What Is Your Will In Christ?

It's not the adjective form of a destructive word used to describe a debilitating fear, but the active verb employed to vanquish potentially subjective emotion that I seek to convey. I'm guessing there are others like me who are watching the erosion of godly morality and the seemingly increasing evil, upheaval and calamity in the world and wondering what's coming next? I have to admit that for myself there have been moments when I've tended to wonder if this is the beginning of the foretold turbulent end. At times those mental wanderings have been met with a little trepidation in my own heart regarding the safety of myself and those I love if indeed we are in some position along the predetermined timeline of "those" days... Matthew 24: 3-14 (NLT) 3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world? ” 4 Jesus told them, “Don’t...

I've thought considerably about this and while in the back of my mind there's a little voice saying that there may be reason to have some fear of reproach, I have to share a learned conviction with some boldness. A friend recently made a comment that was not directed to me, but one that I received just the same. And although I'm heavily paraphrasing, it went something like this: I used to believe in magic and wonder, but as a child it was "churched" out of me. My heart sank and was instantly filled with grief. I was crushed ... This isn't the first time that I've heard something similar and I fear that it won't be the last. Every time I'm confronted with the idea of people losing their faith and walking away, every time I recognize that someone is trying to earn their way into grace and every time someone misses out on the awe and wonder (what we might call the "magic" if you will...), that is found in relationship with the God wh...

We all have some pretty profound questions as we walk through this life. We may vocalize them and then again, we might not. Never the less, they exist and naggingly beg to be answered. Some of those questions vary in their profoundness. Some might seem rather basic, but have core effect on our sense of well being and soundness. Questions like: Who am I?, How do I look?, What am I worth?, Where am I going? How am I doing? Am I getting it right? These might represent just a few of the questions our inner person might be seeking resolution to at any time and possibly on a continual basis. It's almost as if we have an inherent need to gain approval or confirmation (I believe we were created with it) and we all do it. Whether expressly or in a seemingly self reliant silence, we're still asking. Where we're looking for those answers and to what or whom we're tuning our ears to to get the response is critical to getting the right answers... But even beyond the source of th...

What is it that makes your heart beat faster? Aside from health issues, chemicals or exercise, what is it that has the ability to elevate your pulse rate the fastest? As an individual saved by, and committed to serving Christ, my answer should be the obvious - but as I live out my answer, ... is it? ... really? Now I'm not out to attack anyone's priorities or standing in their personal relationship with our Lord. No, my motivation to write this came from some questions that entered my own mind - almost as if they were a divine invitation to do some personal introspection ... and perhaps they were. Deuteronomy 6:5 (NLT)  "And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." Pretty extreme really, and in a holy context, pretty radical and intimate in terms of the love required by our God. His use of the word "all" doesn't leave much in terms of "left overs" for other potential competing issues. ...