Temptation and Spiritual Formation Stages
To grow spiritually and become more loving like Jesus Christ we need to understand the stages of our development and how to resist the temptations that thwart our progress.
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Ouch! She Hit a Nerve!
The nurse hit a nerve in my hand! I screamed in pain and now my hand is withered. Will I view God by my bad circumstances or my circumstances by God’s love? I went to the cross of Christ.
Be Free of Your Inner Saboteur!
There is a part of you that is determined to defeat you at every turn. You were born with this enemy and right now he may be hiding in the darkness of your unconscious experience, ready to ambush you when you least expect it. I’ve had to deal with this lurking enemy of my soul…
Boston Marathon Explosions
One year ago today I realized a lifelong dream and finished the Boston Marathon. One hour ago today for tens of thousands of runners and over a million friends and family their dream became a nightmare. I’ve already received messages from people who are concerned for me. Thankfully, I did not run the Boston Marathon this…
I Fell into a Pit of Depression
Last night I fell into a dark hole, a pit of depression. I didn’t see it coming. This bad mood came out of nowhere and pulled me down into a dark discouragement. Have you ever felt this way? Yesterday was actually a good day. For instance, I began the day with an hour in solitude…
Our Daughter Hid from the Gunman!
A couple of hours ago Kristi and I got a text message from one of our teenage daughters, “There’s a shooting here at Fashion Island! PRAY!” Immediately we huddled and prayed, crying out the God of Angel Armies in Jesus’ name to protect our daughter and thousands of other people from yet another crazy gunman.…
We Fought for Our Lives Against the Riptides!
It was a sunny day in Hawaii. Kristi and I found a remote beach with a bay that was perfect for floating on rafts. The waves were crashing thunderously on the ocean side of the reef, but inside the bay it was peaceful. We put out into the water and laid back on our rafts.…
Content in a Swarm of Mosquitoes
I just returned from four days of backpacking in Yosemite with my son David. What beauty to be surrounded by mountains, walking along streams and wildflowers, listening to birds sing, and enjoying graceful deer prancing nearby. But perhaps the best gift God gave me came with swarms of mosquitoes! Mosquitoes? How did God use buzzing,…
The Helmet of Salvation for You
No matter what happens, you have control over your thoughts. Your mind is the battleground of your life. It is because of your thinking that you may become depressed or anxious, give over control of your life to a demanding person or to alcohol, or be oppressed by Satan and his demons. We talk with…
Walk through a Wall of Fear
Recently, I was awoken before three in the morning and I couldn’t sleep. (My body still thought it was in Greece where we led a “Steps of Paul” pilgrimage!) I thought, I need more sleep! But then I realized, Even more I need the Lord. This is an opportunity for me to meditate on his words to me.…