Heartbeat

I have always been fascinated by the process of metamorphosis. How there can be such a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism. Think, for example, of an ugly, ground-crawling caterpillar that ultimately becomes a beautiful butterfly with wings that enable it to fly. The amazing thing is that spiritually, such a complete transformation can happen to us...

A while back, I had posted a quote by a pastor I admire, hoping to instill some peace in someone who really needed to hear these words. But, without fail, an anonymous person commented something so hateful that it took me a while to share a message like that again. I allowed this person to make me doubt myself, made me feel inferior and unqualified to share about my own faith.             But I fo...

Life doesn’t always work the way we think it should. High expectations slam against unwelcome surprises. At those times it’s hard to feel the presence of God. If He is everywhere and loves us like he says he does, why does he allow the loss of a job      or home      or a loved one? God has gone to great lengths to make himself known to us— through the Bible, through his people, through nature, an...

Questioning your faith or having doubts doesn’t mean your faith isn’t real- or that you’re a fake Christian. Having questions is perfectly normal, and healthy. People who don’t take the time to ask hard questions about their faith will eventually have a serious struggle when they experience a tragedy or come across the probing questions of an intelligent skeptic. The pastor and author, Tim Keller...

A lot of us avoid reading the Old Testament because we find the God depicted there scary and remote. We look for ways to make Him more tolerant, less stern.             But the truth is that God has always had relationship with people based on their covenant. God seeks intimacy with His people, but it must be on His terms.             When Moses and his people reached Mount Sinai on the way to the...

There are several research articles on the “Mystery of intuitive decision making”. In fact, some define intuition as “Knowing without knowing”. As a believer, how many times have you been at a crossroads in your life and you just knew which way you should go? With prayer, you were probably even more confident with this choice, right? In the Bible, James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you shoul...

What does the word happy mean to you? The Merriam-Webster definition is that happiness is “characterized by well-being and contentment.” I’m sure we can all agree that usually the state of being content comes and goes depending on our circumstances. The truth that I’ve discovered is that happiness isn’t a destination but a journey. It’s not something we find, but something we create. Every day is...

As any parent of young kids can attest, getting your kids to clean up their room can be an absolute headache at times. You can imagine the bickering and whining. Yet, as soon as the parent begins to help them, the kids jump at the task and start to clean up. This is what Grace does for us. It reminds us of how God jumped into the mess of our lives and started His work before we even lifted a finge...

Are you in a difficult season right now? Unfortunately, even being a new creation in Christ doesn’t grant us a trouble free life. Do you look at your to-do list and feel overwhelmed? Problems at work? Relationship troubles? I promise, that even if it feels like God has distanced Himself from you during this time nothing could be further from the truth. So, in the midst of these hard times reach ou...

A friend of mine who recently got their motorcycle license was telling me of a lesson they learned early on. When riding, it’s important to keep your eyes and your head pointed in the direction you want to go. If there’s an obstacle in the road you’re trying to avoid, the last thing you need to do is stare at it. If you do, that’s inevitably where you’ll go. This is a lesson we can apply to life....

Since the creation of the ID or driver’s license it’s been the goal of many underage troublemakers to get their hands on a fake ID. It may have their picture but someone else’s name and more importantly their age. Usually it’s to buy alcohol underage or to get into a club. However, depending on the circumstances, using a fake ID can land you in jail for up to a year! When it comes to our faith, ar...

The Bible is full of stories of broken people who had a special encounter with God. One of those "broken people" was King David. David on more than one occasion was forced to bury his children. His son Absalom had committed a coup against his father David as a result of David's inability to resolve problems with his family. Tragically this story results in the death of his son. The bible tells of...

The word “disciple” literally means learner. In the Bible it’s used 269 times, but only as a noun. The first followers of Jesus were called his disciples (a noun) and he commanded them to quote- “make disciples” of others. Over the years, Christians started to use “disciple” as a verb. To help another believer grow in their faith means “to disciple” them. Therefore you can’t be an obedient discipl...

In photography, a focal point is important to communicate the desire of the artist. It’s the main point of interest in a composition. It may be the one object that remains in focus while everything else may not. The photographer, Scott Wyden Kivowitz describes it as, “Something that people will remember before forgetting the rest”. Throughout the New Testament, the authors focus the reader on Chri...

A well-balanced, healthy diet is one that consists of a wide variety of vegetables, fruit, and proteins. I’ve heard it said that your plate should look like a rainbow of colors. If you’re getting too much vitamin C you can develop kidney stones. Too much vitamin A can cause muscle aches and dizziness. And too much red meat can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. So,...

Who was the last person you had a serious disagreement with? Was it a work colleague, teammate, family member or friend? How did you respond to the argument? Chances are, there are some things you may have said or done that you aren’t proud of. But in seasons of conflict like this, the best advice I have for you is to pray. Pray for the person who upset you or even wronged you. It’s actually prett...

We might think of the CEO of a large company as being completely disconnected from their employees. Sitting in a fancy office in a high-rise. But I’ve heard stories like that of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart. From time to time he would show up to a warehouse in overalls and a hat with the sole intention of driving a delivery truck. CEO’s who aren’t above mopping the floor, or a boss who shows...

I am notorious for not reading the instructions when it comes to something that requires assembly. I can’t tell you how many headaches I’ve caused myself trying to assemble a new piece of furniture without guidance. It usually ends up taking twice as long as halfway through the build I realize I missed a crucial step. Had I just read the manual I would’ve been finished a long time ago! In the Bibl...

A few years ago my daughter told me she wanted to make her own raised garden bed for veggies. So, we spent a weekend and built one for her. We planted kale, peppers, and some herbs. But I made sure she knew keeping the garden healthy was her task. She needed to water it daily. Pull out weeds and leaves and make sure that critters weren’t stealing our food. She was excited about it for the first tw...

Why am I here? Why are any of us here? Since the beginning of humankind, philosophers have debated this question and offered their own answers. One of the best answers I’ve heard is, “The purpose of life is a life of purpose”. What does a life of purpose look like? To contribute something positive in this world? Even something that makes a small difference can give meaning to life. So, maybe you f...

In the aftermath of multiple disasters in the US, Stacy Martin, the editor of Redbook Magazine said, “Although the national mood is somber right now, I take it in stride as a reminder of the true nature of life: It’s a heady, scary, wonderful, sad, happy mix. Take each moment of each day and live it not as if it’s your last- but as if it’s your first, your best, and your only day.” That is so beau...

It’s been said that sensitivity to the circumstances and feelings of others is the cornerstone of all human relationships. Many companies today even hold seminars on Sensitivity Training. According to philosopher, Simone Weil, “The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say to them, 'What are you going through?” In the Bible, the Apostle Paul said of Timothy who is at...

My friend’s 6-month old puppy is coming a long way with her training. We went on a trail run together with his dog and she did great. Even off-leash she stayed right with us- until…  a squirrel ran across our path. It didn’t matter that she’s had so much training and really wanted to please her owner. When the squirrel ran past, she took off and chased it up a tree. They are her weakness! What abo...

At the beginning of the twentieth century, infectious diseases were the primary causes of premature death in America. But in the twenty-first century, preventable lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and many cancers- influenced by unhealthy habits and poor choices are shortening our lives. The National Institutes of Health estimates that between 44,000 and 98,000 die in t...

I was running late to work the other morning. And- It always feels like the more I’m in a rush, the more things go wrong. I almost forgot my phone, I spilled my coffee on the way out the door, and realized halfway down my street that I left my work keys on the table. Not off to a great start. Once I settled into the horrific Atlanta traffic I was stuck behind a car going way too slow in the fast l...