Checklists, idols and loving God
A preacher said: “You cannot love the Lord if you do not do these things.” Paul wrote: “I tried keeping rules. It didn’t work.” How checklists lead us astray.
Real royalty: Spectacle and grace in Esther
Esther’s story paints a picture of two types of reigning. One type turns on spectacle. The other flows from grace. “Which is real royalty?” Esther’s life asks.
Reign of terror: Narcissism in Esther
Two people in power. One, highly offended. The other, easily exploited. Both, given over to evil. As in Esther, that can erupt into a reign of terror.
Trauma needs witness – lessons from a frazzled cat
How a frazzled cat crash-landing into a treetop helped me see that trauma needs witness. How God reminded me: He does that for us.
Humble your soul, release your spirit
Humble your soul? Release your spirit? God teaches us to act on our spirit's YES even when our soul is crying NO. For then his life can flow.
Abusers like Ahab & Jezebel use one another
They’re eerily alike: Ahab and Jezebel, who ruled in Elijah’s day. Men and women church leaders, who use one another to abuse everyone else.
God who teaches us his ways
Always, God answers the heartcry, “Teach me your ways, so I may know you!” Sometimes, he uses the “God who …” phrases in his Word as he guides us to himself.
The blessing of an undivided heart
Once my heart was undivided, God gave me grace to overcome. Each new year, may we walk in the two blessings that characterized Esther’s and Elijah’s lives!
Rest is a many-splendored thing! Psalm 23
How “many-splendored” rest can be! Especially the rest the Good Shepherd gives. As our lives sing yes to his rest, he lifts our spirit, lightens our load.
Obsession with power, in the church
You begin to see something distressing in the church. Can it, might it, be an obsession with power, eerily like the Baal worship of old? Whatever do you do?