Lessons Learned While Listening: Christian Devotions for the Day to Day

Now, Do You Really Want Power?

2012-01-26T13:58:00.000-05:00

1 Kings 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” Been reading a little bit through the book of Kings, specifically looking at the life of Elijah the prophet. For someone like me who has been raised hearing and studying about

Most of the Things You Worry About Never Happen...But if They Do:

2012-01-15T21:12:00.001-05:00

Acts 7:54-60 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at

The Isolated Christian:

2012-01-10T21:26:00.000-05:00

Hebrews 10:25 Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. The irony of this generation is that we are some of the most "socially connected" people, yet more than ever we are battling the grave of isolation. Just the other day someone was sharing with me the paradox that the more she browses

Marbles in Glass Jars: Living a Life that Counts in 2012

2012-01-03T12:26:00.000-05:00

Philippians 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Come over to our house and you will find something new tucked away in the back corner of our bookshelf, behind the picture frame and above the books. There sits a clear glass

Gratitude vs.Bragitude: Fighting the Spotlight Mentality

2011-12-08T22:23:00.001-05:00

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I have to be honest and say that I really feel blessed in my life. Mostly because I serve a really good God, and partly because I'm learning that the gift of contentment is one that really must be earned with blood,

Stop comparing yourselves to supermodels and pornstars...

2011-12-05T22:20:00.001-05:00

I read the greatest article I've read in a while today by Russell D. Moore. It was an incredible calling to women to really take a look at WHO they are submitting their lives, hearts, and values to. The past few months I've written many articles on sexuality, body image, and male-female relationships- and this article ties all of those ideas together in a very profound way. Please, man or

Selflessness, Interviews, and Naked Taxi Cab Drivers

2011-11-29T09:12:00.001-05:00

Matthew 5:40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. A couple of years ago I had joined my husband on residency interviews as he was looking for a place to land a job after graduating from school. Usually the interview process is really intense, full of questions, conversations, and a whole lot of professionalism. The dress code is top notch, suits

Take THAT Black Friday:

2011-11-25T21:37:00.001-05:00

Matthew 6:19-20 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let me be honest: my heart was SO divided today.

I'm thankful for Joy because it's not always the norm:

2011-11-23T13:02:00.001-05:00

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. The day before Thanksgiving is always a unique day because it marks the start of the holiday season. Magical Magical

I'm Thankful that Mercy is not for Pansies...

2011-11-20T21:18:00.001-05:00

Luke 1:50 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. A few weeks ago I attended my brother's church in Philly: Circle of Hope. He spoke about the topic of mercy that day, and God has been bringing it to my mind ever since. What's the difference between grace and mercy someone might ask? In my

Glimpses of Heaven:

2011-11-18T20:39:00.001-05:00

Matthew 6:10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. My friend Z (Steve) recently came back from a mission trip to Honduras. This is one of many trips that he and his wife have taken in a desire to heed the calling on their life to do greater things for the Kingdom. In his most recent blog post he described so deeply of the hell that exists in the

Why I'm Thanking God- And Why You Should Too...

2011-11-09T21:14:00.004-05:00

Ephesians 5:20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. A few days ago a friend of mine shared a quote by Max Lucado that said something to the extent of: "What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?" I had never heard that quote before, and to be honest - it stirred a really deep place inside my heart. A

An Eeyore Day:

2011-11-04T15:04:00.002-04:00

Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. There's a lot to be thankful for. It's easy to focus on everything else though, isn't it? After a particularly difficult day, I'm having to remind myself of this truth. To be completely honest, I was having a bit of an Eeyore day yesterday. In my counseling sessions, sometimes I will ask my client to write

What's the Point of Unused Freedom?: On Egypt, Freedom, and God's Grace

2011-10-28T21:46:00.000-04:00

Matthew 5:11 God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Many of you have heard about the tragic events and injustice that has recently happened in the country of Egypt, a country very close to my heart. October 10th brought devastation to Christian Egyptians as they were attacked

Steve Jobs and the Image of God:

2011-10-12T16:23:00.000-04:00

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Wednesday, October 5th, Steve Jobs- founder of Apple, said goodbye to this world and journeyed into the next. It's always a sobering reminder when someone dies, bringing into awareness the reality that this life is not all there is. But what was even more devastating to

What Could Have Been:

2011-09-30T12:44:00.000-04:00

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! I've had the honor of meeting some really incredible men and women over the course of the past few weeks who have really reminded me why I am a follower of Christ. Men and women who's lives have been radically changed from darkness into light, from dysfunction into healing, from

I Heart Me: Loving Yourself

2011-09-28T17:15:00.001-04:00

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Life Happens: Simple Birthday Thoughts

2011-09-17T22:47:00.000-04:00

Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. --CT Studd In just a couple hours the clock will strike and it will be September 18th...the day I was born. As a child, birthday were always a joyful time. Looking forward to a day to

Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Fires and Floods:

2011-09-08T21:48:00.000-04:00

Psalm 31:15 My times are in your hand... The past 30 days has been quite an adventure, to say the least. Natural disasters have showed their face all across the country at large and showed us humans who is boss. It's a little intimidating at times, when nature takes an unexpected turn. It's even more intimidating when that turn is closer to home. Through the recent disaster's we have

For All the Stay At Home Moms- Or anyone who sometimes feels like they're under House Arrest :)

2011-08-31T13:09:00.002-04:00

Acts 28:30-31 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! In reading Acts a few months ago I came across a verse that totally rocked my world and changed my perspective in a huge way. You see, I'm a stay at home mom,

On Suicide, Bridges, and Hope:

2011-08-23T22:06:00.000-04:00

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. On our way home this weekend, we drove past some interesting signs over the Tappan Zee Bridge. "Life is Worth Living" and "When it seems like there is no hope, there is help". You see, the Tappan Zee Bridge has been the unfortunate

Silent but deadly: The Danger of Mute Christians

2011-08-14T11:36:00.000-04:00

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Last evening at our bible study we were discussing the phrase: "Preach the gospel; if necessary use words". Though I believe in the underlying message behind that phrase (i.e. As Christians, our actions alone

Those Are Some Very Nice Ashes:

2011-08-01T22:02:00.001-04:00

Isaiah 61:3 To give them a crown in place of ashes, oil of joy in place of mourning, praise in place of discouragement... I found myself getting discouraged last week. It was one of those weeks in which I felt overwhelmed by the suffering and sorrow around me. Not sure if you know this, but people are hurting in some really serious ways. Friends, family, and clients. It was just one of

What a Homeless Man, Me, and John Piper have in common:

2011-07-27T23:48:00.002-04:00

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. I learn so much from my daughter. This little 10 month old has so much to teach without even trying. God uses her in so many ways to help me understand the things that He's been trying to teach me for, oh, about 28 years now. Last

Watermelons, Elephants, and Major Sins:

2011-07-18T21:25:00.001-04:00

Hebrews 12:1 ...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles... I bought a watermelon about a month ago. It looked so good in the store on a hot summer day, and I imagined cutting a slice outta that thing after dinner and letting it's sweet juice run down my face. I put it in the fridge to cool until after dinner. But for some reason, after the dishes