Did you know there is a faithless way to complain, and a faithful way to complain?
Anyone Can Complain, Christians Can Lament
Positions and Promises
A few weeks ago, I sat across my friend at lunch and shared with her how weary I’ve been feeling and that I’m struggling to bring that before The Lord. She then asked, “How do you think the Lord is viewing you?” I started crying, knowing that even though I know in my head how He views me, in my heart I believed that He was annoyed with me for always coming to Him with the same struggles. For that reason, I didn’t feel the freedom or desire to come before Him.
When you realize again that what you do is not who you are
By 9 A.M. all manner of positive thinking has gone out the window. I’ve got 3 patients arriving at the same time, orders weren’t put in correctly for a patient (again…) doctors are irritated for no apparent reason, I can’t get an IV started on a patient, and we’re short staffed and don’t have coverage for breakfast breaks. (“Hangry” is a real thing, people!) Yes, I do take care of people, meet them in a vulnerable place, and comfort them before heading into surgery. Yes, I’ve witnessed some of the coolest medical anomalies ever, including a 76 pound tumor get safely removed from a woman’s abdomen. But many days I come home wondering if any of it really mattered. If I really made a difference at all. I think, “God, are you here? Where are you in the midst of all this craziness, pressure, sickness and negativity? I need to […]
When God Says No
I’m upset. I’m straight up sobbing, lying on the floor, kicking and screaming, full-blown toddler tantrum upset. I asked God for something. I asked Him for a miracle. I prayed for something that I couldn’t believe wasn’t according to His plan (1 John 5:14). I asked Him for something that I knew I could use to bring Him glory. And he said no.
More Than Enough
To kick off 2017, I was encouraged by one of my friends to join her in a 21-day fast. Since I had never fasted before, I did not know what to expect, but my hope was to experience more of Christ in my life.
What in the world does it mean to fear God?
If I’m asking this question, and you have the same question, we can pretty much be sure of this: we probably don’t fear God rightly. “This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, emphasis added) “He said this to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord is this: wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.’” (Job 28:28, emphasis added)
We’re a Messy Church
When I first started reading the Bible, I was very confused about some of the great people of faith doing questionable things. Why were these people (I thought) I was supposed to look up to morally committing such terrible sins? Was the Bible condoning these atrocious things they did? Why were people offering up their daughters to be raped? Why did Noah get drunk and lay naked after the ark? Why did Solomon take so many wives and concubines? The Hall of Faith, as Hebrews 11 is often referred to, lists murderers, adulterers, and liars, yet these people were commended for their faith. I had first assumed these Bible stories were supposed to be about all good, upright, moral people and how we should emulate them. But I was wrong. The Bible isn’t a book about good people, but about a good God who chooses to use messy people.
Losing the Forest for the Trees
Have you ever been so caught up in the details of a thing that you miss the big picture? Have you been so focused on checking things off a list that you miss why you have the list to begin with? Do you feel overwhelmed with the “to do” and forget what “is finished?” If so, you’re probably losing the forest for the trees.
How do I make a difference?
“This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.” (Ecclesiastes 9:3, emphasis added)
Jesus Wants to Flip the Tables In Our Hearts
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I can’t help but pause and remember one year in my college bible study when we made each other valentines with bible verses. At the time the popular verse rang so dear to me since I was so new in my faith. But now that I’ve grown in my relationship with God, I feel like they limit Jesus’ expression of love for us. I’m challenged to think about the moments when He convicted His disciples. What about the times when He was angry with them? What about the time He flipped tables in the temple?