If you’re like me, after reading the first few books in the Old Testament, you may feel a bit surprised at the stories God included. Most of us would likely hide the stories of the “black sheep” in our families if we were writing our stories. And yet, the Bible is filled with imperfect people: real people, with real faith, as broken and imperfect as they were.

If you are an online shopper, you are certainly familiar with the phrase, “add to cart”.  We’ve all been told to “add to cart”.  It is simply the seller telling us that we are not finished shopping; something else must be done to obtain the desired product 

Throughout the New Testament, many varied descriptions of the gospel are given. Depending on the particular context, the imagery shifts in order to emphasize a certain aspect of what God has done for us. Within Galatians itself, we see the gospel described in terms of deliverance (1:4), sacrifice (2:20), and freedom (5:1). And in Galatians 4, a particularly pregnant phrase is used to emphasize that the coming of Jesus marks a monumental shift in the experience of God’s people. The coming of Christ is the turning point of salvation history.

What if we were as willing to advertise and advocate for Jesus as we are for our favorite politician or sports team or charitable cause? What if we focused less on the identities that divide us and more on the one that unites us? What if we followed Paul’s instruction regarding the formation of our own identities? We’d only need one bumper sticker. But I would miss the funny ones…

I have to admit I am a lot like Martha. Maybe you are too? The tasks and details and distractions of life tend to consume each moment and I easily forget that my Father just wants me to draw close…to sit at His feet. He longs to protect me, to hold me close, to speak softly into my ear because He knows me like no one else does. And He wants all of that for you too. God always desires to bless us, and His blessings are everlasting.

I've sometimes called Facebook the cesspool of ideological fodder to bait unsuspecting and often well-intentioned people into endless debates. I'm no longer on social media and have no interest in rejoining unless it is strictly business related. It's exhausting to be called every name under the sun for holding some secondary view others may hold as primary. Social media has, in my opinion, cheapened the art of debate - all in the name of proving oneself right. Reading Galatians 3:1-9 almost sounds like any rant you may encounter online.

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.