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God’s Story

Glimpse #3 {This is How We Welcome}

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God wants his people to trust him. Not just for today, but for tomorrow. And not just with our hunger, but with all of our needs. If we are storing up treasures in our home and bank or storing up fear in our minds or storing up bitterness in our hearts, we are not trusting our Creator with the most basic needs of our life. There are times to save and make preparations, and these will be most fruitful when they are in response to God’s leading. But if we spend so much time, energy and money storing up and […]

Glimpse #2 {This is How We Welcome}

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Advent begins December 1st — the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Here’s another glimpse into these conversations intended to guide you through a season of active waiting and preparing for the coming of Christmas. When did we start expecting instead of receiving, and buying instead of giving? With the first bit of sin. That’s the moment. That’s when we started wanting what we want, instead of what someone else wanted for us. Our will verses God’s. Our desires instead of His. We chose sin out of the hunger of our flesh, rather than the good and perfect gifts from above, coming down […]

What does it look like for God’s life to be born in us?

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“The very first Christmas was Jesus being born unto the world. Every Christmas after, is Jesus being born in us. As we anticipate and wait in these Advent days, we are preparing for his birth — not only in a manger, but in hearts and homes. Jesus, being born into our sin. Jesus being born into our brokenness. Jesus being born into our relationships. Jesus being born into the work of our hands, the words of our mouth. This is no ordinary birth. It’s not the kind that marks first breath. It’s the kind that brings for new life. What […]

Everything is Permissible

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….but not everything is beneficial. I experienced a convergence of situations and truths this week. And the more I meditate on it, the more I realize just how central this teaching is to how we shape and guide our children according to the purposes of God. I was talking deep with a friend about the thorn in his flesh and how it has him wrestling with heart issues, and feeling judged by those who claim the name of Jesus. The question he asked was do you think it’s wrong? It’s a familiar question to most of us.  We can’t help […]

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When Your Resurrection Hasn’t Come Yet

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Don’t lose hope. For God’s story never changes. It’s always one of life after death. But maybe you feel like you perpetually live on a Good Friday – where there’s struggle and surrender — a day we can only name Good in hindsight, in the knowing of what was to follow. Or maybe you have lived a long time in the day after. Where there’s grieving for what was and waiting for what is to come. And it never seems like Sunday will come. It never feels like the grave will go empty. For you, who longs to live life […]

Trod Upon Us With Triumphal Entry

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With branches of palm they welcomed him. A crowd receiving their Lord. No chariots. No trumpets. No robe. No carpet. Just a donkey, the cloaks of friends, and proclamations of those who believe. Not the expected entry of a King. But the Son of God doesn’t seek grandiose receptions. Only genuine welcome. And so we lay down our garments, we lay down our life. This is how we welcome you.  In the submission of our will. And we lay down our cut branches in hopes you will graft us into you. This is how we receive you. In the knowing that you will receive us. And […]

praying for you to be born {today}

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Death is not your story. It’s the reason you came near to us. The reality that birthed you as a savior to bring hope to this dark world. And we believe in this hope. We grasp for it in moments like these when the darkness is just too much to bear. Children? Really? Come on, Lord. Surely there was something you could have done! Free will. I get that. I love that about your creative design. It’s the greatest expression of genuine love ever witnessed. And yet, I know you as an intervening God. Active in this world. Colliding with […]

Advent Conversations

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If you’re looking for an intentional way to welcome Jesus into your heart and home this Christmas, I share with you these Advent thoughts intended to initiate heart talks between you and God, and with those you celebrate. Experience Christmas new through welcoming Jesus to be born — not just in a manger, not just unto the world — but born into you and all your joyful and broken realities.

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Preparing your Heart and Home for Christmas {An Advent Devotional}

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It really is the most wonderful time of the year! After a national chorus of gratitude, we slip into the magical days of Christmas. When the music we play is delightful. And the spirits of people are more cheerful. When our thoughts are turning toward others. And hope seems a little closer to reach. The world may think it’s mere tradition that infuses these days with joy. But we know better. No matter how hard it is to find baby Jesus in the stores we frequent. No matter how much the American consumer culture tries to dominate. When God’s people […]

God Has Elected His People

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Together with our disappointment, our hope, our rejoicing, our confusion, our faith and our fear, we start a new day. The sun has risen and the common language we can speak is love. And thankfulness. And praise. So let us come together after months of division and separate thinking, and celebrate the citizenship that unites our spirits, that transcends this earth. We are one! One body, one people, under the name of Christ and the residence of Heaven. If the world sees us as divided, they will not trust us. If the world witnesses our hate, they will not recognize […]

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