tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77369169307582022252012-02-16T03:43:41.006-05:00Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.comBlogger211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-77902020355368315542010-10-29T12:21:00.003-04:002010-10-29T13:26:35.125-04:00

"Not that I have already obtained all of this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-45907885816226145662010-10-05T13:56:00.003-04:002010-10-05T14:32:21.177-04:00

What about life makes you feel like hiding? Is it consistent pressure, unrelenting demand? Is it fear? I'm convinced that many of us live perfecting the art of hiding. As John Ortberg termed it, we become satisfied with living out a shadow mission, a second-best-settling for our life's purpose. I cannot tell you how many things fear has robbed me of in life. The fear of what could happen or

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-69570951957303732032010-07-15T13:37:00.007-04:002010-07-15T19:10:16.676-04:00

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. Exodus 14:21-22 (NIV)What do you think of when you think of deliverance? Do you think of relief? A way out

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-63597107157040446642010-05-18T14:15:00.008-04:002010-05-19T13:38:15.659-04:00

2 Samuel 22:33-34 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. We were heading excitedly down the path at the park. My two two-year olds were running with excitement. Well, I should say, one of them was. My son kept tripping a little every few feet. He has taken a liking lately to his older

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-79264111257711486422010-05-18T13:41:00.006-04:002010-05-19T18:29:13.572-04:00

Isaiah 55:9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV)We were leaving church the other day. As usual, it was quite a gymnastics workout to get our twin two-year olds reined in before we opened the door to the parking lot.As we made our way towards the street, I reached for my daughter's hand. She did not want

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-44292293318255041282010-04-06T06:19:00.002-04:002010-04-06T06:34:10.569-04:00

Just for fun, we're taking part with several other bloggers in posting a piece of today's post for the site www.stuffchristianslike.netThe “Is that contestant on American Idol a Christian? Scorecard” 51. During one of those "get to know the contestant interviews," they mention that the Bible is their favorite book = + 3 points To add up your score with over a 130 other ideas on this

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-33569165813861162882010-03-31T08:34:00.002-04:002010-03-31T08:48:05.717-04:00

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.This morning as I was doing my kids' laundry, I had an unusual experience. I noticed that both of my daughters had some crazy grass stains on the knees of their pants. Finding them was not so unusual, but my response was. Normally, I'd give a sigh and pull out the stain remover with disdain.

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-61910626076228045562010-03-25T15:39:00.000-04:002010-03-25T15:40:02.288-04:00

I John 1:7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.I was in a hurry. I went to wake my daughters from their late nap to get ready to head to church. As I walked the hall to their room, an overwhelming smell hit my nose and I immediately knew what happened. I opened the door to

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-38781129047297001622010-03-13T09:16:00.003-05:002010-03-13T09:40:28.641-05:00

I've got lots of friends down front. They are in the trenches of ministry, doing the hard things that no one else wants to do. These men and women aren't getting all the press. They aren't receiving medals or lots of accolades, but they are indeed great warriors. They are doing the work of the Gospel. Loving men and women and children in the name of Jesus in hopes that they might say yes to

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-28288869323405082332010-03-05T12:48:00.003-05:002010-03-05T13:12:09.481-05:00

A few weeks ago my family and I were blessed with tickets to the Circus. While there, I noticed something. Hardly anyone applauded. These festively dressed men, women and animals were performing death defying stunts and engaging acts of skill and delight. They were performing "the greatest show on earth." And what response did they receive in return? A half-hearted clap or two, if at all.And

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-75581166831711948262010-03-03T05:40:00.004-05:002010-03-03T06:19:44.503-05:00

I have a favorite pair of shoes. They certainly aren't the best ones in my closet, but when I put these brown Mary Jane's on, I just feel comfortable. They are perfectly broken in, they're cute and they go with lots of things. But if I'm honest, there's a problem with my favorite pair of shoes.You see, at the top of these shoes, where there used to be a darling shade of chocolate brown, there

