Living Christly

Vignette of The Mundane Western Thursday I awoke with a sigh this morning. “It’s only Thursday.”  For most of us, that’s probably the universal relatable feeling. I’ll describe it not as the energetic, fresh start of the week (Monday) or the dreaded midpoint (Wednesday’s “Hump Day”), but as the long gray corridor leading to the weekend. For most of us, our perception of Thursday is mostly disposab...

So, what do we do about overcoming fear? God’s promise is essentially the universe’s best insurance policy. He guarantees He’s with us. The world is essentially a giant petri dish for fear germs, and it’s impossible not to get some on you. But God gives us His divine assurance: He’s always there. Jesus was, and is, “Emmanuel”—translated literally, "God with us." Think of it this way: we’...

Find the ultimate debt-relief program for your soul. This devotional explores how prioritizing God's Kingdom breaks the power of financial worry, trading anxiety for a peace that money can't buy. Overcoming Financial Stress.

People are looking for excuses not to attend church. They throw up all kinds of illogical reasons why they shouldn’t have to. By the way, “throw up” is an oddly appropriate phrase. They’ve got better things to do with their time and money. Let’s look at a few examples of some of those justifications. Now, before we dive in, let’s talk about that title. Calling these questions “stupid” is a bit lik...

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Some may call him the Holy Spirit, but He is the third person of the Trinity, the spirit of the one true living God. He was introduced to early Christians forty days after Jesus’ resurrection, and He’s been with us ever since. He is known as our Comforter, Advocate, and Counselor. He's not just some fuzzy concept hovering somewhere up...

“No man is an island.” Not a direct quote from Scripture, but it originated from a sermon by seventeenth-century English author John Donne. It means that no one is self-sufficient; everyone needs to rely on someone, anyone. That’s just the way we were built. It should be stated somewhere in the manufacturer's instructions. Something like: “Designed to play well with others.” It’s programmed into o...

It seems like no matter where or when you start, this road trip we call life is littered with potholes. Our parents tried to give us the map. Mom would say, "Make good choices and always wear clean underwear!" And who could forget her timeless question: "If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?" Turns out, the answer was "Maybe!" because despite all that advice...

As the saying goes, when you pray for rain, bring an umbrella. Why? Because He promises that the prayers of a person praying with the right intentions don't just disappear into the ceiling—they have serious power. They "avail much." How much? Try it and see! I don’t know what you’ve heard, but the truth is...  “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be heale...

The knees creaked and the joints were a-poppin' when I got out of bed this morning. This has become a familiar song as the birthday candles on my cake begin to accumulate. My first sounds weren’t exactly “Hallelujah! I’m alive!” I sounded more like a sinister villain in my bunny pajamas mumbling, “Where’s my coffee?” Nonetheless, I am alive to tell you that this day, with all its potential for...

Is God's grace unfair? Delve into the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard to see how God's sovereign rewards challenge our ideas of fairness and reveal His undeserved favor.

When we approach our Father in heaven in prayer, we might imagine it as a quiet conversation; having a heart-to-heart, so to speak. But, what if we entered that sacred space with every integral part of ourselves—mind, eyes, ears, spirit, lips, heart, hands, and feet—all offered freely for God’s specific purpose? Each piece, or as we Sicilians say, “qualunque cosa” woven together, creates a living,...

American liberty, as envisioned by our founding fathers, was not a secular invention but a direct inheritance from a Judeo-Christian worldview. Their understanding of scripture fundamentally shaped the nation's concept of rights, governance, and civic duty, creating a cultural and societal framework whose effects are still felt and unfortunately contested today. Nevertheless, this is how the F...

My first poetic endeavor: The struggle is real as the story evolves Yet I cling to an answer Your Scripture resolves, Behold the new work of Your Son. The combat begins with the dawn's fresh dread Fighting to keep the dead man dead, But the battle is already won.

A delicate, sweet crunch followed by the warmth of ricotta generously embedded with tiny morsels of chocolate bits, plus faint essences of cinnamon and vanilla. The shell is made, I was told, with Marsala wine, producing its unique flavor and texture. Fresh from the “friggitrice,” or deep fryer, these delicate treasures are liberally dusted with confectioners’ sugar. After that first bite, you loo...

A journey with Psalm 23:4 Confidence, reliance, and assurance share a common misconception: we often preface them with "self." This approach leads us astray. If we follow the world's guidance, we risk being pulled deeper into its chaos. As children, we learned that shyness was undesirable. We felt pressure to appear bolder. Society admires heroes. They become legendary figures, and w...

Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus explains that His Father in heaven will do the same when we don't forgive our brothers and sisters from the heart. True forgiveness comes from deep within. Forgiving and forgetting isn't easy, but it's something we can get better at with practice. After all, we pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Otherwise, it's just...

He thought he knew his family's story. But a discovery in a dusty Sicilian office revealed a stunning truth that changed his own identity as a first-generation American.

Ridicule is the mother tongue of the arrogant. Like the majestic eagle mocking the lowly sparrow, the proud display their scorn to the humble children of the Lord. Yet, I still concentrate on Your undiluted Word.

This is a two of Jesus' parables for the price of one. Dive into Jesus's powerful parable of the wheat and weeds. Uncover the profound wisdom behind why good and evil grow together until a final, divine harvest. The parable of the wheat and the tares. Then, unpack the paradox of Jesus's parable of the leaven. Learn why this symbol of sin was used to describe the complex, pervasive grow...

Jesus would share captivating stories whenever or wherever He preached. He was the Master of the metaphor. He knew that some people would understand and remember them, while others might not. Given that people of that era lived in an agricultural society, teaching about such topics would most likely resonate with them and help them follow Jesus' logic. The stage was set, the audience was liste...

Excerpt: Please consider how that prototype has evolved through the ages. Men are culturally conditioned to be the rock, the provider, the protector, and the “go-to guy” who has the answers. To him, asking for help can feel like a failure in his primary role. It would feel like he's admitting he can't protect or provide for his own. This isn't a bad thing if it were an isolated inciden...

When you feel trapped by slander and conspiracy, find strength in this modern psalm. A raw, desperate prayer to God for rescue, justice, and deliverance from enemies who seek your downfall. This is a spiritual warfare prayer.

When the world's temptations pull us off course, God's Word acts like a powerful tractor beam, drawing us back into alignment with His will. But here's the catch: before He can "beam us up," we need to (you guessed it) repent.

O Lord, Your Word helps our limited minds glimpse who You are. You are our Creator, our Provider, and more. You are our Healer, our Protector, and more. You are our Guide, our Teacher, and more. But these are only a few of the facets we can identify. Whatever we think You can do, however, is to confess the beautiful limits of our own imagination.; whoever we believe You are, Abba, You are more! Yo...

Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." “Nothing seems to be going my way! What am I doing wrong? I can’t seem to handle the simplest thing! It looks like I’m having ‘one of those days’ for three weeks straight! I hope no one is watching!” Guess what? Someone’s always watching!