I like to think I can spot fake from a mile away too. It’s everywhere: the lashes, spray tans, hair color, boobs, eyebrows, puffy lips, and high cheekbones. Beyond the supplemental beauty efforts, there are a million other ways humanity serves up fake… Passing off that gossip as a prayer request. Praying from our lips, but not from our hearts. Harboring anger and holding on to it like an invisible entitlement, regardless of what God’s word says about forgiveness. Many times, we give very little to the One who gives us everything.

At times, we’ve probably all been timid people-pleasers, afraid of what others may think of us. We’re human and none of us is free from sin, after all. However, just as Paul charged the Galatians, we should courageously follow his example as bold defenders of the true gospel. This means we may forfeit peace, status, relationships and more. For it’s not enough to simply believe the right way. Peter did that. It’s not even enough to say the right thing. Peter did that too. We must openly live the right way, unafraid of the criticism and rejection of others, in a Christ honoring way as consistently as we can. We must speak up directly and we must challenge lies. The gospel is worth it. It’s more important than anything else.

“Aunt Gerry, are there unicorns in Heaven?” My three-year-old grandniece, Avery, waited expectantly for an answer to her question. I was momentarily quiet, as I pondered this. While her theology may not yet be at seminary level, her question stayed with me a while

I tend to be a very black-and-white thinker. There is the correct way to load the dishwasher and then there is the way everyone else in my family does it. Pink is the best Starburst flavor and anyone who favors yellow is simply wrong. There are dog lovers and then there are those who have never had a dog.

There is a place in this world for black and white images. But, while a black and white contrast may be stunning and dramatic, in my opinion it appears stark and lifeless…unless color is brought in. To me, color awakens the mind, bringing vibrancy, energy, and visual excitement.

My son Hunter had been having pain in his left elbow. He mentioned it to my husband and I casually but didn’t make a big deal about it initially. He was a teenager, so we thought it might just be growing pains. Months later, when the pain continued to increase, he brought it up to us again.

One of the concerns many local new homeowners have is tap water quality. Questions such as, “Is it safe to drink?” or “are there contaminates that could adversely affect our health?” We had our water tested, and it is safe to drink, but I could tell by the taste that it was not as pure as I’d prefer, so I bought a water filter nestled neatly under the sink to ensure years of good clean drinking water. Sadly, many homes cannot access clean drinking water, so necessary and costly repairs alleviate such concerns.

Holiness is our light. It’s the reflection of Jesus in us. And its purpose is to draw others to Him. We won’t always know when others are watching, but one thing is sure if you are a parent… little eyes are watching all the time. And your pursuit of holiness is what they most need to see.

When you think of your legacy, what comes to mind first? For many, it may be financial, their children, memories, maybe photos of a life well-lived.

Perhaps we make it harder than it needs to be. The God who created us and who loved us enough to do what we never could to conquer sin and death by sending Jesus to die and be raised again, that’s who we are trusting. That’s who we are obeying. We don’t have to understand everything. We can’t. We’re not God. But when we look at who Jesus is and what’s He’s done, how can we not trust and obey?

Did you know, Christian, that there is a land (Revelation 21-22), and a home (John 14:2), and an inheritance (1 Peter 1:4) for you? Every detail listed in Deuteronomy 6:10-11 is a shadow of and a pointer to this reality that awaits us. And all of this is because of what Jesus has done on our behalf. Deuteronomy’s call of obedience remains for us, but the logic is flipped on its head. It is no longer in order to have God’s blessing in the land, but because Jesus has already obtained God’s blessing for us.

Every Saturday morning, bright and early, my husband and I walk to a coffee shop in downtown Mooresville together. We enjoy the quiet of the morning, the exercise, and the uninterrupted conversation. Once there, we sip on hot cups of fresh dark roast and discuss plans for the day, the upcoming week, and sometimes even jump ahead to the coming months and years. We are able to share what we’ve had on our minds and hearts all week…challenges at work, issues at home, and how we need to address things.

Principles are not formulas, nevertheless we are wise to cling to them, remembering that it’s not the principles but the heart behind them that produces results. God’s commands are to be inwardly attached and strapped to our hearts. Figuratively speaking of course.

Deuteronomy is the last book of the Torah and spans a relatively short time compared with the rest of the Pentateuch because we see Moses standing at the door to the promised land, reminding the Israelites of the Law. The previous generation had witnessed great miracles through the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of the Egyptian army. However, they soon forgot God's goodness and complained, longing for the leeks and onions by the Nile.

After lightning struck and the fire destroyed seventy percent of our home, we rebuilt. Every item seared, soaked, and smoked was lifted and sifted. Ashes were removed. All things broken and tattered were excavated and evaluated in pursuit of total renewal and restoration. Then a new plan was put in place. 

Until a few years ago, I’d never heard someone refer to their job title as “influencer.” Intrigued, I set out to discover exactly what an influencer is and how they earn a living. My first stop was of course, the internet. According to influencermarketinghub.com, an influencer is someone who has two things:

Nowadays, the predominant measure of being “satisfied” that we encounter is through relentless requests to complete customer surveys where we are typically asked, “Were you satisfied?” In that context, being “satisfied” is essentially a pass/fail. Did the store have what I wanted or not? Did the representative do what I needed or not? But is this what it means to be satisfied in Psalm 65? Is David pointing to some aspect of God that he is merely acknowledging as adequate? I don’t think so.

Be about your Father’s business, and unwrap the very last page of all that God has assigned you to complete, in your own story. Our rewards are coming soon enough. Your eternity is secure in Christ. Go your way, till the end.