Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 8: Resting in Christ’s Righteousness

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 8: Resting in Christ’s Righteousness

June 8th. Day 8 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Resting in Christ’s Righteousness.


And about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...


“The gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and always maintains for me. {Romans 5:1-2, 1 John 2:1-2} I never have to do a moment’s labor to gain or maintain my justifies status before God! {Romans 4:5, Hebrews 4:3, Matthew 11:28} Freed from the burden of such a task, I now can put my energies to enjoying God, pursing holiness, and ministering God’s amazing grace to others.”


He goes on to say...


“The gospel also reminds me that my righteous standing with God always holds firm regardless of my performance, because my standing is based solely on the work of Jesus and not mine. {Romans 5:18-19} On my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God’s unrelenting grace toward me. {Romans 5:20-21, 1 John 2:1-2} On my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness and not mine.”


His righteousness covers us completely. It not only saves, it keeps. Safety and security are found in Him.


When I read and studied this reason to rehearse the gospel, I kept thinking about the description on the back cover of my Bible study, CALLED (also the transcript of the trailer)...


It’s not about chasing. It's about following. It's not about going. It's about staying. It's not about us. It's about Him. It's not a "how to." It's "who through." It doesn't say, "I can do this." It says, "He'll get me through this." It's not about shining bright. It's about reflecting His light. It's not about aiming to please. It's about pleasing the King...


To please Him, to honor Him, to love and serve Him, we simply have to answer the call to walk with Him daily. Then and only then can we walk into all the places He is calling us to go.


Yet another reason to rehearse the gospel daily — to remind ourselves to rest in the righteousness of Christ. It is our saving power, and it is our staying power.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 7: Freedom from Sin’s Power

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 7: Freedom from Sin’s Power

June 7th. Day 7 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.

Today’s reason — Freedom from Sin’s Power.

And about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...

“As long as I am stricken with the guilt of my sins, I will be captive to them, and will often find myself re-committing the very sins about which I feel most guilty. The devil is well aware of this fact; he knows that if he can keep me tormented by sin’s guilt, he can dominate me with sin’s power.”

He goes on to say...

“The gospel, however slays sin at this root point and thereby nullifies sin’s power over me. The forgiveness of God, made known to me through the gospel, liberates me from sin’s power because it liberates me first from its guilt {Romans 6:14}; And preaching such forgiveness to myself is a practical way of putting the gospel into operation as a notifier of sins power in my life.”

When I read Vincent’s words above and the words of Paul in the book of Romans, which is the very inspired Word of God breathed out by Him and penned by men for you and me, I cannot help but be fully convinced of this verse found in the Gospel of John...

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” ~ John 8:36

That word, indeed, is such a sealer of truth isn’t it? No questions asked. No ability to debate or argue a different point. Indeed. Not just lip service or a pretty thing to say. Not only in word, but in DEED. It has been done and accomplished. It is finished!

I saw an article recently by Clarence Haynes Jr. that summed up what it means to have freedom in Christ this way...

Having freedom in Christ means we have freedom from:

The Bondage of Sin (Our Captivity)

The Penalty of Sin (Our Eternity)

The Guilt and Shame of Sin (Our Vitality)

But Christ has not only freed us FROM these things, He has freed us TO these:

The Freedom to Live (Our Capacity)

The Freedom to Serve (Our Activity)

We are free indeed! Yet another reason to rehearse the gospel daily.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 6: Sufficiency in the Gospel

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 6: Sufficiency in the Gospel

June 6th. Day 6 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Sufficiency in the Gospel.


And about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...


“The gospel serves as the means by which God daily constructs into what He wants me to beans also serves as the channel through which He gives me my inheritance every day of my Christian life. {Acts 20:32} Hence, it could be said that the gospel contains all that I need “for life and godliness.“ {2 Peter 1:3} It is for this reason that God tells me to be steadfastly entrenched in the gospel at all times and never to allow myself to be moved from there. {Colossians 1:23} The mere fact that God tells me to stay inside the gospel at all times must mean that He intends to supply all of my needs as long as I am abiding in that place of luxury. {Colossians 2:8-10, 2 Peter 1:3}”


This reason to rehearse the gospel daily had me thinking about the whole concept of abiding. How do we simply stay when so many other things attempt to pull us away by leading us astray. False gospels and other narratives vie for our attention and our devotion every single day, and yet the basis of the Gospel of Jesus Christ urges us to simply stay because it is the only way.


Another word for stay is REMAIN. The word nerd in me got to thinking about this word with “main” as the root and “re” as the prefix. Keeping the MAIN thing (Jesus Christ dying on a cross for you and me and then conquering death to set us free) the MAIN thing is the very thing and the only thing that holds us and keeps us rooted and established — immovable in our faith. So in order to “re”main, we must do what “re” implies — continual, again, over and over, every single day.


