“The darkness, the holy unknowing that characterizes this freedom [of trust], is the opposite of confusion and ignorance. Confusion happens when mystery is the enemy and we feel we must solve it to master our destinies. And ignorance is not knowing that we do not know. In the liberation of the night, we are freed […]
“Your light exposes something inside of them they’d rather keep in the darkness. So, of course, it’s offensive to them. . . . It’s only natural for them to lash out, but they are just trying to turn off the light as quickly as possible. . . . It’s an attempt by that other person […]
“Have you ever noticed that when you’re feeling alone, it’s much more intense at night? I think of Jesus, in the darkness of the olive grove, the only light from the moon, about to face the unthinkable.”- Sheila Walsh “They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, ‘Sit here while I go […]
“When it feels like the waves of life are going to consume us, we have a clear choice. We can look back on our stories and be bound by darkness, letting it take root and defeat us, or we can sing a song of hope that springs us forward in the middle of the mess […]
[Sarah’s] laughter comes from as deep a place as tears come from, and in a way it comes from the same place. As much as tears do, it comes out of the world where God is of all missing persons the most missed, except that it comes not as an ally of darkness, but as […]
The Next Right Thing (Revell, 2019) Wall Street Journal bestselling author Emily P. Freeman’s latest book is The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions. Emily’s also enrolled at Friends University to pursue a Masters in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership. First, the author observes that we all handle the pressure […]
“Our hard decisions become our speed bumps, and thank God for that. Decisions are his way of saying I love you. . . . Our choices shape our lives, and they shape us. But we remain in God’s hand no matter what. Let’s begin to trust ourselves as we walk with our friend Jesus. . […]
“Instead of running west, just plunge into the darkness. That’s counterintuitive. If you even think about it, all your instincts rebel. We avoid desperation, simply hoping the situation clears itself up, waiting for the darkness to lighten. But what if the desperation is a grace disguised? What if fighting your way through the darkness is […]
“Don’t let your circumstances change your faith; let your faith change your circumstances. Remember, visions make leaders passionate, but thorns keep them authentic.”- Os Hillman Today Os Hillman concludes Chapter 11 of The Joseph Calling. First, he stresses that, at some point, everyone comes to a place where they know and experience what they believe. […]
“When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word.”- Oswald Chambers As Os Hillman continues Chapter 6 of The Joseph Calling, he observes there’s often […]
“We need more than answers. We need the love of God, no matter how awkward or fumbly.”- Matt Bays “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”- Isaiah 43:1 (ESV) In Chapter 16 (“Melody Unchained- Finding Your Faith Again”) of Finding God in the Ruins, Matt Bays observes the hard […]
“No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”- Matthew 5:15-16 “In the gospels the […]