Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 

~Luke 15:1-2

My husband came home from his men’s group the other day and shared a simple, yet profound, phrase someone had mentioned almost off the cuff. It was around a brother they were discipling—that this guy “had a heart for Jesus, but not the heart of Jesus.” 

Mic drop.

If you consider yourself a Christian, then you know Jesus. Most likely, you love Him…that is, you have a heart for Jesus. You may even excel at the disciplines of the faith: reading God’s Word, praying, attending church. When asked about particular Bible verses, you know just where to find them. You may even be especially fond of the “don’t do” list. So, you can be quick to point out how fellow believers are lacking based upon the sanctification path—and speed—you deem to be “correct”. (And when I use “you” here, I can just as easily use “I”.)

You may have attended a church like this—I definitely have. The pastoral staff and congregation certainly love the Lord. The teaching is Biblically solid. Jesus is preached, evangelism is pushed, truth abounds. Oh, but to attend each Sunday, you’d better possess a certain “buttoned-up-ness” to avoid those judgmental glances and oh-so-subtle head shakes of disappointment. Have a sleeve of tattoos? Better cover up. Grabbing a cigarette in the parking lot after church? Well, just don’t. Walking in the door with a friend who invited you, but you’re sporting a slight hangover from the night before? Should’ve stayed home.

See, churches (and Christians) like this lack grace—the very heart of Jesus, and the very means by which we are saved! Grace is getting what we don’t deserve. And because we are all sinners, we all fall short of the glory of God. Yet we are justified by His grace through the redemption of Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-26). And although sometimes we are completely freed from some flesh-satisfying behavior immediately upon salvation, the rest of our life on earth is a sanctification journey Home. We progress, following Jesus step by step, from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). 

And friend, we all need grace upon grace along the way! As brothers and sisters in the family of God, we must proceed having the heart of Jesus—extending grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love to one another. We must love our neighbor like the Samaritan in the parable of Jesus (Luke 10:25-37). And we have to remember that once saved, we all walk this journey at different paces and with the Lord refining us each in His Providence—for our good and His glory.

So, let’s decide today to not just have a heart for Jesus, but to have the heart of Jesus. Let’s extend more grace than judgment and welcome people just where they are—not where we think they should be.

Lord, You are so, so good and gracious to me. Forgive me for having a judgmental, Pharisaical attitude toward my brothers and sisters. Give me a heart like Yours!

Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  

~Psalm 33:8

It’s been a week since we’ve been launched into 2025. That said, how are those New Year’s resolutions going so far? Are they losing their appeal? If not, studies show that, sadly, most of us will drop them altogether by February. I’m all for committing to self-betterment—physically, spiritually, mentally. But I wanted to share one resolution we can all get behind for the rest of this year (and, really, the rest of eternity).

More than an added activity or lifestyle pivot, this is more of a perspective shift that influences every moment—the big, profound ones and the seemingly irrelevant. This year, let’s live in constant Awe of God. Although God’s Word is full of inspiration for awe-filled living, here are just a few incentives to get you started. As you meditate on them, click on the Scripture reference links and choose some verses to explore, delight in, and write down as reminders.

1. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; Revelation 4:9-11). He knows every star by name (Isaiah 40:26) and the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:6-7). The meticulous balances of life, from the exact tilt of the earth and our atmospheric perfection to the biomolecular function of the eyeball, are made and sustained by God.
2. His creation is wonderous—the heavens, living creatures, and you—and declares His glory (Psalm 8; Psalm 19:1; Psalm 104; Psalm 139:13-15; Isaiah 43:7). Listen to waves at the beach rhythmically roar in praise. Turn your ear to the wind moving through the trees and hear the leaves shout, “Glory, glory, halleluiah!” Again, as you walk, talk, think, do…it’s all miraculous. As you inhale and exhale, consider that your lungs hold the very breath of God (Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4).
3. Because of Christ, walk in victory over sin and death—we are free (John 8:34-36; John 11:25-26; Romans 8:37-39; Galatians 5:1;1 Corinthians 15:54-57). The world system and its craziness does not have to entangle us. When we look around, it may seem like the enemy has an advantage…but God wins (and so do we). 
4. As Christ followers, we are citizens of heaven—our ultimate and eternal Home (Philippians 3:20-21; Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 1:3-4). The reason the things of the world cannot completely fulfill us is because we were not made for this world. We’re merely ambassadors to tell others about our Country and the greatness of our Sovereign King.
5. Get ready! God has new heavens and earth prepared for us (Isaiah 65:17-19; John 14:2-3; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 22:1-3). The awesome sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and joys of this earth are mere shadows of eternal glory, giving us brief glimpses of what’s to come. 

