We are now a week into the new year. The celebrations are over, teachers and students returned to school, and daily routines are beginning to feel normal once again. People who made resolutions, or set goals, for 2019, are taking the first steps toward breathing life into their new vision, but dreams are fragile in their infancy. Without care, we fall back into old patterns, get distracted, and even give up.

Now is the time to accept that there will be challenges, surprises, and obstacles, to acknowledge that our resolve will be tested. It is also the perfect time to embrace the possibilities awaiting in the year ahead. Whether the new year greeted us with unexpected concerns or we find ourselves enmeshed in the mundane, we can lift our eyes, dream God-sized dreams, and have faith.

The new year did not begin the way I expected. I planned to be on vacation, celebrating the holiday with family. I believed the time away would be refreshing and inspirational. I also believed I would be healthy. Unfortunately, sickness visited our home on Christmas Day, changing our plans, and creating an unplanned staycation. Except for two trips to the pharmacy and grocery store, we spent our vacation in our house.

The circumstances created some disappointment and discouragement, but it also came with hidden opportunities: significant time to catch up on needed rest, time to read several books, and opportunities to capture fresh vision for the year ahead. It wasn’t what I wanted, but it seems it was what I needed. There was temptation to whine in frustration, and I gave in on a few occasions, however, a little holy perspective allowed me to redeem the time. As I reflect on this time of illness, I find an increasing number of blessings and opportunities.

Vacation illness may not be the most significant challenge, but it is a great illustration. Achieving our goals and fulfilling our resolutions will not happen without rising up in the face of resistance, taking our thoughts captive, and embracing the Spirit-filled power to overcome. In the face of my initial obstacles, I added one more goal for this year. In addition to my original dreams, I resolved to savor every day, not because every day will be easy or desirable, but because it will be the day I am given.

Our attitudes and actions may not change our circumstances, but they will change us in, and through, our circumstances. If we stand our ground, if we embrace the call to be strong and courageous, if we keep moving forward, we will accomplish more than we can imagine.

So, the new year is here. What it holds is a mystery, but as we persist in embracing the possibilities, we will discover Jesus’ words to be true, “seek and you will find.” May our search be fruitful and our future blessed as we walk our days by faith.

The post Embrace the Possibilities appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Good things happened yesterday and more will happen today. In fact, good things happen every day. Sometimes, they happen in far away places where they go unnoticed due to our lack of knowledge. Other times, they happen right around us, but go unseen because of our lack of awareness. Just because we don’t recognize them doesn’t make them any less significant, we simply miss their ability to change us and our worldview.

Random acts of kindness, small moments of beauty that occur with surprising frequency and they make the world better. These are the places where heaven intersects earth and lives, even destinies, are changed. They happen in classrooms, over cups of coffee, and, sometimes, in complete secrecy. These moments won’t make the news. Sure, as the holidays approach, some significant acts of generosity may receive a bit of attention, but daily, they take place without fanfare or recognition.

Bad news sells, and a constant diet of negativity dulls our sense wonder and beauty, while training us to find more problems. We slowly begin to define situations and people by their negative aspects. The current election season exemplifies this all too well. It was surprisingly difficult to learn candidates’ platforms and positions. What wasn’t difficult to uncover was their view of their opponents. Every commercial, mass mailing, and robo-call offered a reminder to vote along with a list of evils associated with the other candidates. Even worse, we now accept this as normal.

The good news is that we do not have to blindly follow this trend. We can choose to find the good in life, and in people. Instead of demonizing people and groups, we can open our heart to believe that everyone is created in the image of God. Instead of defining life by its problems, we can embrace the wonderful possibilities that surround us. Life is not easy. Jesus was clear when he said, “in this life you will have trouble.” Thankfully, the message didn’t end there. After a hard reality, he went on to offer hope, “take heart, I have overcome the world.”

The message of faith should not produce pessimism, nor should it create some form of blissful optimism. Our faith calls for realism. Life is hard, but there is more to the story. There is always a reason for hope and, if we will open our eyes to God’s vision, there is beauty, wonder, and possibly all around us. There is laughter and joy, compassion and love, kindness and goodness, and a world full of blessings for us discover.

I’ve said it here before, but one of the greatest life-quotes I ever received came from my grandfather. I increasingly see the depth of his simple statement, “What gets your attention, gets you.” So, I constantly have to ask myself what I want to give my attention, and myself to in my life. Do I want to be ruled by negativity, discouragement, and evil, or do I want to be found giving my life to beauty, wonder, and hope? It may be a question we all need to ask. Is Chicken Little right? Is the sky really falling? Or is the wondrous God of creation right when declaring, “Behold, I make all things new?”

