The fact that God created the universe doesn’t surprise me. Isn’t that what God does? He creates moons & stars, planets & solar systems. He gives life. He redeems mankind. He heals sickness. He causes the sun to rise & commands the oceans to stop. He authors love. These are all God sized jobs.

The greatest mystery to me is the fact that God concerns himself with the small stuff of our lives. Take the time Jesus turned water into wine. Many would say that God shouldn’t be in the wine making business. He’s got bigger and better things to concern Himself with…not to mention the guest at the party had already had their fair share to drink. But Jesus steps in to bring enjoyment to the guests at the party.

Mary simply tells Jesus that the wedding is out of wine. She doesn’t force Him to do something about it. She doesn’t command Him to fix the problem. She simply allows space for God to work.

We need to do the same thing…allow God space to work in the small stuff. Too often we don’t even ask because we don’t want to bother God with the details of our lives. Or we demand God to get on our agenda. Or we fill the space for God to work with worry, doubt, and fear.

So, get out of the way. Invite God into the details of your life. Maybe, just maybe He has a miracle in store for you if you’ll just allow Him the space to do it.

Share on Facebook

Good Friday…seems strange to remember the day Jesus died on the Cross by calling it ‘good’.

Why do we call this day “good”?

It is ‘good’ because Jesus died for us. It is the ultimate act of love.

It is ‘good’ because our sin separates us from God and only through Jesus Christ can our sins be forgiven.

It is ‘good’ because His death restores our relationship with God and removes the separation caused by sin.

It is ‘good’ because Jesus’ death sets us free. We are free from the penalty of sin, free from the power of Satan, & free to live a full & meaningful life.

It is ‘good’ because Jesus died so that I might live.

It is ‘good’ because Jesus took the punishment for my sin.

It is ‘good’ because redemption comes through the cross.

It is ‘good’ because I am so bad…and Jesus is so good.

It is ‘good’ because the grave could not hold Jesus. Three days later he rose and is alive today!

Share on Facebook

How do you balance a life of quiet contemplation, study, and prayer with a life of activity, service, and productivity with the crowd? Are they mutually exclusive? Many think you can’t balance the sacred and the secular. The truth is that busyness can distract us from contemplation & contemplation can insulate us from reality. So how we do live with an eternal focus & also manage the temporal demands that flood us daily?

Gregory the Great said, “activity precedes contemplation, but contemplation must be expressed in service to one’s neighbor”. In other words, we must move from distraction to spirit AND back from spirit to practical service of others.

The contemplative life & the active life are NOT mutually exclusive.

The Contemplative Life (Prayer/Study) EQUIPS us for the Active Life (Service/Productivity)

The Active Life (Service/Productivity) GROUNDS us for the Contemplative Life (Prayer/Study)

A balance between the crowd & the quiet is necessary to live the life Jesus calls us to live. Much of Jesus’ recorded life was spent with the crowd…serving others, healing the sick, teaching his disciples. He was able do this because He would frequently step away from the crowd, from the busyness and withdraw for prayer and contemplation.

I wish I were better at living this balance. The times that I do, I have a greater awareness that God is speaking to me in my daily experiences.

Share on Facebook