Rehearsing the gospel daily provides us with the repetition needed to remain in Him. He is our all sufficiency. Practicing His Presence is our cure for gospel deficiency.


So “re”mind yourself today to “re”hearse the gospel daily so you can “re”main in Him completely because within in the gospel we find our sufficiency.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 5: A Cure for Distrust

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 5: A Cure for Distrust

June 5th. Day 5 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.

Today’s reason — A Cure for Distrust.

And about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...

“Every time I deliberately disobey a command of God, it is because I am in that moment doubtful as to God’s true intentions in giving me that command. Does He really have my best interest at heart? Or is He withholding something from me that I would be better off having? {Genesis 3: 4-6} such questions, whether consciously asked or not, lie underneath every act of disobedience.

However, the gospel changes my view of God’s commandments, in that it helps me to see the heart of the Person from whom those commandments come. When I begin my train of thought with the gospel, I realize that if God loved me enough to sacrifice His Son’s life for me, then He must be guided by that same love when He speaks His commandments to me. Viewing God’s commands and prohibitions in this light, I can see them for what they really are: friendly signposts from a Heavenly Father who is seeking to love me through each directive, so that I might experience His very fullness forever. {Deut. 5:29}

When controlling my thoughts as described above, the gospel cures me of my suspicion of God, thereby disposing me to walk more trustingly on the path of obedience to His commands.”

So, basically, when we disobey (choose to go our own way and ignore His), our less than obedient actions speak distrust to the most Trustworthy Person we will ever know! Oh the irony that feeds our hypocrisy. We can say we love the Lord all day long, but if we don’t obey His commands, do we really love Him? Do we really trust Him?

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” John‬ ‭14:15‬

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬

So, if you are struggling to trust Him, might I encourage you to rehearse the gospel daily. It is a proven cure for distrust. In a world full of voices vying for our attention and an enemy at large seeking to confuse our every intention, don’t place trusting men over God. Don’t believe those who do not love you over the One who loves you with an unending, unconditional love. Don’t just blindly believe what others say about God, believe what God says about Himself and discover how He has and will continue to prove it by promises and prophesies fulfilled.

Open the Word, read the gospel, rehearse it daily. It is the cure for distrust.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 4: Transformed by Glory

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 4: Transformed by Glory

June 4th. Day 4 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians.”


Today’s reason — Transformed by Glory.


“The glory of God is the most powerful agent of transformation available to mankind. It is so powerful that it transforms those who merely gaze upon it. The Apostle Paul gives personal testimony concerning this stunning fact. ‘That we all,’ he says, ‘beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.’ {2 Cor. 3:18} From Paul’s testimony I learned that if I wish to become all that God wants me to be, and I must behold his glory each day.”


Milton Vincent, author of this primer, offers further insight on practical application of “beholding the Glory of God in order to be transformed by it” as he has this to say about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily...


“But where do I find God’s glory to behold? Indeed, the glory of God is revealed throughout all of Creation {Psalm 19:1}, But the Bible indicates that, outside of heaven, the glory of God and it’s thickest density dwells inside the gospel. It is for this reason that the gospel is described in Scripture as ‘the gospel of the glory of Christ’ and ‘the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.’ {2 Corinthians 4:4} Consequently, as I habitually gaze upon the glory of the Lord revealed in the gospel, I can know that actual deposits of God‘s very glory are attaching themselves to my person and transforming me from one level of glory to another. {2 Cor. 3:18} This transformation is deep and abiding, and unfailingly displays the glory of God to others. {2 Cor. 3:13}”


Wow! Talk about a power packed, and somewhat abstract, reason to rehearse the gospel daily! I’ve always been intrigued by the concept of God’s glory. The thoughts I have when thinking about it in a physical form, is when Moses had to hide in the cleft of the rock to allow the glory of God to pass in front of Him. {Exodus 33 & 34} Oftentimes, it is described as a blinding light or a cloud or a pillar of fire. It manifests in God’s presence…

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 3: My Daily Protection

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 3: My Daily Protection

June 3rd. Day 3 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians.”

Today’s reason — My Daily Protection.

“As long as I am inside the gospel, I experience all the protection I need from the powers of evil that rage against me. It is for this reason that the Bible tells me to “take up“ {Eph. 6:13} and “put on” {Eph. 6:11} the whole armor of God; and the pieces Of armor it tells me to put on are all merely synonyms for the gospel. Translated literally from the Greek, they are: “… the salvation… the justification… truth… the gospel of peace… the faith… [and the]… word of God.” {Eph.6} What are all these expressions but various ways of describing the gospel? Therefore, if I wish to stand victorious in Jesus I must do as the songwriter suggest and “put on the gospel armor, each piece to put on with prayer.” {“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus,” written by George Duffield, Jr.}

Milton Vincent, author of this primer, concludes this “protective” reason to rehearse the gospel daily with these words...