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-24836721046396148062010-02-08T11:00:00.002-05:002010-02-08T11:21:53.762-05:00

Ephesians 6:10 "...be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."Ahh Monday. Perhaps one of the most hated days of the week, a far cry from the love and fanfare of Fridays. Dread and fatigue are usually the first to greet us on Monday mornings. Usually, long lists of duties and errands, which cry out for our attention seemingly simultaneously, follow closely behind. But there is another

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-11132993697913087872010-02-05T06:44:00.000-05:002010-02-05T07:02:32.160-05:00

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."(Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)Are you tired this morning? Do you long for the relief of rest? Have you awakened today from sleep only to find it was not enough to

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-87643644556446431972010-02-03T06:28:00.000-05:002010-02-03T06:45:28.617-05:00

"He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with Him." Daniel 2:22I don't know where you're at this morning. Maybe you woke up eager to face the day, invigorated by the challenges and adventures ahead. Maybe not. Maybe you woke up with that dark fog over your head and your eyes. Maybe this morning, as Bill Hybels once put it, you're flipping coins -

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-81849409119676486962010-02-02T23:33:00.000-05:002010-02-12T10:35:38.591-05:00

"If is a big word." That was one of my Moms favorites to me growing up, and turns out she was right.If is a concept with which we must all wrestle along the way, most especially when walking out our dreams. What if I'm not funny enough, clever enough or savvy enough? What if no one reads, supports, likes, agrees, etc.? What if I fail? What if I make a good start and never finish? What if it

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-48682504906633674022010-01-30T22:51:00.000-05:002010-01-30T22:52:37.364-05:00

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdelene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance." John 20:1As I sat in Easter services this weekend and read the text of John 20, this phrase repeatedly captured my attention..."while it was still dark." I have often marveled both at the living nature of God’s Word (that it is always actively

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-1367476616647673352010-01-30T22:49:00.001-05:002010-01-30T22:49:21.516-05:00

(Saturday, March 10, 2007) what if? what if God does something totally unexpected in our lives? what if, in His wildness, He completely blows our miniscule ideas about our lives out of the water? what then?what if, in His majesty, He refuses to climb into the "god of my life" mold i make for Him by my own preconceived notions of who He is (which hold no merit against scripture)? what then?

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-65324961205813439762010-01-29T14:27:00.000-05:002010-01-30T22:46:26.092-05:00

I just want to give God praise for giving me the courage to do this, what to many seems like nothing much. To me it feels monumental. This song is such an inspiration for me to follow Christ forward and I hope it will do the same for you today. Wherever it is He is asking you to, just step out of the boat and walk forward.

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-90712861639022568142010-01-29T14:07:00.001-05:002010-01-29T14:08:32.098-05:00

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.I was in Nashville a few weeks ago with some dear friends. We were headed out to breakfast on the last day, so I was following my friend to get to the beloved Pancake Pantry. She's lived in Nashville for years.As I drove behind her, I really enjoyed taking in the beautiful scenes of Tennessee. It was a

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-24772121368593772732010-01-29T14:05:00.000-05:002010-01-29T14:07:17.579-05:00

Ok. This isn't the first I've attempted at some sort of public writing. I've dabbled here and there but I've gotten waylaid and distracted by time, circumstance, and honestly-excuse. So I'm gonna throw a few of my older pieces up here so it's all together. Enjoy!

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736916930758202225.post-21721161061046713212010-01-29T13:52:00.000-05:002010-01-29T14:00:47.805-05:00

Marathons begin in steps and blogs begin in keystrokes. Dreams are funny that way. We see them as monumental, powerful in force at their sheer size. Sometimes we stand dumbstruck beholding them, not knowing how to get at them. But admiring them doesn't bring dreams to pass. The best way to get at the thing is to just take a step forward. Every day a step forward. As an old saying goes..."

Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501632582082927906noreply@blogger.com0