Month: April 2017

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.   (Romans 12:2) There are times where it is extra important to examine the motivation behind your decisions. In this examination, it is … Continue reading The Maybe of God →

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17) Your purpose is tied to your decisions and your decisions are tied to the Father. Therefore every decision matters, how ever small, because choosing is an act of worship. The … Continue reading The Weight of Our Decisions →

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than … Continue reading Purpose Over Popularity →

10 In Judah it was said,“The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” . . . 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be … Continue reading What to Remember When You Want to Quit →

5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water,     but a man of understanding will draw it out. (Proverbs 20:5) You have deep purpose. Your quality of life is equal to the extent in which you believe this. And while every being on earth has a purpose, Christ - followers have extra motivation to discover … Continue reading The Compass of Your Life →

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7) Is there any more bold a claim than this one from Jesus? Recently a few … Continue reading The Bold Claims of Jesus and My GPS →

14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity (absurd) and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:14) 24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, (Ecclesiastes 2:24) Take it … Continue reading Today Is All You Have →

“I have prayed for years for one good humiliation a day, and then, I must watch my reaction to it. I have no other way of spotting both my denied shadow self and my idealized persona.” - Richard Rohr Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10) I have been … Continue reading Why I Now Pray For Humiliation →

The week leading up to Easter is always huge at our church. As a staff, we plan for weeks on how to creatively engage the culture around us through the message of the Passion. This week was especially impactful as we saw the culmination of preparation meet the expectancy and it factor of Jesus. Western Reserve has … Continue reading Easter Week Wrap Up →

Romans 6:1-14 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:13-14) What are you … Continue reading Day 6: A Easter Week Devotional →