“That God would tell me to “take up” and “put on” this gospel armor alerts me to the fact that I do not automatically come into each day protected by the gospel. In fact, these commands imply that I am vulnerable to defeat and injury unless I seize upon the gospel and armor myself with it from head to toe. And what better way is there to do this than to preach the gospel to myself and to make it the obsession of my heart throughout each day?”

For me personally, today’s reason is a powerful one, especially as the mom of four (very active and very adventurous) boys, and in light of the ever increasing and never ceasing corruption that threatens to take out their generation and those that will follow. It is a corruption fed by the enemy’s lies and led by evil in disguise.

Becoming a child of God by trusting in Jesus does indeed “save” us; however, waking with Him daily by spending time in His Word and then applying what we learn, keeps us “safe” (protected) while on the battlefield of this world.

It is a choice to DAILY be ready for battle — to “take up” and “put on” the FULL armor of God, each piece vital for protection.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 2: The Power of God

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 2: The Power of God

June 2nd. Day 2 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians.”

Today’s reason — The Power of God.

“Outside of heaven, the power of God in its highest density is found inside the gospel. This must be so, for the Bible twice describes the gospel as “the power of God.” {Rom. 1:16} Nothing else in all of Scripture is ever described in this way, except for the Person of Jesus Christ. {1 Cor. 1:24} Such a description indicates that the gospel is not only powerful, but that it is I the ultimate entity in which God’s power resides in does its greatest work.”

Milton Vincent, author of this primer, goes on to say...

“Indeed, God‘s power is seen in erupting volcanos, in the unimaginably hot boil of our massive sun, and in the lightning speed of a recently discovered star seen streaking through the heavens at 1.5 million miles per hour. Yet in Scripture such wonders are never labeled, “the power of God.“ How powerful, then, must the gospel be that it would merit such a title! And how great is the salvation it could accomplish in my life, if I would only embrace it by faith {Heb. 4:2} and give it a central place in my thoughts each day!”

So, if you, like me, struggle at times to fathom the immense and intense POWER of an all powerful God, let me encourage you to remind yourself daily through the all sufficiency of His Word which is sustained by the Good News of the Gospel Jesus Christ. It is in and through the Gospel that God’s POWER is made PERFECT as it relates to His PLAN for you and me.

Jesus Christ, to Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, made a way for you and me to be reconciled to God, the Father.

He is a HOLY God, INFINITE and more POWERFUL than our finite and feeble minds will ever comprehend.

His holiness requires a boldness of power — to redeem, reconcile, and restore...

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 1: A Daily Walk

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 1: A Daily Walk

I’m pretty passionate about the transformational power of a daily walk with God. Why? Because I’ve lived it and witnessed it, and I’ve watched how resistance to it and running from it have opposite results and actually give sin power.

Sin separates us from God. The Gospel makes a way for us to be reconciled to God and set free from that sin that separates.

It’s powerful. It’s transformational.

That’s why when I woke up this morning, I remembered going through this little book last June and sharing some thoughts everyday along the way. It was such an encouragement to me then, so I decided to do it again — as a reminder and to combat sin.

I pray this “blog series” throughout the month of June might be as encouraging to you as it is to me as I simply share some of the “whys” behind the Christian “walk.”

What is so powerful about reading God’s Word DAILY?

Throughout this series, I’ll be referencing this amazing resource used in my devotional time in the mornings — a thin little book, less than 100 pages, written by Milton Vincent, entitled, “A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love.”

First of all, I highly recommend it, from its format to its function, it takes the reader through the “whys” and in so doing, strengthens the “walk.” Secondly, I’d love to take you through the first section with me (daily throughout the month of June).

We can engage in conversation in the comments about these 30 reasons why we should rehearse the gospel daily.

“The gospel isn’t one class among many you’ll attend during your life as a Christian – the gospel is the whole building that all the classes take place in! Rightly approached, all the topics your study and focus on as a believer will be offered to you ‘within the walls’ of the glorious gospel.” ~ CJ Mahaney, “The Cross Centered Life”

So, the first “why” to our “walk” we’ll discuss — It is a DAILY need. We must walk “IN” it as we walk it “OUT” daily.

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Post Mother’s Day Post (because it’s in hindsight lessons are learned the most)

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Post Mother’s Day Post (because it’s in hindsight lessons are learned the most)

News flash, mommas, we are not perfect. In fact, we’re far from it. And quite honestly, our kids aren’t looking for our perfection, but rather our intention in the right direction.

