His Way

I have witnessed firsthand someone have a tremendous encounter with the Lord and consciously choose to continue to sin against Him. 

Following the Lord cannot be merely emotional.

I have watched with my own eyes people proclaim Christ while willfully doing the devil's bidding. 

Following the Lord will look a kinda way.

I have seen those with knowledge about scripture and Biblical commands destroy their spouse, love self over others, live terrified, function in isolation, cling to pain, abuse their children, and live hateful.

Following the Lord impacts everything and affects everyone.

I have counseled hearts that know the Lord but don't believe Him, be forgiven while harboring unforgiveness, call Jesus Lord while rejecting His Word, quote scripture while denying it's power.

Following the Lord goes well beyond knowing, reading, claiming, and decreeing. 

If we truly believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:16), that He came for freedom (Jn 8:32), salvation (Acts 4:12), deliverance (Romans 11:26), and is our ever present help in our time of need (Ps 46:1), then our life will reek of submission, surrender, yielding, and trust that doesn't make earthly sense. 

There will be a consistent choosing His way over our own way, even when - and especially when - our way feels easier, justified, and right. 

Matthew 7:20 reminds us, "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" What do people see when they witness your life? 

Does keeping company with you give life by its fruitfulness or does being close to you leave a wound by its hurtfulness? 

If you're unsure, ask with encouraged honesty and be willing to listen. Pray and ask the Lord for help where you struggle.

Pain + Suffering

 It is human nature to not wanna feel the hard things... but hard the hard things will come.

Not due to lack of faith.

Not due to weak prayers.

Not due to a missed tithe.

Not due to poor declarations.

Not due to skipped Sunday School class.

Not due to frail belief.

But, rather, due to living in a sin-riddled world, where the effects of sin still reach us, where death breaks hearts, where diagnoses wreck plans, where accidents bring pain, where betrayal rips apart oneness, where abuse and trauma destroy.

In John 16:33, Jesus says, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Trouble and pain will come.

Heartbreak and sorrow will come.

Take heart; peace is found in Jesus Christ.

"Can I move from diligently seeking relief to diligently seeking to glorify Him as I treasure Him more than my own health or comfort?" Nancy Guthrie

If agony is the season you're in, take heart. We do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize with us. I pray this podcast is an encouragement to you.

Pain That Can't Be Prayed Away

Sneakiness of Error

This Tozer quote captures a recent path in my journey with the Lord. Learning that His Word is the ultimate authority sounds obvious until it's time to submit. Deception is a sneaky thing, undetected and unchosen. Nobody picks to believe inaccuracies. But, when the Word cuts, it's our humbling honor as Christians to yield to it.

Newsflash: 

Your flesh won't like it. 

You may have to move churches. 

You may be shunned by family members. 

You may be quite lonely. 

You may be embarrassed. 

You may have to repent.

My heart has been humbled and brought low. The illumination of error in my life has shaken me to my core in the best of ways. Learning to study the Word with proper hermeneutics changed everything for me.

I grieve for learning this later in life. I grieve for all the Bible Studies I've facilitated without teaching. I grieve for usurping the order of the Lord out of ignorance.

At the same time, I'm thankful, trusting in the Lord's sovereignty, steadfast love, and basking in His great mercy. He never left me, shepherding the shepherdless, leading me to discover who He really is, purifying everything I believed about Him. 

Where are you struggling to yield to the Word? 

What is the quality of your Bible Study time? 

How is the Word purifying what you believe about God?

My Favorite Place

Where secrets find light

Where sins are confessed

Where struggles find empathy

Where encouragement flows

Where feelings are validated

Where trauma is processed

Where breakthrough takes place

Where truth has its way

Where Jesus is magnified

Where salvation flows freely

Where holiness is presented

Where grief is shared

Where hope is multiplied

Where breath can be deep

Where listening is commonplace

Where repentance is welcome

Where trajectories get shifted

Where "normal" is challenged

Where perspectives are shared

Where purpose can be discovered

Where understanding happens

Where Holy Spirit leads

Where battles are fought

Where equipping happens

Where Scripture is always topic

However you wanna say it,

it's my favorite place to be.