The way generosity works is the givers receive as much joy (if not more) from the act of giving than the recipients. It is truly a gift that keeps on giving - it moves forward (inspiring others to do the same), and it moves backward (filling the givers with a sense of joy they would not have know without the generous act).
Read MoreWhat memories and emotions do you connect with Christmas? Chances are they are likely on the "warm and fuzzy" side of things - carols, family, gifts, fireplaces, smiles, laughter, etc. These are all great feelings, and most others would feel a level of kinship with you and your feelings around Christmas.
Most others, that is, except for those who were actually in the original Christmas story.
Read MoreWe often think Mary’s physical motherhood of Jesus was the cause of her blessing. We think that God blessed her above all women because she was pregnant with the Messiah.
Incorrect.
Read MoreFUD is a common acronym for "fear, uncertainty, and doubt." Whenever FUD is on the rise, people's mental wellness usually drops. The future becomes even more unknown, we lose a sense of control over our own destiny, and that causes us anxiety which may also cause us to tightly grasp the little things we can control (like how much toilet paper is in our house).
Read MoreConsider the "fires" we face in life - traumatic events, illness, relational conflict, life transitions, dry desert valleys. Every time we encounter one of these fires, they have the potential to harden our heart and wither our roots. And if this happens, the result can be catastrophic. So how do we stay spiritually healthy in times of turmoil?
Read MoreAs a pastor I have had the honour of walking with many people in the last days of their life. I have heard confessions, regrets, celebrations, and grief - not only from the person dying, but also the people who knew them. Humanity can be deeply introspective and vulnerably truthful when death is in the air.
Read MoreAfter we have interacted with culture, or spoken to society, or been in a place, what do people smell? Are we spreading the spice of grace, the fragrance of the knowledge of him, the scent of service and love? Or do we leave behind the uncaring smell of indifference and the stench of bitterness?
Read MoreGod is love. Therefore love is the one evidence of God's presence in a church, movement, or heart that the devil cannot replicate, because he is not God. All the other above mentioned evidences are wonderful, but as Paul says, if those other things are there and love is not, then something is amiss.
Read MoreNever once does Jesus promise that following him would be easy. Never once does he say it won't require strength and grit. And never once does he give his followers an easy out. But he fills us with his Spirit that you may run and not be weary, walk and not faint, and then says, “Dear one, keep going.”
Read MoreAre you comfortable sitting next to the Buddhist, the Muslim, the same-sex couple, the person with opposite politics to you, the person with no roof over their head, the person with no morals, and the person who lives for money? Can you laugh with them? Love them? Open your life to them? Are you even inviting them to your table? Jesus is.
Read MoreBeing cancer-free is worth the suffering of chemotherapy. The delight of newborn life is worth the suffering of childbirth. You knowing and receiving God's love, and being in relationship with him is worth the Cross. However, perhaps there are end goals that are not worth the sacrifice or suffering you are making.
Read MoreIn 2015 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada published 94 Calls to Action to be followed if Canada is to address the cultural genocide of Indigenous Peoples and achieve true reconciliation. The establishment of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was call #80, and today is the first one. I believe this makes God smile. Why? Because...
Read MoreI often use my enjoyment of God as the measuring stick by which I gauge my spiritual health, and that's a bit of a scary thought: what if I measured my spiritual health not by which rules I'm keeping, but by how much I'm enjoying God?
Read MoreWe live in an information age. Because of our smart phones, millions upon millions of facts are in our pocket and available to us within seconds… The problem is, we can know the facts and still miss the point.
Read MoreWhen I prayed out loud in a room by myself for the first time, even though I was a follower of Jesus, it was a new thing and it felt weird.
Read MoreFor the last couple of centuries, the church has often focused on the "what happens when you die" aspect of salvation… We talk about heaven one day, but we don't talk as much about restoration and healing right now.
Read MoreSpiritually speaking, the closest organ to our heart is our tongue. Jesus is very clear that whatever comes out our mouth is a window to what's in our heart.
Read MoreIf we do the same thing the same way all the time, chances are we will eventually end up in a dry place. If you've ever felt "meh" about prayer, worship, or some other practice, perhaps you know what I'm talking about.
Read MoreWhy do we avoid desolate places? In part, we avoid them for the same reason they are good for us.
Read MoreJesus came to restore our wellness with God, each other, our true selves, and creation. We join this mission of Jesus in part by taking care of ourselves and giving wellness every opportunity to take root in our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual selves.
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