It is no accident that Gethsemane means oil press, and thus among the grove of olive trees, our Lord would himself be pressed under the excruciating weight of the punishment that was ours to endure.

As we reflect on the cross and take up our own every morning, let us seek to serve rather than be served. Where can we replace our demands on others with gifts to them instead?

Jesus knew though that it would all make sense after the cross. It was the cross that made the fulfillment of this new covenant into a reality.

It’s amazing how few people really comprehended the purpose and mission of Jesus when he walked on this earth. 

I think it’s vital for us to see all that was done to Jesus, and at the same time all that Jesus did. He was a like a lamb led to the slaughter, and yet in complete control. Humility and authority. Suffering and Power.

What love! What wisdom! What power! As we begin our 40 day’s journey, let us reflect on God’s goodness from the very beginning. 

“What do we value?” Agree or not, it’s pretty obvious what our society holds in high esteem: success, power, knowledge, attractiveness, prestige. This list is not inclusive, and it is not just a 21st century issue. The temptation to value the wrong things in life has been happening since Adam and Eve. What we see as important is what we follow. What we desire is what we pursue.

Did Jesus observe a sheep’s need for a shepherd and consider how that would be a helpful analogy, or did he create sheep this way so that he could one day call himself the good shepherd?

Christians strive eagerly to reflect the character of Christ, but we often hesitate at going beyond our comfort zone to reflect certain traits, such as humility. Humility is uncomfortable; it’s what today’s culture would refer to as “cringe-worthy.” It makes us second guess and reconsider how far we will go in certain actions and behaviors.

God used a crock-pot that day. Not mine – hers. Her: the casual friend I ran into at the grocery store who looked put together on the outside but was pulled apart on the inside by a heart-wound that dripped of fear, insecurity, and doubt.

“Earn this. Earn it.” The dying words of Tom Hanks’ character in Saving Private Ryan reflected the depth of sacrifice required to save the life of the title character.

My mom had a prophetic gift. Years ago, God impressed on her heart that she wouldn't be around much longer, and she tried to prepare us for what was coming.

One hundred years ago, Helen Howarth Lemmel wrote the famous hymn, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," which was inspired by a small tract entitled "Focused" by missionary Isabella Lilias Trotter. In it, Trotter takes the reader on a journey extolling the beauty and power of Christ in a life focused on Him and His glory using illustrations of nature - burning glass that gathers the rays into an intensity that will kindle fire. This power of the souls' focus on Jesus will dim the distractions, fears, and anything else that vies for our affections…

There is no more excellent gift that we as sinful men can receive than the forgiveness of sins and, in turn a benevolent relationship with the Creator of all things, Jesus Christ, for whom all things were made and to whom all glory belongs forever.

Tension. Experiencing the dissonance of seemingly irreconcilable perspectives. Tension exists where reality falls disappointingly short of expectations. When the clarity of seeing what ought to be is met with circumstances that ought not be, there we find tension. If asked to sum up the entirety of the Old Testament in one word, tension would be a good candidate. 

If I can accomplish a task, attend a meeting, write an answer in a workbook, or listen to a message, I feel like I have accomplished something and moved the spiritual needle in the right direction. Even though I know it isn’t true, prayer never felt as productive. But at least it was something I knew. Prayer is all over the Bible. But meditation?  Is that even Biblical???

A few days ago, while scrolling through Santa’s workshop, also known as Amazon, a graphic sweatshirt caught my eye. It wasn’t the color or pattern that drew my attention; in fact, it was a simple black sweatshirt with capital letters in white. The quote on the front is what caused me to pause. It read, “If being a Christian is boring, then you’re doing it wrong.”

I became a watering girl that summer. Not because my black thumb suddenly turned green, but because my husband Brad had ordered a heap of mulch, and I was determined to not have a lame, mulch-focused landscaped section of our house…