Front Porch Confessional

The Christian life is not segmented...it's focused.  There's a local church in Phoenix who says "all of life is all for Jesus."  This is what Paul is trying to communicate...we divide and create categories of secular and sacred, there is no such thing in Christ. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to G...

We can't begin to understand the compassion of God towards us...his love endures forever!  We need to learn to lean in and accept all he says he is. Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

If you are being disciplined by the Lord, you are being loved by him.  He wants the best things for us, so when we stray he brings us back- Receive his discipline. Hebrews 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

We need strength right now!  I hear people say every day that they are tired or "burnt out." WHY?  We are trying to derive our strength from the wrong things.  But what happens when we put it back in the right place...in the hands of the Lord.  There is so much more for us. Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles...

This is a powerful passage for those who are trying to find their footing in a world that feels like sinking sand. Listen to David.  Listen as he helps direct our attention to what really matters, what really brings us security. Psalms 62:1-2 For God alone my soul waits in silence;  from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

I'm BACK!!!  There is a strange but beautiful reality- God is always present among us, but are we aware.  In this episode, we look a Jesus being alone with the Father, but with the disciples...how is that possible? Luke 9:18 "Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 

Fear has become a language that everyone seems to speak and it's destroying people.  God offers us a different path...a God with us...a God will help and strengthen...God will uphold  us path.   Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

That word is terrifying!  As humans, our logic and reasoning is what we hold on to..it's what we have confidence.  But what happens when we come to the end of that? Perhaps.  Jonathan displays for us the beauty of a faith filled, obedient life. 1 Samuel 14:6 "Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act...

What do we do when kids are killed, a recession is looming, health problem continue?  We need help? But from where??? Psalms 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?   My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The Kingdom of God is here, and so are you...how cool is that?  God has not called you home yet, which means...you matter.  So many Christians are trying to get out of here and God is here, with us.  Philippians 1:23-24   I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account

Suffering is hard, but it is our reality.  So many westerners are running away from this truth, but you can't.  Peter is trying to help believer refocus on Christ and what it means to suffer well. 1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

This is a strange time we're in...who do we trust?  It seems like we can't trust anyone..so where do we turn?  We need real truth from the one who is TRUTH.   Psalms 119:105  Your word is a lamp for my feet,  a light on my path.

This is a powerful truth that can change your life.  We are not slaves any more and we can call God daddy- WOW, and AMEN! Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”   So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Paul has been building a case and now in 5:1 he gets to the "therefore"- Based on the evidence that Jesus became our justifier before God..we can have peace with God.  But we need to have faith in the truth and we struggle with faith- God help us (and he does). Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage is so beautiful...I'm learning to comprehend the deep love of God.  Jesus is inviting us into himself and if we abide in his person we will produce good fruit and find satisfaction for our souls. John 15:5   I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Many of us really struggle to ask this question...some of us ask this question too much.  What do we do with the tension that this question brings?  We look to Jesus! Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

This reality will change EVERYTHING for you and me.  Why do we move past Easter so quickly...I mean, Monday comes really fast.  Jesus wants to untether from the realities of earth and open our kingdom imagination.  John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die...

This passage is the center of all that I'm learning right now...being human with Jesus.  I have never struggled with seeing Jesus as God, but I have when it relates to his humanity.  There is so much to learn from Jesus in his humanity.  What is he trying to teach us? Luke 19:41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it

Boasting is almost a habitual habit in our culture, but the scary thing is we often don't see it.  Paul is fully aware that this is the reality because he is the self proclaimed "chief of sinners." To the church in Corinth and the church today...one thing is true, we should only boast in Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord...

Why do we just read the Bible? Jeremiah says, "I don't want to just read it, I want to eat it.   Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

As we continue on in 1 John he not only begins to expose us, but also champion us on.  This love IS FOR YOU, but it's also for the world..give it away! But why don't we? 1 John 4:11    Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

This truth should change your life...it's changing mine.  John is trying to awaken us to the beauty of his love, his selfless love.  Why are we trying to earn what he has freely given. 1 John 4:10  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

I thought twice about that title, but it's appropriate.  Why do we struggle so hard with being silent the midst of suffering?  Job is giving us all a lesson on wisdom, and silence is wisdom. Job 13:5 Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!

I could not get away from this passage...there was so much more there.  We have a pace problem, so did Israel.  God was trying to call them in to his presence, into his rescue...but they fought him just like we do.  We need to be in pace with the plan and presence of God. Ex 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

This passage is so confrontational and compassionate.  As I sit with the truth that God is fighting for me I have to deal with the truth that I often doubt.  But what happens when I see that he is behind, with, and before me? Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”