Simple Reminders. Powerful Truths.

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Simple Reminders. Powerful Truths.

As I spent time today meeting upcoming writing deadlines and preparing for a speaking event I have this weekend, I was reminded that the truths I share with you are also true for me, too.

Sometimes, when I put on the writer/speaker hat, I can quickly forget that I don’t just share words to be seen or heard. It’s actually quite the contrary.

My words will always fall short, but His Word will never return void (Isaiah 55:11). Nothing I write or say has the power to change anything, but my words can point other others to His Word. And His Word is where the power is.

In my time of writing and preparing today, I experienced that firsthand. I did for myself what I encourage others to do. I memorized scripture. I meditated on it. And now I want to share that passage with you in hopes that your heart will be encouraged, too.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

By grace alone. Through faith alone. In Christ alone. Because of His Word alone. All for the glory of God alone.

Period. Full stop. Nothing more and nothing less, because Christ is enough, and that frees me to not have to be.

And true to God’s character, He didn’t stop there (because He’s an Ephesians 3:20 God, always doing more than we can ask or imagine).

As I was wrapping up my writing time, a new song started playing from my Spotify smart shuffle. I have several songs by Leanna Crawford in my playlists, but this was a new one to me, and the perfectly timed power of the Holy Spirit used it to purposely refine my heart even more.

Maybe your heart could use the reminder, too…

🎶There’s no such thing as too far gone with God

Nothing you can do to earn your spot

Nowhere you can go where He is not

I know it all sounds unbelievable

But believe me it’s that simple🎶

I’m not sure where your heart is today, but wherever it is, I pray these simple reminders can speak profound truths to you and your heart, too.

*song referenced is Simple by Leanna Crawford

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Why Stumble in Darkness when We Can Walk in the Light

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Why Stumble in Darkness when We Can Walk in the Light

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is John 8:12, “Jesus, spoke to the people once more, and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”

A life in Christ gives us clarity of sight, because when we walk with Christ, we are walking in the light.

This truth becomes powerful and transformational when we are fully convinced that we GET to walk in the light (that leads to life) so we won’t HAVE to walk in darkness (that leads to death).

Why stumble our way through, when we can stand firm on God’s truth?

The free gift of salvation, given to us by God through His Son, Jesus Christ, is just that – it is a gift! It was freely given, and we can fully receive it, and boldly walk in it.

We WON’T HAVE to walk in darkness, because we literally HAVE the light that leads to life living inside us! We GET to walk in the LIGHT! We GET to turn to the LIGHT and allow Him to shed light on our sin, so we can repent and be born again, saying no to sin (death and darkness) and yes to Him (life and light)!

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭10‬, ‭ESV‬‬)

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A Holy Dichotomy

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A Holy Dichotomy

A Holy Dichotomy?

2/14/24 = Ash Wednesday + Valentine’s Day

Juxtaposition or placing our heart in just the right position?

Two apparently different observances falling on the same day, but more apparent is what they both have to say about the only true love we will ever know — the love of God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son.

And oh how this world desperately needs this love…

The holiest of juxtapositions for sure. The Bible is full of seemingly contradictory concepts, and yet, when we take time to “ponder anew what the Almighty can do,” the dichotomies we see just communicate His great love a little more clearly.

God’s GREAT love for us is just that — it is the GREATest of the loves that we will ever know.

It is a love that cannot be fully realized until we truly realize our GREAT need for this GREAT love.

In my opinion, the dichotomy surrounding love and lent is even more beautiful when the two are blended together.

Strength made perfect and weakness.

Fullness felt only after emptiness is indwelt.

The bondage of sin leading to freedom in Him.

Apparently, you can’t spell vaLENTine without LENT.

True love is experienced only in a relationship with Truth and Love Himself.

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬, ‭NLT‬‬)

“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4:16, NLT)

{And as I just looked up these two verses, the similarities jumped out at me — John and 1 John, 14:6 and 4:16 — transposed numbers highlighting these holy juxtapositions}

Ash Wednesday reminding us as God reminded Adam: “for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬b, ‭ESV‬‬)

We are but dust. Our Creator formed us, and He alone can fill us. And when we go straight to the source to receive love, forgiveness, acceptance, grace, mercy, and truth, those are the things we can then give to others.

Valentine’s Day reminding us that Saint Valentine gave his life trying to keep love alive by marrying soldiers in secret since a Roman decree forbade it.

To love others well, we must dwell in Love.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬, ‭NLT‬‬)

“Man approaches God most nearly when he is in one sense least like God. For what can be more unlike than fullness and need, sovereignty and humility, righteousness and penitence, limitless power and a cry for help?” (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)

A Holy Dichotomy for sure.

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