So, resolve to gaze at each sunrise and sunset with a new sense of wonder—recognizing the Lord painted it uniquely for that moment. Study the intricacy of a flower and note the endless variety of colors, shapes, intricacies. Taste and savor the food that God made. Look—really look—into the faces of the men, women, and children around you…know that you’re beholding the very image of God. And, daily, recall that as a child of God redeemed by Christ, you are a walking miracle…you were dead, and you’re now alive, awaiting the full glory of heaven to come.

Lord, as followers of Christ, let us “show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).

And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.”

~Luke 5:31-32

“I don’t go to church—it’s full of hypocrites.” You’ve likely heard this statement (or something similar) before. Maybe it was in response to a church invitation you made to a fellow gym member. Or perhaps it was a general condemnation of Christianity by a coworker during pre-meeting chit-chat when someone mentioned a church activity they’re involved in. And all too often, this type of assertion is uttered by people proclaiming to be followers of Jesus. Sadly, the source is easy to trace: a denominational leadership or churchgoer at some point in their past wounded them so deeply that the thought of “church” brings only distaste or even profound pain.

See, it’s way too prevalent for U.S. churches today to require those walking in the door to be perfectly buttoned up—at least on the outside. Prerequisites for acceptance include appropriate dress, talking the Christianese talk, and certainly making an almost pharisaical show of not drinking, cussing, or watching R-rated movies. Looking like a sinner, acting like a sinner, or even having the appearance of a pigsty-living past can result in quiet (or not-so-quiet) shunning or dismissal from “the family” of some churches. Hence, there are men or women who came to accept the saving grace of Jesus, and—being miraculously transformed from death to life—went running to the nearest church (as they should). But instead of a welcoming embrace, the door was proverbially slammed in their face. 

This response, however, is completely antithetical to what Jesus taught during His earthly ministry. Throughout Luke’s gospel, for example, the Lord repeatedly admonishes the Pharisees (church people) about this very issue. In His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus proclaimed His purpose by reading from Isaiah, that He has come to release captives, give sight to the blind, and free the oppressed (Luke 4:16-22). But when the church people heard this, they “were filled with rage” and then tried to throw Jesus off a cliff. And when Jesus called Matthew—a tax collector—to follow Him, and went to dine with him and his friends, the Pharisees were aghast that Jesus would socialize with such people. But our gracious Lord responded, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners” (Luke 5:29-32). Similarly, when Zaccheus (a chief tax collector), joyfully received Jesus, the church people again complained that Jesus chose to hang out with “a sinner”. But Jesus replied plainly: “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1-10). It’s in Luke 15, though, that Jesus gives the Pharisees a 1-2-3 punch in response to their griping about His pursuing sinners. In quick succession, He tells parables of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Jesus’ bottom line? “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance” (v7).

Friend, the Church should be an ER for the soul. A place of triage for those wounded and bloodied from the battles of this broken world. See, if you had a deep gash on your head and rushed to the hospital for help, they wouldn’t say, “Go home until you stop bleeding. Then, when you’re all cleaned up, you can come back for our services.” No! They would rush you in and tend to your wound. By the way, that doesn’t mean when you walk out of the hospital doors you’ll never fall down or get banged up again—you will. And you’ll need those nurses and doctors again and again. But in the meantime (as this hospital-to-church analogy deepens), you’re on staff! You are the one with open arms, extending grace, mercy, and healing truth to those entering the doors. 

We all were once lost, blind, and broken. But God, through the finished work of Jesus, made a way of gracious healing through faith. What about you? Are you an open-armed grace-giver? Or, now that you’ve been proverbially cleaned up, do you require that of others before welcoming them in?

Lord, may I not only rejoice when one who was lost is found, but also be generous in grace with all who follow You on the walk Home.

