Christ

The Heart’s True Home

Peace is not foundwhen life settlesand every troubling voicegrows quiet. It enters when Christascends the thronewithin the heart— when His wordcarries more weightthan the news we fear, when His promisesspeak louderthan the questionswe cannot answer, and when His presencebecomes more certainthan everythingwe can see. Storms may still gather,and circumstancesmay raise their voices, but they can…
The Silver Beneath the Soot

Scripture Focus: “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver… and shall purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” — Malachi 3:3 Long before wheelchairs, oxygen tubing, and frequent doctors’ appointments became part of my daily life, I loved wandering through thrift…
Higher Than My Thoughts

Scripture Focus: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” — Isaiah 55:8 Have you ever tried to put together a puzzle without looking at the picture on the box? At first, it may seem simple enough. You find the corner pieces, separate the colors, and confidently…
The Danger of “Good Enough”

Have you ever found yourself wanting something for another person more than they seem to want it for themselves? Perhaps you’ve watched someone remain in a relationship that continually hurts them, or you’ve encouraged a friend to pursue an opportunity they keep talking themselves out of. Maybe you’ve prayed earnestly for someone to draw closer…
The Measure of Love

True love nurtures growth. It doesn’t simply accept someone as they are and leave them there. It patiently encourages what’s good, gently corrects what’s harmful, extends grace when grace is needed, and quietly draws out the very best in the one it loves. When I stop and think about it, isn’t that exactly how Christ…
Retired… or Reassigned?

I once read a quote often attributed to Benjamin Franklin that has lingered in my mind for years: “Many people die at twenty-five and aren’t buried until they are seventy-five.” Whether he actually said it or not, the thought is sobering. It made me wonder if something similar can happen spiritually among Christians. I’ve noticed…
The Poverty of Plenty

“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” -Ecclesiastes 5:10 Have you ever noticed how quickly “just a little more” quietly becomes “still not enough”? Solomon certainly did. Few people have ever possessed more wealth, influence, opportunities, or accomplishments than he did.…
The Fragrance of Our Influence

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour…” — Ecclesiastes 10:1 I have always found this to be one of the most vivid illustrations in Scripture. An apothecary would carefully blend fragrant oils and costly spices into a beautiful perfume. Every ingredient was chosen with care, yet it only…
The Wind in the Branches

There are some things in life we know are real, even though we’ve never actually seen them. I’ve never seen the wind. I’ve watched towering trees bow beneath its strength, curtains billow through an open window, leaves skitter across the driveway as though they suddenly remembered an appointment somewhere else, and clouds drift across the…
Seeing More Clearly

I used to have a rather romantic idea of spiritual growth. When I first became a Christian, I assumed maturity would eventually arrive like some sort of heavenly graduation ceremony. One day I would wake up, angels would probably sing a few bars of Handel’s Messiah, and I would glide through life with remarkably few…