Fear shouts all around us, and its prophets declare its promised destruction. Still, I will hope in the Lord. I will believe there is more to the story. I will trust that the story is still being written and that there is joy, not just at the end, but along the way. And though I have great faith that my hope is not misplaced, even so, I will be better off savoring the blessings and amplifying the beauty of life. Those around me, and the whole world will be better off as well. I can only imagine the impact if we all began to accentuate what is good far above all that is not. What a wonderful world it would be.

The post Good Things appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

We have a choice. In almost every part of our lives, there is someplace where we posses the power to choose. We may not be able to choose what happens, but we always possess the decision of how we will respond.

The insights of Victor Frankl speak deeply to me, especially regarding this issue. Imprisoned in a Nazi Concentration Camp, enduring great evil, and experiencing great pain, he realized that his oppressors could control his environment and much of what was done to him, and those he loved. He also discovered the one thing they could never control was his response. No matter how powerful they were, he always retained his ability to choose. It was a challenging, yet liberating revelation.

While our circumstances may not be that extreme, we are no less able to decide. The power to choose our response is always ours. On one hand, this is a deeply frustrating insight because it dismantles our ability to blame our circumstances, or others, for the choices we make. We can hold people and systems accountable for evil and injustice, but we cannot abdicate our responsibility for our decision.

At the same time, such revelation is profoundly liberating. It removes us from the deceptive myth that we have no control. It may not be the control we are looking for, or even the control we want, but we are never completely powerless. There is at least one area where we can act and change our experience.

This is a challenging revelation for me. While I know it is true, I frequently find it difficult to practice. Like so many others, I frequently hear myself say, “I’m offended,” “I’m hurt,” I’m angry, frustrated, and unhappy.” Yet, I know that those statements are only partially true, because, when I speak them, I am implying that my emotional response was someone else’s decision. I’ve worked for years to change my wording, not as an expression of semantics, but as a means to more accurately define my reality, for as I do so, I gain more control over that reality.

Now, when I hear myself say those, and similar words, I work to immediately speak the truth, “I choose to be offended,” “I choose to be hurt,” “I choose to be angry, frustrated, and unhappy.” I choose. My response is my decision and when I accept that, I gain the power to claim a different reality. I choose to break destructive cycles and open myself to other possibilities.

We are made in the image of God, and that is a profound truth. It declares we have intrinsic value; our worth is not found in the judgement of others, but in fact that we exist and are loved by God. The image of God also means that we have the power to choose. We can choose good or evil, blessing or curse, even God or self. We can also choose how we respond to life and others.

As people of God, loved by God and empowered by God, we are never completely powerless. How we will live and how we will respond to our circumstances is always our choice. In a world that often seems out of control, we are grounded in God’s truth, and God’s reality. In a culture filled with angst, where being angry and offended seems to be a competitive sport, we can live in, and share, God’s grace and peace.

So, as always, we come to our lives with the God-given power to choose this day who we will serve, and how we will respond. What will you choose? For me, I choose God, and the grace and peace that flows from the Spirit. Now, I just need to put that decision into practice.

The post Decisions, Decisions appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Sometimes, we have to work through the mess. Once again this year, I am participating in Inktober, a challenge created by artist Jake Parker to crest one ink drawing a day for the month of October. My first year was 2016, and the process was helpful in strengthening my drawing skills. This year, I am a little behind, but enjoying the process.

Day one of this year went much better than expected. I was thrilled to see how well my first project came together. It was not, however, a harbinger of what was yet to come. The second day came with the prompt “tranquil.” With a great vision for a fishing boat resting on still water, I worked for an hour only to end up with something that simply wasn’t going to work. It was hard to start over, but the result was worth it. I went in a new direction and ended with something I was very happy with.

On the third day, I started with an ambitious project that had to be cut short, and day four things fell apart. The drawing was a simple cup of coffee with latte art. Two attempts later, it was just plain bad. It was extremely hard to post that one online, but that is part of the challenge.

Reflecting on the process so far this year, I am increasingly aware of how much it represents all of life. Sometimes, things go the way we expect. Sometimes, things exceed our hopes, and then there are the times when things become a mess. The messy moments can steal our joy and derail our passion. When things go awry, we begin to doubt and we are tempted to give up, but that is precisely the time we need to keep moving and work through the mess.