For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

~Isaiah 9:6

It’s Christmas! And as I was flipping through the Bible to contemplate all the many Old Testament prophecies that point us to the birth of Jesus, a weirdly random memory popped into my mind. I was a seventh grader in my favorite class that year called “Mixed media”. (Now, I am within my fifth decade of life, so the “media” we explored in this class would only resonate with my generational peers.) The class taught students how to effectively communicate within the various forms of modern media—as a bourgeoning young writer and a tendency (like most middle-school girls) to be dramatic, you can imagine how much I loved this class. The assignment that bubbled up in my mind while looking into God’s Words about Christmas was this: We were tasked to choose a text for a dramatic reading, find appropriate accompanying music, and perform it in class. 

Although my family was Catholic, and we didn’t read the Bible—that was for other people to read portions to us on Sundays—I did have a big children’s illustrated Bible in my possession. (If you grew up Catholic in the 1970s/80s, you can probably see in your mind’s eye what I’m talking about.) So, I chose for my reading one of the gospel narratives of the crucifixion of Christ—obviously highly dramatic. For my music, I was just looking for a piece that could match the drama of the words, with the right ebbs and crescendos. Somehow, in my 12-year-old obliviousness, I found “Carol of the Bells”—maybe because the timing was just before Christmas break, but I’m not sure. But I know that I didn’t give any thought to it being a Christmas song, it just felt like the right choice musically. And in my memorialized version of that classroom event, I slayed the assignment. Although my teacher gave me high marks on my recitation, she pinged me quite heavily on the fact that I chose a Christmas song while reading about an Easter event. These elements had no relationship, she said. Being ever the perfectionist, I was bummed to not have gotten a perfect mark, but I moved on…

Now, four decades later—and having been a follower of Jesus for the past three of those—I can look back on that memory recognizing a beautiful truth lost on both me and my teacher: There is nothing more connected in the history of the world than the two elements of my dramatic reading. My 50-something-year-old Biblically literate self would go back to class and dispute my teacher’s assessment, “No, ma’am,” I’d say. “The very point of Christmas is Easter.” 

Fulfilling God’s plan from eternity past, as well as those prophetic OT writings, a virgin named Mary gave birth with her fiancé in a small cave meant to shelter animals (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38). In a town—Bethlehem—whose name means “House of Bread”, God brought forth the Bread of Life (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-8). Jesus—who is God—removed His heavenly royal crown and wrapped Himself in flesh—Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25). The Lion of Judah became the Lamb of God for the purpose of being slain on our behalf (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; Revelation 5:12). He was born fully man and fully God (John 1:14; Philippians 2:7; Colossians 2:9), to live the perfect life we could not, die a brutal death on a cross (accurately prophesied before crucifixion was invented, see Isaiah 53:1-12; Psalm 22) to pay the penalty we owe (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:7)…and to rise again triumphant over sin and death to reconcile this lost and broken world into right relationship with God (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Colossians 1:19-22) . 

Friend, this is the paradox of Christmas. Yes, we celebrate with the angels (Luke 2:14-15) and sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…” But the peace declared by the angelic host doesn’t come at that time with the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger. This peace with God declared in the heavenlies was established 33 years later, when this man—dead and wrapped in grave clothes—walked out of His tomb in victory. 

“Lord, may we celebrate Your glorious birth with a right view to why You came to earth—to make the way to peace with God through the death and resurrection for which You were born.”

And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, the One who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.”

~Revelation 16:5-6

Studying the book of Revelation is a wild ride. It’s mysterious—yet contains mysteries revealed. From his visions, John recounts dire warnings—and exhilarating promises. There is utter despair and confident hope, frightening wrath and magnificent glory. In fact, the opening of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Tale of Two Cities, captures the vibe of Revelation very succinctly (and, in fact, Mr. Dickens was likely himself inspired by the Apostle John’s writing):

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

I’m diving deep into Revelation with a couple of sweet sisters as we follow a study guide. Each week brings mind-blowing I-never-saw-that-before ah-ha moments…and simultaneously makes me question concepts I had thought my mind firmly grasped. In fact, the writer of Hebrews tells us that God’s Word is living and active, sharp and piercing (4:12), but it’s also like an everlasting onion—we can continually peel away and keep unearthing more and more truthful treasures.

All that to say this: In Revelation 16:6, in the midst of the final set of 7 judgments on the earth, I saw this little sentence: They deserve it. Yes, indeed, I thought. They do deserve it! They’ve rejected the Lord through ever-increasing judgments and plagues—He keeps giving them chances to repent, but they blaspheme Him and continue doing life their way. He’s been so patient…yet they reject Him time and time and time again. As I’m reading, I know that God’s full wrath is about to be poured out…and, yes, they deserve it.

