Purity, ugh, are you having flashbacks to squeamish talks about sex in the church basement during youth group? I think that’s what most people think of first when this word comes up, even if you weren’t subjected to those uncomfortable youth group conversations. However, the Bible has a lot to say about purity and much of it has nothing to do with sexuality. To be pure, in the biblical sense, is to be sinless. Purity is defined as “an absence of blemish or stain, especially s

What does it mean to be truly wise? The older I’ve gotten the more I realize that to be wise is so much more than being smart. Being smart, according to Webster’s is, “having or showing a high degree of mental ability; witty, clever.” Wisdom, on the other hand, is defined as; the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships, insight; good sense, judgement. Synonyms are discretion and prudence. The first is just about knowing, the second is about discerning and the two

“For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.” Psalm 139: 13-14 Isn’t it funny that when we look at babies we easily use all the above words? We look at a new baby and declare them perfect, we can’t imagine criticizing anything about a newborn. We see infinite hope and possibility. Words like wondrous, miracle, extraordinary, and marvel roll easily off our tongues, a

Next week we start a long overdue landscaping project at our home and I am so excited to get going. I’m excited to see the finished project but I know that a lot has to happen before I get to that day. Part of the preparation has been some devastation. We had three trees taken out last week, one a beautiful and beloved Dogwood, and as fate would have it, it was in the most glorious bloom of it’s history when it was cut down. Why would we cut down such a beautiful tree? Becau

“… ‘Bring your son here.’ As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.” ( Luke 9:41b-43) Confession time, I haven’t journaled today’s verses or yesterday’s yet because I’ve been parked on Monday’s verses from Luke 9. Every so often that happens, and I just roll with it because I fi

Hi Everyone, I try to keep from re-using plans from the past unless they’re seasonal, like Advent and Lent. However, I am bringing back this one from January 2021 for two reasons; 1. I had foot surgery last Thursday and my plan was to read, and write and be very productive as I recovered. My body seems to have had a very different plan and this weekend has been rough to say the least. 2. Following goodness with God’s Majesty actually makes a lot of sense, and it helps to set

Certain: fixed, settled; dependable, reliable; assured in mind or action. Originally the past participle of the Latin cernere, to sift, discern, decide, determine…verbal base krei (Greek) to sift, separate…choose (Webster’s). “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27: 13-14 The Hebrew - Greek Key Word

About half way through last months journal plan I was wondering what would be an appropriate attribute of God’s character to follow something as immense as sovereignty. And then I realized I had a song playing over and over again in my head, “Goodness of God” by Caleb and Kelsey. Sovereignty, we have seen, is supreme power, and in and of itself that is frightening. When we think back over history of people who have come to have supreme or unlimited power, it never ends well.

Divine Sovereignty: what exactly does that mean and how does it bring me comfort? Is it just an antiquated theological term or does it possess the power to meet my needs today? Let’s start by defining it- it’s Wednesday after all, and you can judge from there. Sovereignty is defined as “supreme power: freedom from external control: controlling influence.” To be sovereign is to be; “superlative (surpassing all others) in quality: of the most exalted kind: supreme: of an u

Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Growing up Protestant I rarely considered Lent, other than to hear my Catholic friends bemoaning all of the fish they had to eat and the chocolate they were giving up. I considered myself lucky to be able to skip this age old church discipline. What I didn’t realize was that I was missing out on a particularly rich practice that would make Easter an even more spectacular day than I had ever known it could be. It all started

Six years ago I wrote my very first scripture journaling plan. My very first plan was written in February on the topic of God’s love for us. I wrote it after discovering scripture journaling on Pinterest during Advent. I enjoyed it so much I found another plan on Pinterest for January but then for February I decided to try writing my own. I was doing a Bible study with some friends and a couple of them seemed to really struggle with the love of God. They understood the law ve

Psalm 136 has 26 verses and so 26 times the phrase “his faithful love endures forever” is repeated. We’re taught that whenever something...

It’s January 1, 2023! Does that get you excited or does it make you feel a little disappointed or sad? Maybe 2022 wasn’t what you had hoped or maybe it brought more pain and struggle than you anticipated. Perhaps some things changed for the better but some got much worse. Most years of our lives end up as a mixed bag of both I suppose. I typically don’t love the whole New Years thing. We rarely go out and do much of anything and the whole experience feels like a let down of

Malachi 4: 5-6 is a promise that is fulfilled in Luke 1: 16-17, a promise that is especially dear to me because it’s a promise I have...

“Rejection is God’s protection.” My kids heard this from me a few too many times when they were adolescents navigating high school and...

I feel like there's no possible way I can do justice to these verses, especially verses 33 to 35, I’ve been sitting with them for over an...

One thing that really impresses me about John 1: 23 is the absolute surety that John has as he answers the Pharisees. He is unwavering in...

Zeal: eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something: fervor. Ardent: characterized by warmth of feeling typically expressed in...

“His delight will be in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, he will not execute justice by what he...

Joel 2:32 Romans 10:9-13 To call upon the name of the Lord is so much more than a prayer. It’s the cry of my heart after my eyes have...