Worship in the Old Testament
Worship isn’t about what moves us — it’s about who God is. The Psalms make that clear. They give voice to grief, celebration, trust, awe. Lament doesn’t cancel faith. Petition doesn’t crowd out praise. Worship rooted in God’s holiness and steadfast love isn’t forced or flashy. It’s honest, expectant, reverent. That kind of worship still reshapes hearts — ours and the generations watching.
Created for His Presence
We weren’t created for shallow moments or vague spiritual vibes. We were created to know the Presence of God — not as a concept, but as a person.
How To Know the Mind of Jesus
Knowing Jesus isn’t about collecting facts. It’s about learning his mind, his ways, his heartbeat. Scripture becomes a means of connection, not just comprehension.
Nobody Is Above Serving Others
Jesus didn’t come to be served but to serve — and he calls us to do the same. No title, platform or gifting exempts anyone from the call to serve.
Embarking On A Christian Pilgrimage Through Art
What if the antidote to our word-weary faith isn’t more information, but awe? In “Heading Home,” philanthropist Roberta Ahmanson leads a pilgrimage through cathedrals that once preached through gold, glass and grandeur. Her mission? To awaken a church dulled by screens and sermons, reminding us that beauty still speaks. Maybe, just maybe, what we need is to look up again — and be changed.
Faith Comes From Revelation, Not Logic
Faith isn’t built on airtight arguments or intellectual gymnastics. It’s not something you reason your way into. The most devoted believers don’t talk about logic winning them over. They talk about revelation.
How to Fast
Prayer and fasting go hand in hand, unlocking a level of spiritual power Jesus himself described as limitless. Fasting silences doubt, humbles the soul and makes space for faith to rise. When we fast, we realign with God, shifting our reliance from logic to trust. Some breakthroughs require more than words — they require a heart so attuned to God that his power moves unhindered. What if fasting is the missing piece?
The Growth of Productivity and the Fall of Stillness
Our world glorifies productivity, yet silence is where we meet God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, ‘Teaching about Christ begins in silence,’ but how often do we truly stop? We measure progress, check off boxes and chase efficiency — but what if our striving drowns out God’s voice? Maybe the most vital thing isn’t doing more, but learning to be still and attend to his presence.
Religious Pilgrimages Are Back In A Big Way
People are walking again. Not just down the street or through the park, but across countries, over mountains, into places thick with history and humming with the prayers of those who came before. The Camino. Mecca. Lourdes. The sacred routes that once defined devotion are alive again, drawing seekers from every corner of the world. What’s behind the resurgence? And what does it say about our hunger for something more?
The Intimacy and Mystery of ‘The Secret Place’
The secret place with God forms identity, heals wounds and deepens intimacy. It’s where heartbreak becomes transformation — where rejection refines, not defines.
Be My Companion
The drive is short—just five minutes—from my house.
On the way, I look at the Christmas decorations in front of the houses: poinsettias in ivory and crimson, lights in multicolor and white, a manger scene in the middle of a lawn, adult-sized toy soldiers heralding walkers on the sidewalk with stationary trumpets and bright, merry eyes.
I love it. It feels like goodness. Like possibility. Like hope.
the Depths and the Shallows
I delayed writing this because I feared my writing would masquerade as action. And action, not talk, is what is required of me now.
“Do not stay in the shallows,” He says, and I wonder if processing His words will help me do so: leave the shallows and go to the deeper place where my heart is one with His.
I am sitting at a window near the front of the house where I can see the giant rose bush through the glass. Up at the top, one rose opens to the December sun. Beneath its peach petals are thick flowerless branches armored with thorns. I study them, remembering the feeling of falling in a nest of rose bushes as a child—and the precarious dance I do as an adult in the spring and summer, deadheading stalks so more flowers can bloom.
Because Our Longing Is Ageless
Today, I am not at ease with myself, which is the opposite of what you hear people my age and older say.
I am supposed to say, “I’ve never felt more like myself. I have settled into a newfound freedom as I care less about what people think of me and am less tied down by the attitude of striving.” And I usually feel that way.
But I resonate with both mindsets: I care less about what people think of me and feel good about balancing work, rest and play. But still, I feel listless and confused. There is an edge I think I am missing.
Perhaps I have become complacent? Where has my desperation for God gone?
Endearments of Morning
I sit on my bed, thinking about light and how I can describe hope in words.
Another gift, how morning comes. The house still, birds chirping outside, swooping to drink and dunk their beaks in the water bowl. September air in northern California—crisp, with a hint of cold on my skin when I push out the windows.
The sun's light blankets one tree branch in the backyard, the other in shade from a taller tree’s branches overhead. Sunlight and shadow. Undulations of light in stillness. The light moves, and the earth rotates.
Taking That Leap of Faith
Taking a leap of faith isn’t about one audacious jump — it’s about the small, daily steps of trust and obedience that prepare us for the moment we’re called to move. Peter didn’t step onto the water on impulse; his trust had been building with every encounter with Jesus. When the time came, his faith had already been forged. What if the leap you’re afraid to take is one you’ve been preparing for all along?
Hearing God’s Call in a Noisy World
Hearing God’s voice isn’t easy in a world filled with distractions, but his call has always been disruptive, personal and life-altering.
Fill Your Life With Wonder and Delight
Childhood wonder often fades as life’s hardships take hold, but joy and delight remain central to God’s plan for us. Every baby’s laugh, painted sunset and shared hug reflect his love. Slowing down to notice these gifts helps us step into the fullness of life he designed — one marked by childlike faith, meaningful connection and the beauty of the everyday. Joy isn’t lost; it’s waiting to be embraced.
David Brooks’ Journey To Faith
David Brooks’ spiritual journey, as detailed in his essay “The Shock of Faith: It’s Nothing Like I Thought It Would Be,” is a tender portrait of longing and discovery. The New York Times columnist describes moving from agnosticism to a faith fueled not by arguments or certainty but by awe-filled moments — a mountain vista, a cathedral, a subway car — where the divine broke through the mundane. It’s a story of yearning, wonder and the profound beauty of being drawn toward something greater.
Celebrate Christmas Your Way
Christmas can look different for every family. Some find meaning in the stillness of a quiet morning, others in the joy of serving a neighbor, or the glow of shared traditions. However you celebrate, there’s room for the unique ways God wired you to honor the season. Let this year be one where your family finds joy and connection in the simple and sacred moments that reflect Christ’s love.
Choose Hard-Earned Joy Instead of Cynicism
True joy doesn’t avoid the heaviness of life — it embraces it, journeys through it and emerges on the other side, fuller and brighter. Rob Bell calls cynicism “lazy,” a superficial retreat from life’s complexities. Joy, by contrast, takes courage. It acknowledges the heartbreak and injustice of this world but refuses to be undone by them. Instead, it chooses gratitude for what’s fleeting and beautiful, savoring every precious moment while it lasts.