(Loud gulping sound here.) So. Do. I.

For 30 years of my life, I rejected the Lord and continued to do life my way. Running after things and people to satisfy a hole in my soul that only God could fill up. Blaspheming God through my life choices. I deserved His judgment and wrath! Yet in His patience, He didn’t pour it out—He gave me more chances until I finally surrendered. At that moment I didn’t suddenly not deserve His wrath. In fact, because of His perfect holiness, even a single lie or stolen candy bar deserves eternal punishment. (I know, I know…but that is just. And He is Just.)

What changed at that time? I realized that the wrath I deserved (and still deserve) was taken by Jesus when He died on the cross. The penalty was paid for me. He took my punishment and gave me His righteousness, so that I can stand acceptable before God in perfect, eternal relationship with Him and with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Mercy for wrath. 

So, with that little mirror-gazing exercise, my attitude definitely shifted when covering all the wrath-filled verses in Revelation. Instead of cheering on those angels hurling fire, boils, and 100-pound hailstones, celebrating the demise of “those people who deserve it”…instead, my heart now cries out, “Why are you being so hardheaded! Repent! Surrender to God! He’s given you so many chances, and your time is almost up!” 

I ask you now, beloved, what about you? Time is short, and wrath is coming. Please trade yours for the beautiful cup of mercy extended by Jesus. 

“Lord, thank You for your longsuffering, that You wait for us hardheaded people to recognize our need for You and the free gift of grace You offer through Jesus. May someone reading this make the beautiful exchange right now.”

Listen to my words, Lord, Consider my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray.

~Psalm 5:1-2

I was recently talking with my sweet stepmother about our respective ongoing physical woes. She recently injured her back and has slowly and steadily been on the path back to the golf course—I mean, recovery. We shared how we are praying for one another…for medical team wisdom, for strength and comfort, and, of course, for perfect healing. Then she made a seemingly off-the-cuff comment that I quickly disputed: She said, “I never pray for myself.” And after hanging up, it got me thinking more about how common that is among believers. How when we recognize our sinful thoughts and actions, we do ask for forgiveness from the Lord, and we repent. But how many of us forgo prayers of direction, wisdom, healing, and help for ourselves?

Then, of course, there’s the apprehension to tell God how we really feel during our prayer time: our frustration, confusion, even anger…or the fact that some or all of these emotions are directed toward Him. Spoiler alert, sweet friends: He already knows. 

The Lord’s desire is for us to be real with Him. To pull out all our self-directed worries, fears, anger, confusion, frustration, trepidation, etc. See, once we drag those things into the light, out of those dark corners where the enemy of our soul can feed and grow them, we can take them to God’s very throne room! Not only has the Lord been waiting for us to expose and admit this stuff, but He’s been waiting to take these heavy burdens from us—and, ultimately, allow these prayers to be transformed to thanksgiving and praise of His Sovereignty. 

We’re given clear examples of this in the Psalms from the “man after God’s own heart”—David. It’s believed that David wrote at least 73 of the 150 Psalms, and we don’t have to turn too far into the book of Psalms to see how David prays for himself—and how these prayers always turn to praise. Even the very, very hard ones.

Start at the beginning by reading Psalms 3 through 7. David cries out to the Lord on his own behalf. He’s often very specific about his circumstances, his feelings, and even what he’d really, really, like God to do to his enemies. (See what are known as the “imprecatory” prayers, such as Psalm 35:6; 58:6; 55:15; 69:28, and 109:8. Pretty enlightening.) But every time, these beautiful and profound prayers end with David’s recognition of God’s attributes, like His holiness, sovereignty, power, and righteousness. Dive deeply into Psalm 6, for instance, where David cries out for healing. His “bones are in agony” and his “soul in deep anguish”. And he asks, “How long, Lord, how long?” Does this resonate with your spirit? I know it does mine. In verses 8 and 9, David says, “the Lord has heard my weeping” and “the Lord has heard my cry for mercy.” 

