It’s tough to look at Good Friday as a celebration with all of the pain and cruelty Jesus endured on a deadly timber atop Golgatha. All of the optics—at least on the surface—scream bleakness, futility, and hopelessness. But we celebrate anyway because God made these three days that changed the world forever to be a […]
Why Does Good Friday’s CELEBRATION have so Much PAIN? Read More »
I struggled mightily for the first half of this past weekend to obey God’s directive to BE STILL. An “avalanche of overwhelm” in my life produced a day of pain before I finally embraced God’s truth that stillness is NOT weakness. It’s TRUST. My next step was to focus on Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and
An “Avalanche of Overwhelm” Read More »
Most of my weekend was spent in front of a crackling fireplace as the sky spit and sprayed water across the tree-studded hills near Yosemite National Park on America’s West Coast. Tagging along for the ride was this probing question: “Am I TRULY living by FAITH?” Searching for the answer transported me to moments early
Walk By Faith, NOT Sight. Read More »
What if the very storm you’re facing right now is the stage where God wants to prove His power in your life? Life has a way of surprising us with unexpected challenges — from financial struggles to health scares, relationship strains, or career setbacks. In moments like these, anxiety can creep in, whispering lies that
Trade Your Fear for Unshakable Peace! Read More »
I had an epiphany this past weekend as the calendar flipped to March. I’m calling it “REVERSE WISDOM.” Here’s the bottom line: My “LIFE wisdom” may grow every year, but my goal is to expand my “GOD wisdom.” And here’s the encouraging footnote—God promises that the closer we get to Christ, the less we will
So You Think You’re WISE, eh? Read More »
VERB: Action, state, or occurrence. NOUN: People, places, or things. In the early years after I gave my life to Jesus and before my complete surrender, my faith was a NOUN because I had not fully released control to him. I was playing it safe. Little prayer. Little commitment. Little action. My faith was a
Will Your Faith be a VERB or a NOUN in 2025? Read More »
As Christians, we all face challenges that test our faith and resilience. The difference between stagnation and spiritual growth often hinges on how well we navigate discomfort and disappointment. This requires deliberate action and God’s grace. What better time than now, at the dawn of 2025, to zero in on ONE CHALLENGE? Not several. Just
Which ONE CHALLENGE Will YOU Attack in 2025? Read More »
This just in from our global online tribe: There are so many things to do in the Christmas season that I am wound up like the toys I just bought my kids. HOW CAN I FIND COMFORT THIS CHRISTMAS?” Let’s start with the FOUNDATION of Christmas before we get to COMFORT. Christmas is about the
Detangle Your Christmas Buzz Read More »
Everyone wants to experience the spine-tingling and euphoric RAIN OF JOY in their life. Sounds easy, right? So what’s the problem? Why does the world seem, largely, joyless and incapable of finding its elusive destination? And why in the world do so many Christians struggle mightily to understand the meaning of joy and search unsuccessfully
My Tears of PAIN Started a Rain of JOY Read More »
I often get asked, “Mark, how do I know when I’m genuinely sad versus when I’m wallowing in self-pity?” And lately, there’s a second question that comes along on the self-pity ride: “How do I keep from becoming cynical?” It’s no surprise these questions come up together—they both reveal a growing sense of defeat that
Drowning in Self-Pity, Devoured by Cynicism. Read More »
