Archives For Encouragement

Columbus Day

October 12, 2015 — Leave a comment
image courtesy clement127 @ flickr

image courtesy clement127 @ flickr

As holidays go, Columbus Day has often felt like a strange celebration. For me, though, Columbus Day has become something of an annual reminder of this truth:

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9, NLT). 

Whether you think of columbus as hero, villain, or some hybrid of the two, the story of his journey and ‘discovery’ seems like a great reminder of how we can plan a course and destination for ourselves…only to find other circumstances being used to bring us to an unanticipated new world of possibility and adventure–something far different than we may have initially imagined.

My prayer for my family and for the teams I get to be part of is that we would be found trusting the Holy Spirit to determine our steps; that we would look upon life’s unexpected detours as divine opportunities for adventure which just might redefine the way we see the world and our place in it.

 

From what you have…

April 2, 2015 — 1 Comment
Image Courtesy: 401kcalculator.org
Image Courtesy: 401kcalculator.org

As the people of Israel make their journey out of Egypt toward the land God promised their forefathers, there’s a moment in the book of Exodus when Moses receives instruction on building the sacred space of the Tabernacle. The furnishings are to be ornate and the finishes opulent. Where will these things come from?

This is what the LORD commanded: from what you have, take an offering for the LORD… (Exodus 35:4b-5a; emphasis mine)

The people give so much precious metal, stone, fabric, and other expensive gifts that they actually have to be told to stop giving because their gifts are too much! Amazing!

But think about this for a moment: how could a group of wandering, refugee slaves be in possession of such great wealth?

Continue Reading…

image courtesy: digitalemu @ FreeImages.com

image courtesy: digitalemu @ FreeImages.com

 

Fear is one of those things that can keep us ’stuck’—hindering us from knowing the life of fullness and adventure we yearn for and found in Jesus. In two previous posts, we’ve looked at the reality that decisions made from a posture of fear are seldom great, and examined some of the symptoms of living from a place of fear. What can we do to live more in the freedom of joy and purpose God has for us rather than the prison of fear?

In my own life, I’ve found the following to help in avoiding leading or living from fear: Continue Reading…

This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it–the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:2-3

sunday recap

July 14, 2014 — Leave a comment

After a stay/vacation, it’s harder to reconnect with Social Media than you might think! I’m still getting back in the swing of things after being gone a couple weeks ago, but things are moving at SLW! Here’s a quick Sunday Recap from yesterday:

From the Message:

We took some time to unpack a bit of the unbelievable sight of heaven from John’s perspective in video images.023Revelation 4 & 5. If you missed it, the podcast will be available here soon.

Some observations from John’s vision of Heaven:

:: God is in control now.

:: Jesus is powerful now.

:: Heaven is active now.

What part of life would you live differently if you were living like this were true?

Continue Reading…