Psalm 13 is a wonderful summarizing prayer of this truth that illustrates our ability to cry out to God with our real feels, to ask for answers, and then—most vitally—to proclaim trust in God’s faithfulness. Because He never fails us. And, the woes, the tears, the begging, it all turns to singing because our Lord is wholly holy, perfectly loving, absolutely righteous. We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). We give Him our burden, because His yoke is light (Matthew 11:28-29). And we cry on His shoulder, because He wipes away our every tear (Revelation 7:17).

I highly recommend you dive into the book of Psalms if you have not yet studied it. There is a treasure trove of wisdom, explicit prayers we can use, truths about God, and prophetic promises fulfilled. And always know, you do not have to omit “me” prayers! The Lord wants you to share your heart with Him, unburden your soul, so He can turn your pain and sorrow into praise and dancing (Psalm 30:11).

Lord, thank You that You care for me so deeply—more than I can fathom. May I find the freedom to cry out to you in my own need, suffering, and questioning.

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”  

~John 15:11

I was just looking at some photos from a couple of years ago when my husband went skydiving for his birthday. Just viewing the series of 179 images brought me through a rollercoaster of emotions: anticipation, dread, thrill, fear, anxiety, and joy, to name a few. Then I started thinking about how the whole adventure can be likened to the Christian life. Let me explain with words as I literally look through the pics…

The first pics are of my hubby in the airplane, filled with a mix of excitement and terror. This is like our life as earth-dwellers, isn’t it? We fly through this world making choices that bring us to new heights. And sometimes our journey has sudden dips that make us a bit nauseated. There are times of exhilaration and times of fear. (Now maybe to make this part of the analogy more accurate, we’d be flying the plane ourselves. But then there’s the whole pre-destination vs. free will argument that could ensue, so I’ll keep this metaphor at a 30,000-foot view—pun intended.)

Then I came to the shots of the actual jump from the airplane. Ah, the moment of real faith. He exited the known to soar into the unknown. All control out of his hands—he surrendered all. This is like the moment we put our trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior! We give up trying to do life our way (and the world’s way) and yield to the Lord’s sovereignty. It’s definitely a leap of faith, giving it all to Jesus. A step into the unknown. We leave the comfort of doing things like everyone else for the thrill of doing things God’s way. Is there trepidation? Yes! Are there stomach-drops of fear? Of course! Oh, but this is when life’s journey amps up, with joys unspeakable and peace that passes understanding.

I didn’t mention this before, but it really brings home the faith analogy: When he leapt from the airplane into the atmosphere, my husband was not alone. He was actually safely and tightly strapped to an expert skydiver. This man helped direct the freefall, knowing when to move his arms and legs certain ways. He also wore an altimeter, determining the right time to pull the cord to open the chute. Then, although my hubby’s emotional balance may have swung from fear to joy (knowing the death-defying freefall was over), the guy on his back still controlled the rest of the journey to earth. (Are you smiling with the ah-ha moment yet?)

When we take our leap of faith into the Christian life, it can be scary not knowing what we’re getting ourselves into. But, sweet friend, we are never on our own in this adventure! Jesus is strapped to our back, so to speak. In fact, we are given God in the Person of the Holy Spirit to live in us, to guide and direct us through every moment. Yes, there is pain and fear and anxiety. But He’s got us, so even through our tribulations and challenges of the world, we can confidently know that He has overcome the world (John 16:33)! He’s right there with us to comfort us, quell our fears, and wipe away our tears. And we can know that this adventure holds incredible pleasures, highs of joy, and deep satisfaction. And the proverbial “Man on our back” is there to belly laugh right along with us.

Now, I realize this skydiving analogy isn’t perfect. But I do hope in it you sense the delight of the Christian life—and the fact that you are never, ever alone (Romans 8:38-39). Or if you’ve been walking (soaring) with the Lord for a while, I pray that you’re able to recapture the sheer thrill of when you first took that leap. And what’s really cool to think of is where this analogy can go, especially as I flip to the photos of when my husband’s feet hit solid ground. Maybe it’s because I’m currently studying Revelation and reading a theological book on Heaven…but, oh, when Jesus speaks into existence the New Heaven and New Earth, I imagine our reaction to look similar to my husband’s face in those pics. It reads something like, “Wow, that experience was unbelievably thrilling…but, I’m so very glad to be Home, where the real adventure awaits.”

Lord, help me remember that You are with me through my journey through this broken world, giving me strength, courage, and hope. And remind me daily that the Real Adventure with You is yet to come.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.   

