Forged By Faith

Titus 2:11 NIV grapples with the gravity For in reality there is a particular if not indeed perfectly peculiar purpose unto every prize promised as is met only when it’s met by those to whom it’s given. It’s a weight won within this realization as to the time, effort, investigation that was given by another in order for their to determine that which they’ve now given. And this time and intention is, or at least should be, worth as much to we to whom any gift is given as is the gift we’re given. And that’s because every gift ever given was only given by someone who took their time from their life and decided to build, to buy what is this then beautiful expression of their having chosen to put us before themselves. And that’s just a really hard thing to fathom. Or, again, at least it should be. But unfortunately what we seem now to see is this sea of which is our society in which we’ve all chosen all but collectively to sink inside what is this life in which we live as if we’re owed some...

John 15:13 NIV This is probably the one verse that you will see on just about every single faith-based page and profile today. When it comes to our nation's holidays, I always try to find a verse that fits but isn't necessarily the one that everyone else seems to share. But for Memorial Day, this one is simply perfect! We all have so much to celebrate and be thankful for, and we truly don't deserve any of it! Today we celebrate freedom. We celebrate the price that our freedoms have cost. We celebrate the courage and bravery of those who have paid that price. We celebrate the opportunity to live in a country that has as much freedom as we do. We celebrate the chance to be proud of our country because of those who have fought for it. But most of all, we celebrate the lives of those who have given their all so that you and I can live these lives we get to live. It might just be me, but every Memorial Day I can't help but think of the cross. That cross will always be our re...

Ephesians 2:9 NIV Talked yesterday about how our being perfect just isn't going to happen. We may live in a world that expects us to work to earn acceptance, approval, and appreciation, but we can't forget that God doesn't work like this world does. He came down to us. He offers the gift of salvation to us. He does the healing and restoration for us. Our job is to humbly open our hearts to Him. I think so many times we get stuck working for something we already have. Maybe it's because we're used to having to prove ourselves. Maybe we just think that if we can earn it then our pride won't take the hit of realizing that we're not perfect. It's not about us trying to look good or make ourselves feel better. It's about God showing that He loves us even though we've really messed a lot of things up! Just accept that and stop worrying about your pride. God's grace is something that none of us could ever hope to earn. As we discussed yesterday, we...

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV You ever do or say something and instantly feel like a scumbag? Happens to me all the time, but I do my best to notice it so that I can do better going forward. Well, I did it again yesterday. I was surprised with a little gift and instead of responding with gratitude, I mixed in a little negativity. And now I've thought about it all night so I figured it might be something to share! Gratitude should be our instant reaction to the gifts that we're given in life. We don't deserve anything good, so whenever we get something good we should be overwhelmed with thankfulness. I guess it's one of those broken pieces of humanity that's crept in and trips us up. We've gotten so used to seeing the bad in things that we can even start seeing the bad in the gifts that we receive. That's definitely not a place we need to be! The gifts that we get may not be what we would have chosen, but they're still gifts. Someone took their time to think o...