Recently, Annette and I were in Dallas. She was attending a pastor’s wives retreat, I was meeting up with a pastor friend of mine from Gateway Church for dinner. Eddie found out that another pastor was in town and dining alone. Eddie’s …
Like moths to a flame, we are drawn toward the “behavior and customs of this world.” However, as a follower of Jesus, there comes a defining moment when you decide, “My allegiance is to a higher King and a greater Kingdom.” …
Step into your week knowing God is for you and He is standing with you. He is not waiting for you step out of line, make a mistake, or trip up. He loves you, beautiful mess and all. He has determined to stand with you. Let the tru…
As much as my West Texas independent spirit wants to the believe I can do it all, I must surrender to the truth that I am not the source of “all things that pertain to life and godliness.” God alone is my only Source for everything that…
The distractions in our culture can easily cause us to lose the element of warfare in the Christian life. Endless scrolling, entertainment, world crises, personal issues, career engagement, and relational complexities can numb us to the need to &ldq…
Time has a way of smoothing the edges out of life and gives us the gift of perspective. As you view life through the lens of experience and your history in God, you begin to rest in the sovereignty and love of God. As the years tick by, verses I ha…
I did it again. I name dropped. Sometimes, I operate out of old insecurities by dropping a name or posturing myself to look good in front of someone. I’m living proof that you can walk with Jesus for decades and still fall into the trap of you…
As a brand new Christian at the age of 18, I knew zero about this life of faith. I was the proverbial clean slate. I got connected to a student ministry and was told this would be a good verse to memorize. It is as fresh to me this day as it was fou…
John captures the heart of God and the mission of Jesus in two sentences. No more earth shaking words have ever been written or spoken than these verses. This the “why” behind the “what.” All you need to know at this very mo…
It is easy to get caught up in doom scrolling and endlessly perusing social media sites. You have to stop and wonder, “What am I really looking for? Belonging, attention, friendship, notoriety, the next trend, to not feel left out?” I&r…
“We’ll get by with a little help from our friends.” - Paul McCartney and John Lennon may have penned those words, but Joe Cocker sang it with as much passion as I have ever seen or heard. It’s true, we need each other. We can…
Why is it we think it all depends on us? We say things, well intended, like, “If it’s to be, it begins with me.” I stopped saying it. Nothing really begins with me. Everything begins and ends with God. Paul was crystal clear when …
Is your vision of God too small? I’m certain my vision of God is too small. Through the bumps and bruises of life in this world, it’s easy to succumb to disappointment and disillusionment and take the safe paths of anemic faith and unbel…
Pope Julius commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel fresco in 1508. He did not want to do it as he was a sculpture, not a painter. At one point, he called the work “torture.” It took four years of difficult and arduous wor…
On Saturday, silence fell on the hearts of many. Jesus’ body was placed in a sealed tomb with Roman guards keeping watch. Grief rolled in like a Texas thunderstorm. In a borrowed tomb lay the only hope for the world. Silent Saturday? Maybe to…
Good Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, Black Friday. All names given to commemorate the day the Innocent One was crucified for the remission of sin for any and all who would receive His gift. A free gift for us, but it cost H…
Holy Week. Maundy Thursday. Many prophetic events unfolded around Jesus. Passover, the last Supper, Judas’ outed, prayer and arrest at Gethsemane, betrayed by friends, illegal trial and abuse by the Sanhedrin, denied three times by Peter. Utte…
When you are in the busy seasons of your life, (when is it not busy?), it’s foreign and counterintuitive to seek first the Kingdom of God. It can seem far removed from inflation, riots, political gameplay, media massacres, and the hot…
There is much to be said in terms of endurance, perseverance, and resilience. During Holy Week, on this day, Jesus engaged in what is called The Olivet Discourse. He warned; because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. Co…
It’s Monday, and you are engaging a new week. I find it helpful on the first day of the week to search for scriptures that lift, inspire, and encourage. I find all three of those elements in this beautiful verse from the book of Isaiah. Let …
You saw it coming. You knew things would be hard and difficult, but they would not listen. You grieve because you know there will be pain and loss. Such is one facet of loving and leading others. You see the slow train coming, they refuse to listen…
There will be seasons in your life that feel much like the wilderness Jesus experienced. He was tested, starved, tempted, lied to, challenged, and threatened. However, he stood and persevered and the season ended. The result? He came back to Galile…
I grew up playing sports. I was never a gridiron superstar, but I held my own on the field. I grew to appreciate how direct and to the point my coaches were. In the heat of the moment when you’re on the field, you don’t have the luxury …
“Without warning.” Ominous words that signal something disruptive is coming. “But Jesus was sleeping.” Discouraging words that give the impression that he doesn’t really care what we are going through. Or... words of …