~1 Peter 1:3-5

Sometimes it’s fun to do things spontaneously. You’re hanging out with friends or family, and you say, “Let’s go do ______!” So, you get in the car and just hit the adventure full throttle. But there are plenty of activities for which spontaneity is foolish. For example, we can’t just show up to an exclusive fancy restaurant and expect to get in. We need a reservation. And walking into a hotel expecting an available room, we’re likely to hear, “Do you have a reservation?” Some state parks are now locked to those without advanced reservations—which is hard to fathom. Even venturing out to play putt-putt, endure an escape room, or create scented candles—just showing up without booking a spot will likely lead to hearing, “Sorry, you should have made a reservation.” Oh, the disappointment of expecting a fun-filled time, only to be turned away.

That said, even when we wisely plan ahead, reserving and confirming every step along the way, our well-planned excursion can be wrought with a cloud of disappointment even before it’s over: think under- or overcooked food at that posh restaurant, pervasive wind and rain throughout the beach weekend, or a debilitating back injury the day before your first vacation with your husband in a decade (all of which I speak about from personal experience). Disappointing? You bet. And when the event or activity goes better than we could have ever imagined? Oh, the joy and satisfaction feel so, so good! But then it ends—the amazing meal, fabulous vacation, exhilarating adventure. Sure, we celebrate having done it and can reminisce about the fun had, but disappointment lurks, like a fog that dims our vision of the road just traveled. 

Friend, both our temporary delights and all associated disappointments are meant to be soul-level reminders from our sweet Heavenly Father. The best of this life are only shadows of what’s to come. You see, if you’ve surrendered to Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have a reservation for the future which is confirmed, protected, and un-cancellable. The adventure ahead won’t ever be defiled by bad weather, poorly prepared food, or physical pain. And not only will the amazing memories being made not fade away, the experience itself is imperishable and eternal (1 Peter 1:3-9). Christians are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), with an magnificent everlasting place prepared just for us by and with Jesus (John 14:2-3), and a perfected, glorious body to with which to enjoy it all (Philippians 3:21). 

In this life, we are privileged to get beautiful glimpses of what is reserved for us—the breathtaking awe of a sunrise, the promise of a rainbow’s brilliant colors, the thrill of earthly adventures, the deep love we experience with a spouse or child, and even the sweet comfort of our current home-sweet-home. But these give us only a taste of what is reserved for us in heaven! We have a confident hope in what’s to come (Philippians 1:6; Romans 15:13)…no matter the joys, disappointments, trials, successes, and pain we experience now (Romans 5:1-5).

So, do you have a reservation for heaven? If you’ve submitted to Jesus as Lord and Savior, the answer is a resounding yes! But if you long to know the promise of undaunted and unending joy, thrills, and adventure, you can get a reservation right now. Like the fanciest of events, this is an exclusive invitation. No plus-ones—it’s got to have your name on it. Yes, it’s exclusive, but it’s also radically inclusive. No big price tag, no waiting in line, no need to wait for a black Friday deal…but you do have to know Someone to get in (John 14:16). And He’s waiting to hear from you (Romans 10:9-10). Reserve your spot today.

Lord, thank You for the promise of all You have in store for us—and the miraculous glimpses of Your glory we experience in the waiting. Stir the hearts of those reading this who don’t yet know You…may they accept Your invitation now.

For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  

~Romans 8:5

My dog Bella had surgery a few weeks ago—I will spare you the gory details (puke emoji here). But since that time, she has had to wear a cone around her neck. She has no idea that the procedure, pain, and recovery process (no walks for weeks!) are for her good…and because we love her. She doesn’t realize that if we left her to her own devices, she would lick and gnaw at her wound, causing infection and preventing restoration. Initially, we were excited about the latest cone version given to us by the vet. It was a stiff fabric, which seemed functional, but after a couple days we realized that Bella could reach her wound to aggravate it. So, we bought an old-school huge plastic one, which has done the job. Although she frequently runs into walls as she wields the giant cone, her focus stays off the wound so she can heal.

I’m currently studying the Book of Revelation with some dear sisters. When diving into chapters 4 and 5, the Apostle John takes us to the very throne room of heaven where—to the best of his limited human language—he describes God seated on the throne, as well as those surrounding the throne and the very slain Lamb of God. We get to listen in as the 24 elders, 4 living creatures, “myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands” angels, and “every created thing” worshipping: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13). 

