Skip to main content

Featured

How to have a truly happy new year.

For the first time in years, I don’t remember my New Year’s resolution from January. Usually, I write it down in my journal or on a note I stick to my mirror. There’s been many of those dog-eared sticky notes from years past. The year of contentment. Speaking life. We passed pancakes across the breakfast table on January 1st this year. “What do you want from 2018?” I can’t remember my answer. I know what I didn’t want though. I didn’t want to walk into her office and share the parts of my life I’m inclined to hide. I didn’t want to Facetime her the day after she delivered her baby that never breathed. I didn’t want to spend four months wondering how I’d walk into her house on Christmas day and see her empty chair. I didn’t want to go on another first date that led nowhere. We sit across from each other in a little coffee shop in Colorado, picking at a charcuterie board. “When I think about all of the things I have left to go through,” her voice cracks....
Post a Comment
Read more

The Ripple Effect of the Victory Cry

In church, he shows a video of crowds cheering, screaming, weeping over their teams’ victory. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey crowds.

I think of it as I stand to sing with the congregation. I stand like a statue and mouth the words to Amazing Grace.

It’s like we read in Philippians on a Saturday morning, brushing banana bread crumbs from our lips.

We read that Paul’s imprisonment encouraged the other believers to “speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:14).

Ripple Effect: “a situation in which one event causes a series of other events to happen” (Merriam-Webster).

When we shout the Victory, others join. When we sing passionately, when we pray fervently…

There are times when I want to dance for joy at what God has done, when I want to break down in the middle of a Sunday morning service and weep over my sin, but I don’t. I’m embarrassed to be too passionate.

Afraid to lead a Ripple Effect.

Afraid that the genuine excitement I feel will be confused with fickle emotion.

Afraid to show I care too much.

Afraid to show that I am entirely, completely, overwhelmingly sure. I am definitely certain. I am fully assured. That my God is God Alone. There is no other. Not one.

He is.

The great I AM.

If there was a gun held against my temples, I know I would stand for that truth.

So then. How do I stand for it in the mediocre moments?

I know the gospel. Do I live worthy of it?

Does my life assure others of its validity?

Does it make them join in applause?

“I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation”. (Philippians 1:27b-28a)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts