Don’t Give Up On Making Resolutions, Here’s 5 Tips
Making New Year’s resolutions is one of my favorite traditions of the holiday season. “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” is an unavoidable question asked of friends, family, and coworkers alike this time of year.
Tasting God’s Grace Through Unexpected Challenges
The year 2017 has been a rollercoaster for me. There have been plenty of ups but also plenty of downs and unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Faith-Building Memories
As I stepped into the music-filled sanctuary, I looked around at the crowd that had gathered for a New Year’s Eve party. Joy lifted my heart with hope, as I recalled the prayers of the previous year. Our congregation had collectively grieved over wayward children, deaths of loved ones, job losses, and broken relationships. But we’d also experienced God’s grace as we recalled changed hearts and healed personal connections. We’d celebrated victories, weddings, graduations, and baptisms into God’s family. We’d welcomed children born, adopted, or dedicated to the Lord, and more−so much more.
Reflecting over the history of trials our church…
Times of Completion
At the end of the year, the burden of tasks uncompleted can weigh us down. Responsibilities at home and work may seem never-ending, and those unfinished today roll into tomorrow. But there are times in our journey of faith when we should pause and celebrate God’s faithfulness and the tasks completed.
After the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, “they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed” (Acts 14:26). While much work remained in sharing the message of Jesus with others, they took time to give…
2017: The Year My Resolutions Failed Spectacularly
I’ve had years in which I did not meet my new year resolutions, but never a year in which I failed in my resolutions as spectacularly as I did this past year.
A Christmas promise
Today the Discover the Word team wraps up their series titled “A Christmas Promise.” And it’s their final discussion of 2017! You won’t want to miss this capstone conversation with the team. Launch into the New Year with the satisfaction, contentment, and joy that came on Christmas. Grab a seat at the table today for […]
What Remains in the Eye
The hummingbird gets its English name from the hum made by its rapidly beating wings. In other languages, it is known as the “flower-kisser” (Portuguese) or “flying jewels” (Spanish). One of my favorite names for this bird is biulu, “what remains in the eye” (Mexican Zapotec). In other words, once you see a hummingbird, you’ll never forget it.
G. K. Chesterton wrote, “The world will never starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder.” The hummingbird is one of those wonders. What is so fascinating about these tiny creatures? Maybe it is their small size (averaging two to three inches)…
The Reminder Worth Repeating
For most of us, hardly a day goes by in which we don’t flip through our calendars—mental or physical—trying to call up a work meeting or a dinner appointment. For those of us on Facebook, we receive prompts every so often about our friends’ birthdays and important events.
Discover how peace and contentment can endure
Do you have a favorite place where you feel completely at peace? Maybe it’s reading by the fire or sitting on a fishing dock at dawn. Don’t you wish that feeling could last forever? Today on Discover the Word, we return to Luke chapter 2 to reveal how peace and contentment can endure. Be part […]
Everyday Moments
I piled groceries in my car and carefully exited my parking spot. Suddenly a man darted across the pavement just in front of me, not noticing my approach. I slammed on my brakes, just missing him. Startled, he looked up and met my gaze. In that moment, I knew I had a choice: respond with rolled-eye frustration or offer a smiling forgiveness. I smiled.
Relief flickered across his face, raising the edges of his own lips in gratefulness.
Proverbs 15:13 says, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Is the writer directing us to cheery grins in…
How to Fall and Fail Better
In my time writing for YMI, I’ve shared my reflections on my struggles with perfectionism, alcohol, and masturbation, among others. As this year comes to an end, I wanted to be able to proclaim that I have found complete victory over these struggles.
Anchor your hopes in Jesus
Broken promises can hurt. But today on Discover the Word, the team will show us how to anchor our hopes in the one Person who will never let us down! Listen today as we learn from Simeon, a man who found true satisfaction and joy in the fulfilled promises of God. “A Christmas Promise” that […]
Thanks Journal
When I was a new believer in Jesus, a spiritual mentor encouraged me to keep a thanksgiving journal. It was a little booklet I carried with me everywhere I went. Sometimes I would record a thanksgiving right away. Other times, I would pen it at the end of the week during a time of reflection.
Taking note of praise items is a good habit—one I’m considering re-establishing in my life. It would help me to be mindful of God’s presence and grateful for His provision and care.
In the shortest of all the psalms, Psalm 117, the writer encourages everyone to praise…
What if My Life is In A Mess?
Christmas is God’s declaration that He will renew and remake our world. This work includes remaking us from the inside out. As Jesus does this work, He is full of mercy.
“Be prepared”
Do you know the Boy Scout motto? It’s, “Be prepared.” And it’s actually a good motto for all of us! It’s also the posture of a man we’re meeting in Luke chapter 2 this week on Discover the Word. Join us at the table and learn from Simeon how to be prepared and always hopeful! […]
