Random Works Of Randomness

“If you’re at the end of your rope, let go. And some where in the free fall, you’ll realize that you can’t, but Jesus can. Don’t fall into despair, fall into dependence” (Louie Giglio). Ever since Adam and Eve took a bite out of that forbidden fruit, we’ve been chasing the illusion of self-control. We want to sit on the thrones of our own lives and be our own masters. The only downside to that…

I ran across another great worship song that strikes me as being a bit of a lament. It’s telling God, “This is where I am, and this is how I feel, but this is what I’ve come to learn about You.” I hope these words will speak to you, especially if you’re in the midst of a struggle or a low period in your life. I’ve also included a video in case you want to hear it: “How long will I have to hear…

“May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers” (1 Thes. 3:11-13, The Message). Lord,…

“Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering. The love of God is of a different nature altogether. It does not hate tragedy. It never denies reality. It stands in the very teeth of suffering. The love of God did not protect His own Son. The cross was the proof of His love – that He gave that Son, that He let Him go to Calvary’s…

I ran across this excerpt from The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis, and it was such a humorous (and very British) take on marriage with more than a smidgeon of truth mixed in: “Aravis also had many quarrels (and, I’m afraid even fights) with Cor, but they always made it up again: so that years later, when they were grown up they were so used to quarrelling and making it up again that they got…

“Blessed be God for this. Some of all sorts are saved, some of all colors, ranks, nations, and ages are saved; some of all conditions of education and morals, some of the poorest, and some of the richest are redeemed so that when we all assemble in heaven, though we make a motley throng on earth, we shall constitute a united choir, having all our voices tuned to this one note, ‘Worthy is the Lamb…

Recently, I’ve started rewatching the Downton Abbey series from Season 1, Episode 1 to the very end. This time around, I have a bit of a different perspective because I have seen the series through all the way to the last movie, so I know how the story ends. And for those who still haven’t seen it, there are spoilers ahead (although if you still haven’t seen any episodes, it’s really not my…

“Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely,…

I’ve been reading through 1 Corinthians in my yearly Bible reading plan. One takeaway is that the Church Paul is talking about looks a lot different than the Church I see most of the time. At least to me it does. I remember when I was growing up and I would pass a church building and automatically assume that it was good. I assumed that everybody there loved Jesus and believed the Bible and…

“God, of thy goodness, give me Thyself;for Thou art enough for me,and I can ask for nothing lessthat can be full honor to Thee.And if I ask anything that is less,ever Shall I be in want,for only in Thee have I all”(Julian of Norwich). Anything that we ask from God apart from God Himself will never be enough. And there can be nothing greater than to ask for God Himself. It’s easy to get caught…

I’d like to say this is original, but it’s not. I do think it’s brilliant. It would be nice to invite all of you to visit me on my luxurious yacht somewhere out in the Mediterranean, but I’m not holding my breath on this one. Still, it’s clever.

“Joy happens not when all is well but when we are connected to what God is doing in the world– loving, saving, redeeming, caring. It’s not surprising that those who serve and share from their hearts find joy” (David Miller) Sometimes, we think that for joy to happen, everything has to be going right. There can’t be any tragedy or pain or sadness. But I think we often confuse joy with…

“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever” (Vance Havner). Don’t forget about the seed. Jesus taught that unless the seed falls into the ground and dies,…

That’s it. Don’t worry. By the way, that’s not a helpful suggestion or a handy hint. It’s a command. It’s proof that God wants our obedience not as some sort of Cosmic Killjoy who wants to destroy our happiness but as a Gentle Father who only wants the best for His children and is looking out for their ultimate joy. Have you ever heard the expression “sick with worry?” It’s not just an…

“Lord, I praise You for being a good and faithful Father. Please remove any branches from me that aren’t producing fruit and prune those that are fruitful so that they might bear even more fruit. Remove any dead weight in me and remove anything in my life that isn’t pleasing to You. Make me more like You today and help me to bear much fruit today for Your glory. Amen.” The Bible app has a guided…

Ann Voskamp said to be a prayer warrior and not a panicked worrier. I think about that a bit lately. One does absolutely no good but only keeps you up at night and keeps you from focusing on what matters. One is the way to the throne of grace where we find help in time of need. Worry changes nothing. Prayer changes everything. Worry makes you sick. Literally. Over time, your body will start to…