In the midst of the struggle, we cannot allow self-doubt, fear, or any other negative emotion to steal our hope and our faith. When things get messy, we work through the mess until we see the possibilities. Even what seems like failure is a learning experience that helps us see with new eyes, and develop new strategies. The messy moments are training ground, opportunities to learn and grow stronger.

It is hard to have that perspective when things are not working out. In those times, I often find myself echoing the classic prayer from the Gospels, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” Then, it is time to keep moving forward, through the mess to the beauty God is creating.

I have a good friend who, when I tell her I am going through something, always says, “Thank God!” When I mentioned that was not the response I expected she said, “Well, I am glad you are going through. Don’t stop. God is bringing you through to something better.” I confess that is not always easy to receive, but, so far, it has always proven to be true.

So, when the mess arrives, give thanks. Rejoice that you are not alone, that God is bringing you through, and that God is creating something beautiful in and through you.

The post Working Through the Mess appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

I don’t know if I’ve seen any particular scripture reference used more poorly than the one above. In my own life, and in the lives of many others, people used this verse to suggest that God allowed, even caused, bad things to happen in order to accomplish something good.

When my father suddenly abandoned our family when I was 14, numerous people quoted this verse in a strange attempt to comfort me. They kept implying that, if I waited, I would see that God caused this situation so that something better would happen. I can assure you this created anything but comfort. All I could think as I pondered these comments was, “Really, the all-powerful God of the universe could only accomplish a good thing in my life by putting my family through pain?” It didn’t inspire much faith.

As a pastor, I’ve listened as people quoted this verse to others in the midst of grief and tragedy. I am sure it is meant well, but it hardly represents the compassionate God who stands with us in our pain, who is broken-hearted by our suffering, and who grieves the pain of sin and brokenness in the world. It is a cold word that comes all to easily from a “everything happens for a reason” theology. The truth is, sometimes the reason is that there is evil in the world.

At the same time, we cannot simply negate this verse. While we were never meant to use it to dismiss someone’s pain, there is a promise of hope that lies within these words. God does not need bad things to produce good. God is the source of all goodness. However, it is God’s power and goodness that works in the midst of evil, suffering, and pain to redeem every situation. In our times of struggle, God is with us, comforting us, and speaking life over us, even in the face of death.

I see this loving power of God in situations small and large. Sunday, I caught the flu, which is also why I missed Tuesday’s post. I hated being sick, and I was disappointed in the way it disrupted my plans. I missed out on things I truly value. At the same time, left with little I could do, I found time for some much needed rest, time to pray, listen to God, and saturate myself with Scripture. I did not need to be sick to accomplish these things, but the days of sickness were not lost or wasted because the presence of God redeemed them.

I’ve seen God do even bigger things, in more extreme circumstances. I’ve watched cancer survivors become support for others facing the disease. I’ve seen people who walked through the darkness of great grief become light to others traveling a similar path. I’ve watched those who go without provide care for those with less. The list of such occurrences is long, but in each case I know I am watching God work for good in every situation, as people comfort others with the same comfort they received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

Not every circumstance is good, but God works for good in every situation, and it is for our good. This is why we can rejoice always, because God is always near and at work. We may not choose our circumstances, but we can choose faith, hope, and joy in the midst of them, because God is at work and that is always good.

The post Working for Good appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Please forgive the delay posting this morning’s post. I awoke today, with a passion to write something more timely.

I keep watching as hurricane Florence approaches the Carolinas, watching in awe of the size of the storm, and in deep concern for all that is within its path. I am thankful for the downgrade in intensity, but profoundly aware of the damage it will cause. I continue to pray for safety for people who will feel its destructive force: those who stayed in their homes, first responders, members of the military, and others. I pray for people who are displaced, seeking shelter and protection, unsure of what they will experience now, and what they will return to once the storm passes. I pray for communities that will be affected for years to come, long after the national meteorologists and news media move on to other stories and most of us forget about the long road of recovery. I pray for my own family and friends who need safety and direction. I look upon this vast storm and I pray.

This is not the only storm in my prayers this morning. I am also praying for families that are walking through the storm of grief, storms of physical struggles, along with storms in thought and spirit. These are not just generic prayers for nameless people who are struggling, they are prayers for people I love, for whom my heart breaks, and, beyond my prayers, I feel helpless. Storms remind us of our vulnerability and our weakness, yet I offer what strength I can as I hold each person and situation before God.

