quiet

God Speaks

When God speaks to us through the work of the Holy Spirit, it is both predictable and personal. Predictable: We hear from the Holy Spirit through God’s Word. We have full and free access to the mind and …

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In the name of love

No matter our personality, our upbringing or our recent history we can’t be taken hostage by the demands of this world or even its most desperate needs. We must refuse the chains of guilt and do that …

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A Sense of Failure

Tucked within the overload of our lives is a lurking assailant that makes quick work of our joy and hope. It’s the incessant feeling of failure, whether it’s real or perceived. Ever been there? It’s about done me …

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“New” Truth

Why are we magnetically drawn to some portions of scripture and repelled by others? I think it has to do with our familiarity and comfortability of the verses before us. Growing up, I was taught that “Remembering the Sabbath” …

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Silence

Cells phones. Alarm clocks. Television. Radio. Airplanes overhead and traffic below. The noise surrounding us is hazardous to our health. A.J. Jacobs calls it “the secondhand smoke of the ears.” Silence is something we fill, not something …

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Exclamation Points

Have you ever noticed the exclamation points in Isaiah 62:10? Go out, go out through the gates; prepare a way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway, clear away the stones! Raise a banner …

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Alone

I am rarely alone these days. It’s not good. It felt dangerous to be alone this week. When I was, every ounce of bottled emotion released its fury. My throat tightened. My stomach knotted. I forgot how to …

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Refuge

Retreat has had two primary focuses in my life: Offensive. Defensive. I retreat to refuel—to tank up—as I run the race. I retreat to find refuge when battered and worn. My day away could not have been …

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Come Away

I’m in a good place. A God place. But that doesn’t mean I’m in a great place. The spin cycle is brutal. I land on my feet most days, but the constant pounding of the agitator (that …

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