Living Christly

Why do we pray? Is it to keep lines of communication between us and the Creator of the universe open? Is it to acknowledge Him, praise Him, or worship Him? Or is it just to ask Him for forgiveness and to show Him our humility? Perhaps it's just to take a few minutes to thank Him for the blessings He has given us throughout our lives. Or maybe it's just to ask Him for more blessings for my family and my friends. Or perhaps to ask for protection for my church, His church, and my country, His country. Or to pray for the safety of Israel, His children. Save yourself some time, folks. Please answer “yes” to the above questions.

We spend so much of our lives meticulously planning — careers, vacations, retirement, even what to have for dinner. But death? That’s the grand un-planner, the ultimate disruptor. It crashes into our meticulously built sandcastles, scattering the grains of our daily routines and forcing us to reckon with something far larger than our next dentist appointment. So, let’s pull up a chair, perhaps pour a cup of coffee (or a sweet tea, if you’re down here in Florida), and chat a bit about this fascinating, terrifying, and utterly unavoidable part of the human experience. We'll even sprinkle in a few laughs, because sometimes, that's the only way to get through the more challenging conversations. And now, for a casual look at death.

Knowing that Jesus died for us, not because we deserved it, but because He loved us beyond measure, changes everything. It transforms our perspective from one of endless striving and trying to "be good enough" into one of profound gratitude and freedom. We no longer have to live under the crushing weight of trying to earn God’s approval. He’s already given it, through Christ.

The love of Christ compels us, not coerces us. It inspires us to love others, to serve with joy, and to share this incredible news with a world that is desperate for hope. It brings a peace that truly surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), because our biggest problem—sin—has been dealt with, once and for all. We can truly rest in Him, knowing that the most outstanding debt has been paid, not by our feeble efforts, but by the King of Kings Himself.

Before we start to put on the “whole armor of God,” we need to be righteously “ripped.” We have to grow stronger ourselves, as we simultaneously gain power from His strength. God’s protection doesn’t work too well if we’re emotionally feeble - if we refuse to exercise and look for a miracle pill after it’s too late! We need to develop noticeable definitions in those spiritual muscles before we can “suit up” and stand against the enemy’s schemes. The good news is that further on in His book, we read that “this present darkness” doesn’t last forever. But, for now, the battle rages on.

The phrase "It is written" is more than a simple quote; it is a declaration of divine authority and a powerful weapon for every believer. As a Christian and a former professional musician, I've seen firsthand how a beautiful melody or a carefully crafted lyric can move the human heart. But there is no symphony more profound, no lyric more transformative, than the living Word of God. It is the unwavering truth in a world of shifting sands, and it is the very foundation upon which we stand. The Bible is not just a book of ancient history or a collection of moral tales; it is the power of God’s Word in our lives, flourishing and active, speaking directly into the circumstances of our lives.

After Adam and Eve got booted from Paradise for some highly illegal snacking, our entire civilization's job market essentially got a kickstart. I mean, they had one rule—one!—and they still managed to blow it spectacularly.

So, out they went, and that's when humanity's job search officially began. Suddenly, we had to start earning a living, literally by the sweat of our brows. We were given this incredible knack for developing a wide range of skills to get by. Some folks became farmers, getting their paycheck from the dirt. Others were shepherds, managing a herd of woolly clients. Then you had the builders and craftsmen, basically the contractors of the ancient world, putting their skills to work to meet the "supply and demand" needs of the day. And it's been that way ever since.

The cry for "help" is a universal human experience. It transcends cultures, languages, and generations. From the time we are infants, our primary communication is a plea for help—a cry for food, comfort, or safety. As we grow, the nature of our needs changes, but the fundamental desire for assistance remains. As the initial verses of this article suggest, there comes a moment for many of us when we shed the illusion of self-sufficiency. We confront the reality that we are not islands unto ourselves, capable of navigating life's complexities without a hand to hold or a voice to guide. Let's face it. We need help finding help in a helpless world.

Time is a concept so fundamental to our existence that we often take it for granted. It’s the invisible force that governs every aspect of our lives, the relentless river that carries us from birth to death. We mark its passage with the ticking of clocks, the turning of seasons, and the lines on our faces. Yet, despite its constant presence, our relationship with time is complex and often contradictory. We waste it, we cherish it, we try to fill it, and its unyielding march perpetually governs us. I submit a study of intentional living.

“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” William Penn

Discover how to show your love for God by serving others. This devotional explores 1 Corinthians 2:9 and John 21:15-17, revealing that the true path to a glorious "unseen inheritance" is found in getting your hands dirty and feeding God's sheep.

Let's be honest, marriage is kind of a big deal. God created it, so you know it's not some flimsy, unreliable arrangement. Think of it less as an old-fashioned institution and more like a beautiful tapestry, woven with strands of "I love you," "I'm sorry," and "Did you take out the trash?" The following is a Biblical calling to honor your husband in a fallen world.