My daughter, Maya Hagan, just wrote some words this week entitled “Uncharted Territory,” and I think that we would all agree the spread of the coronavirus in the details of our days is certainly a place we have never been. In this place, there could be fear and possibly some frustrations. I know that for the three young people living in my home as well as Ron and I we are experiencing a myriad of fears and frustrations. In fact, we made a list of them on Sunday as we were having church around our kitchen table. It was important to give everyone a chance to share some words and explain their thoughts. With Maya and Ada being seniors in high school, they are...
Read MoreAs Ron was blending his smoothie lunch yesterday, he said: “I have another “P” word for you – ‘pleasant places.'” Surely, these “P” words are over by now, but it is not to be. Another “P.” “Pleasant places – from Psalm, chapter 16. “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Ron and I usually talk about this verse with our kids as it relates to discipline and the boundaries we set. While those boundaries at times feel like limits and have a negative connotation associated with them, these lines are actually for their good and keep...
Read More“The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths. . . . The purpose of the Disciplines is liberation from the stifling slavery. . . . The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us. . . . They are meant to bring the abundance of God into our lives.” Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline I wanted to share with you some Spiritual Discipline stories from my journey thus far, a few quick stories about Bible Study, Fasting and Journaling. Engaging in these activities is another great way to respond to Father God’s love. There are many more disciplines than I will discuss...
Read MoreToday I have been met by a load of opposition – client confrontation, vendor confrontation, and nagging issues at the office. And I know the enemy is using this opposition, these circumstances, to cause me to doubt, wring my hands and question my value or ability to accomplish God’s purposes. How many times have you felt like that? Are you in circumstances right now that cause you “to doubt, wring your hands and question your value or ability?” I had been in Micah 7 this morning (literally a random “open the Bible and read”) and now I see these verses were total preparation for the chaos that confronted me at work. “But as for me, I will watch expectantly...
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