Thanksgiving is approaching, but—if you’re like me—you may be struggling to feel thankful this year. Maybe this is your first holiday with an empty chair at the table, or maybe you’ve recently received some devastating news. Maybe you dread the idea of gathering with family, or maybe you are aching because there’s no family to gather with.
Continue reading “A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving”
Did anyone else spend years doubting their salvation? Wondering if they were really good enough to be saved?
The other night, I was reading in Scripture about the men from Judea who were teaching new believers that, “Unless you are circumcised, you cannot be saved.” And I realized that’s how a religious spirit works.
Continue reading “A Religious Spirit”
Ministry has not looked the way I hoped it would.
It has not been a beautiful series of home runs for the Kingdom of God. I can’t count the number of times I’ve dropped the ball, struck out, or thrown my bat in a fit of unsportsmanlike conduct. [And that sums up everything I know about baseball.]
Continue reading “Batter Up”
“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:13-14
Because He lives. Three of the most important words in the Christian faith. The foundational truth of the Gospel and the reason we can still celebrate, even in a season of uncertainty. As Christians, all of our hope is in Christ’s resurrection.
Let your life be marked by love.
Be patient.
Be kind.
Be quick to forgive and quick to listen.
Be slow to speak and slow to anger.
Believe the best.
I know it’s not easy.
I wish I could protect your heart forever. But as you go out into the world, and you choose to love people, I can’t tell you that it won’t hurt. I can’t tell you that you’ll be able to fix everything, or save everyone. I can’t tell you that it will all work out, or that if you mess up, you’ll always be able to mend it. I can’t tell you that your love will be returned.
Continue reading “Love. Even When It Hurts.”
Grace Waves 