3 things to do this Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2014 by 1 Comment

I love Valentine’s Day.  Thanks to my dad and to sweet friends growing up I always associated V-Day with expressing love to those you love, (and not just romantically). Screen Shot 2014-02-14 at 2.42.17 PM

But everyone has a different Valentine’s Day experience.  With that in mind, here are three things I’m trying to do as I navigate today:

(1) Give grace.

Give grace to people who hate V-day.  Give grace to people who love it.  No one is trying to personally diminish your singleness by going on a date tonight.  No one is trying to devalue marriage with their skepticism about February 14.

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Filed Under: Fighting craziness, Fighting discontentment, Fighting lust

How to deal with needy graspy Fabs

January 28, 2013 by 3 Comments

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My flesh is graspy today.

It’s clingy and needy; it’s panicked and scared that there is no more food coming.  And it is so loud today – so angry and so desperate – that my inner man wrapped in the Spirit doesn’t seem strong enough to quiet it.

I am tempted to follow my flesh; to feed it to quiet it down.  To make friends with it.

But I have the fuel I need to walk by the Spirit right here in His Word.

And that changes everything.

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Filed Under: Fighting anxiety, Fighting craziness, Fighting discontentment, God's promises

The 13th Amendment & Christmas

December 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

This morning, in church, I couldn’t stop thinking about ‘Lincoln’ (the movie I saw last night).  I couldn’t stop thinking about how it must have felt – to be a slave back in the 1800s and hear the news that you were free.

It’s hard for me to comprehend the joy that must have rushed through their hearts; the celebration that would have seized slaves everywhere.

And that makes me a little sad.

Because I should be able to comprehend that joy.  It’s my joy in Christmas.13th

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Filed Under: Fighting anxiety, Fighting apathy, Fighting craziness, God as Savior

Following Truth with truth

December 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

In my last post I shared the great and glorious truth that I’m learning in Romans, but today I think it’s time for a different kind of truth.

I’m rebellious.  Really rebellious.

I came on staff at a church over 5 years ago and I found myself face to face with more rules than I liked.  I rebelled.  It got to the point where I would be told to bow my head in prayer, and I would feel resistance in my heart.  To praying.  I’m insane.

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Filed Under: Fighting anxiety, Fighting craziness, Relationships, Uncategorized

Two dangerous responses to rules

December 6, 2012 by 1 Comment

You’ve heard it a million times, but Christian, stop and consider: we are under grace, not the law.

We have a hard time figuring out what to do with that crazy law. Our sinful flesh has two pendulum swings: (1) to trust the law to save us. (2) to blame the law for our sin.

The law is not the source of life.   Sin uses the law to deceive us by convincing us that you and I can find worth and value and life through obeying God’s commands.

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Filed Under: Fighting anxiety, Fighting craziness, Fighting insecurity, Fighting pride, Ministry, Relationships
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