The lion kingdom is ruled by the monarchy system. There is a single ruler of every pride. As that ruler ages, the other dominant lions make their bid for his throne. In the first part of the ruler’s final life stage, he is able to ward off the threats—even though his teeth might be falling out. Finally, at some point, the king lion cannot sustain his power, and he yields to a new leader.    Is...

God could never forgive my past. I didn’t go to seminary and I’m no theologian. Deep down I’m just no good…God can’t use Have you ever had thoughts like those?    I certainly have, and they produced a painful cycle of despair where I felt inadequate in God’s eyes. I felt guilty, too, because I hadn’t prayed. I hadn’t read the Bible. I hadn’t “been good.” Those crazy thoughts led me to...

What I’m about to share with you has dramatically changed my walk with Christ and I’d even say transformed my life. That’s how important this story is to me; and my prayer is that it resonates with you.    The story is built around a balcony metaphor and pivots off God’s instruction to examine ourselves to “search me and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23). The way I do that in my life is inspired...

As 2016 begins its final fade to black, I am mindful of the fresh canvas God gives us for a new year brimming with its inspirational promises and powerful rush of hope. What a blessing!    The fresh canvas that just peeked over the horizon this month is the same fresh canvas of forgiveness and grace that God gives us every day. It’s God’s fresh canvas to be forgiven and look forward with...

As 2016 begins its final fade to black, I am mindful of the fresh canvas God gives us for a new year brimming with its inspirational promises and powerful rush of hope. What a blessing!    It is that fresh canvas that prompted me to develop the following seven steps to loving God more and fearing less in 2017. These seven steps will be the foundation of my new series called LGFN Life! that...

  Have you ever watched the Let’s Make A Deal television program? The hit game show—starting way back with Monte Hall in the 1960s and continuing today with host Wayne Brady–involves studio audience members being offered something of value and then given a choice to keep it or exchange it for a different, unseen item.    I used to think forgiveness was a bargaining game with God...

Ponder this question. Is your work life a sanctuary or a prison?    Here’s my take: Work becomes a prison when it has been considered a sanctuary ahead of our full surrender to Christ. If we look at work as a place of refuge from life—its challenges, trials, and pain—and ignore God, we are on the way to prison for life without the possibility of parole. It may start out ok, but over time...

We can’t grab onto to something new and better—God’s peace, joy and a life of purpose—until we let go of the strongholds we have been clinging to.    Most of us do try in some way to increase our connection with God, but in many cases the approach we try is mechanical and cautious. We’re afraid to let go of the known, even if we don’t like where we are in life. It’s like the members of a...

Becoming spiritually mature used to be on my BUCKET LIST. Honest! Here’s the very short version of that story.    The beginning of my spiritual journey started in the Membership Class 101 at Saddleback Church in the 1990s. All I really wanted was the church membership card so I could tell people at cocktail parties I was a member! It’s true.    Trying to put God first seemed a...

We have allowed life to take away our “room to breathe.” Devices. TV. Appointments. More devices. More TV. More appointments. And ALWAYS a list of to-do items on our ever-expanding to-do list.    All of that has left many of us with no room to breathe. No room to reflect on life and our purpose in it. No room for God.    You are no doubt thinking that what’s coming next from a...