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How Big is Your God?
How Big is Your God? How big is your God? Do you feel like you can you comprehend him fully? Does he fit inside your neat little “box?” Evylyn Underhill once said, "If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshipped." I’d like to confess something. There are aspects of God that are mysterious to me. I do not fully understand the Trinity. I sort of get it and I can sort of describe it, but I struggle to fully comprehend the doctrine of the Trinity in all its glory. I also struggle to understand exactly how God’s sovereignty and human responsibility coexist in the same world. Why does God, who is the very definition of love, not put an immediate
How to Pray When There Are No Words
How to Pray When There Are No Words How do you pray for situations that are almost too horrific to comprehend? The devastation of senseless terrorist attacks. Children being sold into slavery. Widows and orphans living with little or no hope. Our hearts ache. The burden (rightly) sits heavily on us. We cry out to God…but sometimes, we can’t find the words to pray. When we’re lost for words to pray, a wonderful ‘go to’ is the Bible. Reading aloud Psalms is a wonderful way to align our thoughts with God’s. Recently, I came across an article1 that spoke of ‘Imprecatory Psalms’. Do you know what they are? I didn’t until this week. In the Bible you will come across imprecatory Psalms. For example, David says in Psalm
Trying to Be Like God
Trying to Be Like God Trying to stay in control. Trying to know everything. Trying to be at every event. Trying to… be like God. Since Genesis 3, we’ve fallen time and time again for the false promise that we can be like God (Genesis 3:5). This came home to me recently at a conference I attended. A Pastor by the name of Zack Eswine shared how we struggle to accept the boundaries God has given us. You see, we want to be able to do everything! In theology, we call that ‘omnipotence’. Only God is able to do anything he pleases. We overbook our calendars, wanting to be everywhere at all times. In theology, that’s called ‘omnipresence’. Only God can be in all places at all times. We want to know
What Will it Take to Reach Australia?
What Will it Take to Reach Australia? Australia is a big place. If you don’t think so, you’ve obviously never travelled from one end of the continent to the other! Australia is the world’s largest island and its sixth largest country (after Russia, Canada, China, the USA, and Brazil). Australia is also home to more than 26 million people. 26,505,980 people to be (somewhat) precise (according to Worldometer). 26+ million people all made in God’s image and all in need of God’s grace and mercy. Just like the size of our nation, the spiritual need of our country is great. According to social researcher Mark McCrindle, the last 40 years in Australia has seen a significant shift away from Christianity. In the 1981 census, three in four Australians (76%)
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know (and oftentimes forget)
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know (and oftentimes forget) What an incredible statement! Jesus loves me. Jesus. Loves. Me. A few weeks ago, we sang a song called “I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)”, and it has since been playing on repeat in my head (and on my Spotify account). As I have been reflecting on the lyrics of the song, I have been reminded of just how often I assume his love for me and I forget to actually dwell on it. I forget to meditate on just how incredible his love for me really is! And I also forget to live in light of it. I forget to live in such a way that reflects that I am loved by Jesus. How about you? I stand amazed in
What is your Purpose?
What is your Purpose? Have you ever wondered what your purpose is? What your goal in life is? Why you are on the planet? The Bible has an answer for you. You don’t need to figure this out on your own. In Genesis 1:27, it says: God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. We were created in God’s image, which means that we were made to love. In 1 John 4:7-8 we read, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” When Jesus was asked what
Five Healthy Marriage Habits
Five Healthy Marriage Habits There are many challenges and even more blessings in pastoral ministry. Certainly, one of the great blessings is the opportunity to be involved in weddings. In recent months, I’ve had the privilege to lead weddings for two fantastic young couples in our church family. It’s always a great joy to stand with the couple on their big day and lead them through the promises they make to one another before God and then present them as a newly married couple at the end of the service. It’s equally as joyful and meaningful to meet with these couples prior to their big day to talk through the meaning and significance of marriage and to try to equip them with some tools to love, fight, and forgive
Does Prayer Work?
Does Prayer Work? I’ve been asked that exact question before, more than once. From both non-Christian and Christian friends. I recently wrote about prayer; the heartache my friend had for her family member who didn’t seem to accept Jesus before he died. I was pleasantly surprised to have some of you talk to me about encouraging stories of loved ones coming to know Jesus late in their lives. I also had a few people ask me whether prayer ‘works’. Some conversations are along the lines of, “If God is sovereign and in control, is it worth praying?” Others are heartbroken that some prayers weren’t answered in a way that seemed good and right. I think it’s great to ask these honest questions! I too have wrestled with them. Through