I know that many in our current culture remain unimpressed with the offering of thoughts and prayers. I realize that they see this as nothing more than words, and sometimes they are right. When we are honest, we know that the offer to pray for others can be the ultimate Christian brush-off, that keeps us from being truly invested in the needs of others. However, that does not mean that all prayer lacks power and significance. Yes, for some, an offering to pray may be an act of avoidance, but for many of us, our prayers are a sign of our deep, and passionate, investment in the lives of those who matter to us, and to God. Praying may be some of the greatest work we do, for while we cannot change every storm people experience, God can.

I’ve been privileged to share in prayer with people who profoundly care about the needs of others. I listen to the deep cries of their hearts, and see the tears that flow from their eyes as they carry those they love to Jesus. They know their weakness, but they trust in God’s strength. There is nothing passive about their prayers, instead, they are putting all of their trust in the Jesus who speaks to storms and they obey him. Like the story in the Bible of the people who tore the roof off of a house to get their friend in front of Jesus, they are committed to carrying the ones they love into his presence, with the unwavering belief that he can make a difference.

Part of what makes today’s thoughts timely to me extends beyond the pending impact of a hurricane. It is also timely because my wife and I are about to go for her two-year, post-cancer check up. At this time in 2016, we were in the midst of a powerful storm. We were weak, and fighting our fears as we faced the struggle ahead. We had faith, but thank God we were not alone. There were people in many places who were fighting with us in the storm.

You may ask, “did those prayers make any difference?” Absolutely! We felt them in countless ways. God gave us peace in the storm, offered miraculous provision and direction, and brought us safely though. I am not denying the gifts of the medical community and others, but there were just too many moments where we saw God move in our circumstances where there was no other explanation than the power of prayer. God responded to the prayers of God’s people, and this was not the only time. God is faithful, and our prayers make a difference.

So, I am going to continue to pray for those facing storms today. I am going to keep believing in God’s ability to be peace in the storm, and speak peace to the storm. I am going to keep tearing the roof off buildings and pressing through whatever walls I need to in order to bring those I love, and the whole world before God. I will be relentless in my petitions, because I know the heart of God, I know the power of the Holy Spirit, and I know that God moves in the mightiest of storms. I will be God’s answer to prayer where I can, and where I am helpless, I will put my full hope in the One who is not. I will continue to trust the Jesus of great compassion, who looks at the immensity of the storm and says, “Peace! Be still!” I pray you will join me.

The post Peace in the Storm appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

It’s been two months since we moved into our new home. While many things are in their proper place, plenty of boxes remain unpacked, and many of our belongings still need a space. Our home is functional, but we are still working around the clutter of boxes and displaced things. Every day brings improvement, however, we will be glad to be completely settled.

Clutter is expected at times, yet it is challenging to our senses and our functionality. Many people claim that it is a sign of creativity and boosts the creative spirit. I do not know how true that idea is, but practically, clutter is a distraction that inhibits our effectiveness. Time spent hunting through the mess to find what we need is wasted. Homeless items can be significant obstacles, and numerous studies reveal that our clutter is a cause for anxiety.

Spiritual clutter is no less significant and distracting. When our spirits are messy, we wrestle to find deep, inner peace. We were not designed to function with such spiritual distractions and we can find difficulty maintaining our sense of centeredness and we impede our growth in faith. As we allow spiritual clutter to accumulate, we invite further difficulties into our faith journey, we lose momentum in spiritual development, and we can easily become discouraged. We need to take time to clean our the clutter in order to have a more dynamic relationship with God.

So, what is this spiritual clutter and how do we get rid of it? While there is no way to create a comprehensive list, there are some common culprits and the methods used to address them reveal ways to deal with other areas as they arise.

Sin – Sin is not a popular word in our modern vocabulary. It sounds condemning, and we prefer to avoid discussing it. Jesus, however, thought it was significant and worthy of our attention. Sin inhibits our relationship with God. When we choose actions that strain our relationship with God, we create unnecessary obstacles to our faith walk, and we hamper our spiritual life. Thankfully, God does not want us to live in our brokenness, but provides us with a way out through the gift of Jesus Christ. Sin does not have to have authority over us. The Bible tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ (1 John 1:9) The solution is as simple as honestly confessing our sin and receiving God’s forgiveness in Jesus.

Self-condemnation – Too often we replay the tapes in our minds that tell us we are not enough. We rehearse our failures and reflect on the voices that speak poorly about us. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. We accept the lies that we are unlovable, too flawed, even rejected by God, but that is not how God sees us. We are created in the image of God and made perfect through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We are deeply loved and desired by God. We may not be perfect, but we are on the path to perfection, and we are worthy because God says so.

