Leaders—especially spiritual leaders—can have a hard time remaining humble and accepting dependence on Christ. But dependence is vital to our spiritual health.
Heart Checks Are Non-Negotiable
Come All Ye Weary: Grace-Filled Parenting for Christmas
As a parent to two littles, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by—well, any number of things. Finding the perfect traditions to ensure everyone focuses on Christ this year can feel like another item on the to-do list, another way we’re failing to live up as parents, Christians, and ministers of the gospel. To make it better this year, our little family is trying to keep the focus on simple and small ways to weave Christmas traditions into our everyday lives.
Two Lists Every Family Should Be Making Right Now
COVID-19 has created a once-in-a-lifetime situation that finds many families with less on their calendars and more time at home with one another. While we do not know how much longer this will last, we all expect it to end at some point. Before it does, however, perhaps families would benefit from sitting down and making two lists:
Wit and Wisdom
I once saw a comment by Jon Tyson—pastor of Trinity Grace Church in Manhattan—regarding the prodigious creative output of our culture. His words struck me as truthful. "So much content; so little wisdom."
Most Americans, it strikes me, are content with cleverness and snark. And, in our ever-increasing desire to appear more nonchalant and funny, something is lost. That something, it seems to me, is wisdom.
Embracing the Beauty of Change
It is said that no one likes change except a wet baby, but I disagree. We embrace and celebrate all kinds of changes—graduations, weddings, the birth of a baby, a new car or home purchase. But sometimes, changes can be painful, too—a loved one passes away, a friend moves to another state, or we experience the devastation of a major hurricane.
Sometimes, we experience the same sense of loss and pain when changes are made in our church. But could John 15:1-8 help us navigate our grief? Could we ask the Father to prune away the dead branches in our church so we could once again produce healthy fruit?
Go Silent, Go Dark
Although it's long passed, I want to share with you a practice my husband and I use on Good Friday to deepen our observance of the day. We call it “Go Silent; Go Dark.” It is especially meaningful on the day that we remember the crucifixion of Christ, but it is also a practice that can be implemented at any time of the year to slow your life down, heighten your focus on spiritual things, and increase your openness to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit.
Journaling for Your Spiritual Health
If you've ever tried it, you likely already know about the benefits of journaling. Every day, we have these experiences with potential for strengthening our walk with God. However, we're often too close to the experiences to process their impact. Capturing these lessons and reflections on paper creates a sort of snapshot allowing us to explore how God is at work.
Even if you’ve never practiced journaling for spiritual reflection before, we've got a few prompts to help you get there.