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Battling the Idol of Envy With Numbers 11

Last year, I noticed a growing discontentment with my life. I chalked it up to circumstances: several of my good friends had moved away,...

On Bitterness

The Lord is gracious to give me perspective regarding my everyday life when I actually step out of that everyday life for a day or two....

"Thank You, God, For the Fleas"- Finding Courage in The Hiding Place

The fleas. When I glimpse the well-worn spine of The Hiding Place on my bookshelf, I always think first of the fleas and the horror of...

Every Hard Day Will Be Beautiful One Day

I hadn’t opened the old shoebox in a decade, but lifting the frayed lid, I laughed in delight at the faces of dear friends and family...

What Cravings Will Take From You: How Jesus Fulfills the Longing Heart

We spend our lives with hands out and mouths open, looking for what we might consume. This is our experience as humans, in part because...

Two Words to Stop Self-Condemnation

“I'm not sweet. I should be, but I'm not.” That's what I thought to myself as I pulled into the garage and closed it behind me, safe from...

What Does It Mean to Give Grace to One Another?

Last week, a friend in an email wrote, "Thank you for giving me grace." I've heard that phrase a thousand and one times, but for some...

Jesus Left Things Unfixed

The author Zack Eswine says, “We cannot expect to change what Jesus has left unfixed for the moment.” He calls these unchangeable...

When You're Dissatisfied and Restless Regarding Your Purpose

I am a "purpose" person and always have been. I remember as a teenager reading about spiritual gifts and the design of the Body recorded...

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