Guilt – It is easy to believe that our past failures prevent us from experiencing God’s goodness. The good news is that God does not consult our past to determine our future. Rather, God declares our future in spite of our past. It is never about our ability to measure up. It is always about abiding in Christ and being found in him. Our past is just that, past. Here, in the present, we are new creatures in Christ. The old is gone. The new is come. Carrying our faults and failures is too great of a weight for our shoulders. We cast those things on Christ and walk in the freedom he gives us.

Spiritual Busyness – “If only I was doing more,” we tell ourselves, “then I would be the right kind of Christian.” It is certainly good to challenge ourselves to grow, and to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, but it is not good to judge ourselves by what others do, or by an expectation God did not set for us. Perfect Sunday attendance, participation in every church event, and religious activity are not the litmus test of our faith, neither is how much of the Bible we read or memorize, how long we pray, or how many devotionals we read. We can fill our schedules with a myriad of religious activities and grow no closer to God, while making ourselves less available to what God is actually calling us to do. We need to be wise in the stewardship of our time, dedicating enough to have the resources to grow and serve, while leaving room for our relationship with Jesus. We do not need to prove our faith, we need to live it.

Imagine what would happen in our lives if we removed these, and other, obstacles so the fruit of the Spirit could grow freely in us. Imagine what would happen in the world around us. We were meant to experience the wonder and blessing of a life with Christ, a life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Not only is this possible, it is God’s perfect design for our lives.

So, as we embrace this new day, let’s remove the spiritual clutter to make room for the Spirit’s presence. Together, we can let go of the things that choke the life out of our faith, and we can take hold of the blessings God has for us. As the clutter clears, we will find greater freedom, greater clarity, and a greater life. Cleaning is never easy, but when we are done, it is worth it. So, let’s take the first steps today.

The post Removing Spiritual Clutter – Part 1 appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

The past year was such a season in our lives. Unexpected challenges arose in a steady stream, sometimes coming in multiples. As each one neared its end, I found myself believing, hoping, that the season was over, yet there was still more to come. Many important things, including my writing and this blog, were shelved as my energy and attention were focused on what was happening in our lives.

There were difficulties, but there were also numerous blessings. We were reminded again and again that God had his hand upon us, and that we would make it though. I needed several reminders from my wife along the way that our track record of coming through our difficulties with God’s help was one hundred percent. Even so, keeping close to God was challenging at times, and my own relationship with God suffered at some points. I knew that God was the Strong Tower I was meant to run to and be saved, but exhaustion from what felt like perpetually treading water, and my fears about the future, often weakened my spiritual resolve, and my spiritual disciplines occasionally suffered.

Recently, God reminded me of his faithfulness in the past, and I drew strength and resolve from those victories. I realized that my focus was off and I needed to make an adjustment. Just as my annual eye exam often yields a new set of glasses so I can see clearly, I needed the Holy Spirit to assess and adjust my spiritual lens to sharpen that focus as well. I could not sacrifice what was most meaningful and necessary because I was busy, fearful, and tired. In fact, those very realities mean that I needed even greater focus on what mattered most.

Jesus never sugarcoated our reality. In John 16:33, he says it succinctly and clearly, “In this life you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” These were words I needed to hear and apply to my life. Troubles would be a part of life, but my focus was never meant to be on the difficulties, but on the One who overcame the world, so that I could overcome by obstacles. My focus was meant to be on Christ, and Christ alone.

All this, brings me to today. There are still battles to be fought, fears to subdue, and victories to be won. A season of rest may be on the horizon, or the stream of challenges may still continue. Either way, my focus is on the One who will lead me through. It is time to write and blog again. It is time to laugh and savor life. It is time I am given to be with God, and to become who God is making me to be.

Thank you for your patience as I wandered through my desert. I look forward to our continued conversation here at the cafe. I pray that, if you are going through your own challenging seasons, you will focus on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Don’t let another day go by, trading your joy for worry, or exchanging your peace for confusion. Give your attention to the One who overcame for your sake, and who makes you to be an overcomer in every circumstance!

The post Keeping Focus appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Gravity, it is the weak force of physics that keeps us strongly rooted to the ground and affects everything from the lightest feather to the grandest sun. It is something we depend upon for life to remain ordered, and it is surprisingly difficult to overcome.

