves. Or worse, maybe it’s a label people we love and trust have put on us. […]
Self-doubt. Nagging fears. Intrusive thoughts. These are some of the most common experiences in the human condition. And some of the most hidden and denied. Because we all think we’re the only one. Is there any hope? Is there a way to stop the negative thought loop once the thoughts have started? Is there any […]
I recently saw a Christian podcast episode titled “Our Job Is Obedience, God’s Job Is Everything Else.” It’s from a very reputable Christian ministry that I have a lot of respect for and I really like. And the episode was actually good and helpful, about doing what God’s called you to do without taking responsibility […]
A common question I hear from people is, “How can I be a Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit, and still do this thing I’m struggling with? What’s wrong with me?” People feel such enormous shame because of where they’re struggling. We feel like we’re the only one. We feel like we’re a bad Christian. […]
The Tree of Discernment There were two special trees in the Garden of Eden: the Tree of Life, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (I’ll abbreviate that last one to The Tree of Good & Evil, for short.) Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from the Tree of Life, but […]