This study has once again reminded me that, as believers, we must keep our eyes on the Lord—on His magnificence, His glorious creation, His almighty power. But it’s so easy to focus on self, isn’t it? We stay lasered in on our wounds, self-afflicted or given to us by others, which keeps said wounds open and oozing, preventing restoration. Our pain, mess, frustrations, and sin so easily distract us from the Healer, Counselor, Redeemer, Restorer. And although we are not yet literally in God’s throne room wholly consumed by His very presence, we are called throughout the Bible to live this life with cone-headed focus. “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). Keeping our eyes on Him brings perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Cone-headed living reminds us of the wonderous works He has done, brings us a joyful heart, and keeps us reliant on His strength (1 Chronicles 16:8-12). 

Yes, in this world we have to work, parent, serve, etc.—and yet, we must do all these things as if we’re in the throne room (Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31)! Yes, the world is full of distractions, messes, and woundings. But we can keep our eyes on the Lord as we walk through it all with a love that makes us different (Matthew 5:43-48; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 4:8-9) and with a hope even in suffering that makes others want to know our reasons (1 Peter 3:14-16).

And speaking from experience…when we put too much focus on something other than God (good, bad, or oozing), the Lord, in His great love for us, may well place a Providential cone around our neck for our own good—and for the single-minded glory only He deserves.

Lord, until I step into Your very presence, turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in Your ways (Psalm 119:37). Each day, help me stay focused on Your creation, Your sovereignty, Your glory.

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

~John 16:33

The long ramp leading to today’s election has been rough, filled with astonishing vitriol, venomous hyperbole, and outright lies. I’ve tried to keep an eye on things from sort of a 30,000-foot view, as to not get too mentally poisoned by it all. Sometimes those efforts were successful, other times…not so much. And here we are. Tomorrow is Election Day 2024. (Well, Election Day is now a “season”, with early voting for weeks and mail-in voting for all. And I’m not confident that we’ll even know results anytime soon given the contentious atmosphere.)

Both sides of the battle have touted this to be the most important election of our lifetime—even in the life of our nation. This may very well be true. Our Republic is young, historically speaking, and our Constitution a brave, new thing in the global context of empires and nations. (And think about this: We’ve been a nation about half as long as the Israelites were slaves in Egypt before Moses led them out!) Whatever the ballot count ultimately reveals, I’ve got a feeling that the reactions won’t be pretty, and that we may be in for a challenging few months ahead.

But if you’re a believer, let me share some reminders that will hopefully wash away any trepidation, fear, or anxiety you may be feeling today (or over the past year or about the upcoming years). 

1. God is Sovereign. He is in control when everything seems out of control to us (Psalm 115:1-3; Daniel 4:35).
2. We may have the privilege of voting, but it is the Lord who sets our political leadership in place (Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1).
3. Everything is for God’s glory according to His will. Even when we can’t see how. Even if it means hardships, loss of freedoms, persecution, death (Genesis 50:19-20; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11).
4. Our citizenship is heaven. We are merely ambassadors to this country (Philippians 3:20).
5. We’re called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44; 1 Peter 3:8-9).
6. Our purpose is to share the Good News of Jesus with others. Even with our enemies. Even when it’s risky—or life-threatening (2 Corinthians 4; 1 Peter 3:13-22).
7. The Lord is Judge—and there will be justice (John 5:25-29; Romans 1:18-23; 2 Peter 2:4-22; Revelation 14:14-20).

So, beloved, no matter what happens today (and tomorrow and next year), the battle belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:31)—and the victory has been won. In fact, next month much of the world be celebrating this glorious Truth, believers and (ironically) unbelievers alike, as we acknowledge the first coming of our King (Isaiah 9:2-7) on December 25. And we—those of us who have surrendered ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ—will joyfully witness His second coming in Glory…not as a swaddled baby, but as a Warrior King on a white horse, with fire in His eyes and a sword from His mouth—His Name King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-16). 

So, let’s not fear the election of 2024, friend. We know Who wins.

Lord, may we stand firm in the Truth of Your Sovereignty. Elections—and nations—come and go, yet You remain. You are Creator, Sustainer, King of kings. May we rest in this today and every day.