We see that difficulty every time we watch a rocket launch. Massive amounts of fuel are needed to create the thrust energy needed to lift the rocket from the ground. At first it barely moves, and slowly develops forward momentum. Still, that momentum would be almost instantly lost if the thrust were cut off. However, once free of the strong pull of the earth’s gravity, very little energy is needed to change direction or increase speed.

Like the rocket that exerts great energy to free itself form the gravitational force pulling it back to earth, we must also exert great energy to break free from the things that pull us back in life. If we stop too soon, or back off from the effort, the pull of the former things will quickly drag us backward.

The Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt. The Bible tells us the lived in subservience for 400 years. Generation after generation being born and dying in slavery. They dreamed, prayed, and cried out for freedom with a vision that one day they would be free from oppression.

Enter Moses, the man God chose to be the tool of God to liberate the Hebrew slaves. The story is lengthy, but as God moved powerfully through him, Pharaoh relented and set the people free. In the process everyone saw the supreme power of God, and rejoiced that they were delivered from their bondage.

Early in their journey away from Egypt they encountered an obstacle, Pharaoh was coming after them and they were trapped. Having seen the great power of God to set them free so recently, you would expect their faith to be high as they called out to God to deliver them again. Instead, the gravity of their previous life took hold and they began to complain to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die? We were better off as slaves in Egypt!” It was a complaint spoken repeatedly in spite of God’s continued deliverance.

Jesus’ apostles were not immune to this pull. After all he taught them; after three years with him; after seeing him manifest the power of God and then doing the same themselves, the shock of his death led them to return to fishing, the vocation many of them possessed prior to his call to follow him.

We are not immune either. The Psalmist said, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to in and are saved.” Yet, all too often, when the struggle hits, we run the other direction, right back toward where we came from. It happens in individual lives, in families, and in churches. When faced with adversity, unknown outcomes, and obstacles that seem dramatically bigger than our abilities, we try to fall back to what we once knew, before we were walking in the Spirit. We try to solve things in our own strength, or we try to run and hide. The pull of what we knew and where we were is a powerful force to overcome.

Of course, adversity, unknown outcomes, and substantial obstacles are also the foundation for great adventures. They are often the source of grand tales and the stuff of legends. It is when we push to overcome the pull of our past and our fears, we break free from what holds us back and are able to soar with Christ! Imagine the possibilities and discoveries that await us when we break free and pursue the adventure of a lifetime with Jesus. Let that nugget sink in and give you a little more hope, and power to persevere.

In my next post we will look at some forces that draw us back. What do you find tends to draw you back from living the adventure with Jesus?

The post Gravity appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Darkness never overcomes light. Walk into a dark room, turn on a light, and instantly the darkness is gone. There is no great battle where darkness might actually push back the light. Where light is shining, there is no darkness. In fact, darkness takes its definition from light. It is the absence of light. Light, however, is not the absence of darkness. The relationship between light and darkness is all about the light.

I recently took a nasty fall because I tried to navigate our Worship Center at night, in the dark. I’ve walked there in darkness before and felt confident I could do it again. Unfortunately, I forgot that we rearranged the platform for our children’s Christmas program, and was completely surprised to find myself tripping over it. The first question everyone asked me was, “Why didn’t you turn a light on?” It is a very reasonable question. The act of throwing a switch would have prevented all the bumps, cuts, and bruises that I received. You can be sure I will not try that again.

Notice, though, that nobody said, “Wow, it’s too bad the darkness held back the light and prevented you from seeing the staging obstacle before you fell over it.” That’s because it is clear that the darkness did not prevent the light from illuminating my path. I failed to let the light dispel the darkness. Sound familiar?

John makes it clear that the eternal Word, Jesus Christ, was born into our world to be the Light of the world. Even more importantly, he reminds us that what is true for physical light is also true for spiritual light – the darkness does not overcome it! It is easy in a world full of evil, injustice, and negativity to believe that darkness is winning. We may even be tempted to think it has already won. Fortunately, that is a lie the darkness tells to keep us from seeking the Light and letting him shine through us into every dark corner of the world.

Darkness cannot hide from the light, and it cannot overcome it. Despite its best efforts to deceive us, the truth remains – victory belongs to the light!

As we continue to celebrate the wonder of Christmas, we must not forget the radical truth that Jesus did not come into the world to merely be a nice person with some kind thoughts and words about love. No, Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost, to destroy the works of the devil, and to lead the world into the ever increasing light of his glory!

Christmas is so much more than a sentimental story of a baby. It is a radical declaration that the kingdom of light has come, and it is time for the darkness to flee!

The post The Kingdom of Light has Come appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.