Soul Sister Time

              When Jesus first spoke of His cross during His days of exciting ministry, the disciples—most notably Peter—dismissed the lesson (Matthew 16:22).                 I understand his objection.   The lesson of picking up crosses in the spiritual life is not easy or natural.   Peter was the first of the disciples to have his heart penetrated by the Holy Spirit in order to recognize that the man his brother Andrew had introduced him to as the Messiah was more than a Messiah.   He knew in his heart of faith that Jesus was the Son of God Himself and the Messiah.   Knowledge like that is impossible for a human being on their own.   Peter had experienced the presence of God in a way that allowed his soul to connect with this knowledge.   That happened to me too when I was seven years old.   It was just like tha...

              I suppose I could have prayed more.   I know of individuals who fasted for months and prayed for the bill I was working on.   I saw on social media that hundreds of thousands were praying for the same request.   We witnessed a true miracle.   We prayed and worked together and moved the bill along a little further than two years prior.   It appeared that God had set it up to that we had a small window to move it forward and time ran out.   Disappointment, heartbroken, suspicious thoughts were expressed.                 Now there is silence.   What does this mean?   How do we see God in the silence?   What is the meaning of it all?   Silence does not mean that God has not heard our prayers and been moved by them.   God definitely responded to bring a group of people together for a c...

              This is a question that never crossed my mind as I formed my relationship with God.   When I think about my salvation experience at seven-years-old, I realize how miraculous it really is to have faith.   In that moment at church, I had an ah-ha moment.   It was like a light-bulb went off in my mind and soul.   Although I had not done too many bad things at seven, it was clear to me that I was a sinner and that if I had to be holy to have a relationship with God, I was doomed.   I readily accepted the offer of salvation through belief that Jesus was the Son of God and that He died for my sins and was resurrected to spend eternal life with me.   It was simple.                 I still have a childlike faith.   Even as I teach the Bible, I do not struggle as deeply as others to find specifics from Revela...

              Who does not have questions about God when an ancient, invaluable, precious cathedral catches fire during Holy Week in Paris, and manmade bombs destroy several churches on Easter Sunday making martyrs of the hundreds of worshippers in Sir Lanka?   What is God’s lesson?               My son, Ben, was asked this question from his friend and his comment—that the burning of Notre Dame exposes more about the hearts and minds of Christ-followers in our post-Christian era than a judgement from God—made me stop and think.   Where do you find groups of people willing to sacrifice, dream, endure hardship, work, design and create an elaborate place of worship recognizing that since it would require 100 years to complete, they would not witness its magnificence in their lifetimes?   What do Christians dedicate their sacrifices, dreams, ...

Monday of Holy Week:   Monday, Monday Monday is not known for being the most hopeful of days. Songs have been written about Mondays. Monday marks the end of the weekend. Though it offers a new start and a new beginning, most don’t see it that way. Monday means back to the grind in most people’s minds. Jesus’ experiences on Holy Monday are a precursor to the work he would do the rest of the week. On Monday He set in motions the dominoes of instant responses for what would lead to Good Friday. The disciples didn’t seem to have a clue. Coming off of the high of Palm Sunday, they might have had their hearts and minds set on some more of the same for this day. Perhaps they wanted to sleep in after such a draining Sunday. This would not be the case. Rather, they followed Jesus as He led them on an intense day of mysterious events with important lessons. Monday, in the week that changed the world, would be a day of teaching about prayer. He would rely on the dramatic to drive His ...

Fifth Monday in Lent: Righteousness Needed Jesus is all about bringing us righteousness yet we are too worldly focused to think we have much of a need for righteousness. Most of us think we need healing or exciting miracles. We might try to get a little righteousness by going to church on Sunday and giving some spare change to a beggar. God sees the bigger picture and knows that there is nothing which we are more bankrupt than righteousness. He sees that we are totally incapable of getting the righteousness we need through our own actions, so He sent Jesus to give us His righteousness through His sacrificial work on the cross. Lent is a season of repentance and preparation for the Easter celebration. No matter how sacrificial your Lenten fast, it could never be enough to earn your righteousness. I have been practicing Lent for   years, and every year at the end of my fast I come face to face with how far I am from righteousness. Some of the first recorded words of Jesus i...