Each of us at one point or another in our lives has been wounded. Forgotten. Rejected. Falsely Accused. Betrayed. Jesus experienced each of those scenarios. During these weeks leading up to Easter, I’ve been using 40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole in my daily time with the Lord. At the same time, I’ve…
Maximus the Confessor (580-662 AD) was a Christian theologian, a monk, and an advisor to Constantinople. He taught about “interior freedom” which could only be experienced by those “who can close their eyes to the fault of a friend.”[1] Nothing hurts quite like the betrayal of a friend. We assume someone has our back, and…
I am a firm believer in praying Scripture. I learned the practice years ago as a college student, and I have continued to use Scripture in my prayers through my adult life. The Lord’s Prayer is one of my favorites to use in my personal prayer time. It provides a pattern for my…
I’ve been thinking about peace quite a bit lately. I’m probably so obsessed with peace because my life is so wild. As I enjoy my very full life, I’ve been pausing and asking myself, “Am I feeling peaceful?” Ah. Such a great question. According to the Apostle Paul, we’re “called to peace” (Colossians 3:15). Isn’t…
Conflict is inevitable. As long as we live in relationship with others there will be moments when people hurt our feelings and disregard our thoughts. I am convinced that how we deal with our hurt will greatly impact the degree to which God uses us. Author, Francis Frangipane wrote, “It is inevitable that,…
Yesterday was Father’s Day. For some, Father’s Day, triggers memories from childhood hurt. I understand. Most of you know my story. While my father did some wonderful things and preached Jesus, he also sexually abused me. The sexual abuse left an indelible imprint on my life and faith. I didn’t deal with the scars from…