In the first picture, we’re all standing tall (some more than others) with the effects of age taking center stage — height for the boys coupled with the depth of their voice, while Steve and I have aged with wrinkles and greys and in a few more subtle ways.

In the second picture, we’re all sitting and they were all small. And just as we were on the same level that day, we were together frequently, and we functioned as a team rather succinctly.

But more than the obvious differences in these two photos are the character differences. Can you spot those?

Because that’s where it’s at. That’s what matters most. We will never be perfect, but we’ll always be perfectly positioned to learn and grow.

The years between these photos bring meaning to this post. The differences are far more than physical, and this momma is grateful for the lessons learned in hindsight.

It’s never too late to learn, and we will never stop growing and maturing in our God-given roles and responsibilities.

They see us trying. So, keep trying, momma, and never give up. Sitting or standing, small or tall, the heart lessons are the hardest to learn, but they’ll outlast the physical differences well beyond the wrinkles and greys and passing Mother’s Days.

So, stay the course, and glance back every now and then, not to be sad they’re grown, but to be glad they’re known — seen and loved. Take time to spot the differences, notice the growth, and celebrate the change.

Look back to keep going forward. Find security in the seasons of maturity and beauty in the hindsight.

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” ~ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:12‬

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Disconnect to Reconnect. Unplug to Plug In.

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Disconnect to Reconnect. Unplug to Plug In.

Social media.

The bane of my online existence.

Just because I’m writing about it today doesn’t mean I’m digging it most days.

In fact, there are days, more often than not, that I just want to be an in person person.

I don’t have the time or energy to scroll and play the game, and yet I know, in this day and age, it is a big part of connection with others. Lately, however, God has been emphasizing the “part“ of “part of.”

Thus the reason, my online presence may be a bit absent some days.

And guess what, that’s OK! You know why?

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The In Betweens Can Lead to Greater Things

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The In Betweens Can Lead to Greater Things

If God has called you to it, He will see you through it.

Lots happened between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. The cries from the crowd went from “save us” to “crucify him,” and yet in the instability of the in between, Jesus stayed the course, trusting God for the greater thing.

He was a man on a mission, to carry out His Father’s vision — a plan for eternity that would impact humanity.

He stayed the course.

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A Heavy Holy Week (The Weight of the Wait)

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A Heavy Holy Week (The Weight of the Wait)

Can you feel it? The weight of sin weighing more and more heavily on this world we live in. What used to seem subtle now feels flagrant. Pure evil is on display in blatantly obvious ways. It is wearying, because it is so weighty.

But take heart, heaviness leads to holiness.

Those who cried of “Hosanna,” which literally means “save us,” on Palm Sunday, shouted “Crucify Him” days later. It’s a heaviness too hard to explain, and yet it leads to a holiness that will forever remain. He sealed the deal with a empty tomb at the end of a heavy, Holy Week.

The weight of the wait during Holy Week leads to the weight of Glory when our joy will be made complete. Jesus waited through the last week of His earthly life with the weight of His Father’s plan so heavy on His heart because it was all in His hands.

The triumphal entry on Palm Sunday led to the triumphal victory on Resurrection Sunday. Jesus’s final days. His cruel journey to the cross. His passionate plea with his final breath, “Father, forgive them.” His temporary time in the tomb giving way to eternal life because He triumphed over it all, once and for all, to deliver us all from sin, forgiving us for what had been harshly put on Him, reconciling us to the Father once again.

A story so heavy. A story so Holy. A story our finite minds will never fully comprehend, and yet our heavy hearts experience the weight of the wait again and again.

His sacrifice paid the ultimate price to lift that eternal weight off you and me. He set us free, if we just believe.

Same story. Same outcome. Same power. Same HOPE. A story that was foretold, fulfilled, retold, and revealed — giving NEW LIFE & HOPE to all who believe and are set free from sin.

Heavy and Holy. A wait in which the weight of our sin gives way to the weight of Glory.

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What Matters Most

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What Matters Most

What matters most?

My top three, in this order specifically:

My God. My family. My friends.

Things down the line from those have to come behind what matters most.

It all matters, but it can’t all matter most.

So, let’s keep the main thing the main thing, and the main thing will take care of the other things.

I’ve been overthinking ALOT of things lately. So much so, I’ve been overthinking my overthinking!

I’ve been plagued by people’s opinions, persuaded by popular opinion, and perplexed by my own opinions.

What He wants > what I want.

What He commands > what others demand.

When we lose sight of what matters most, we get tripped up by the lesser things because we’re not being equipped by the main thing.

Let’s keep our eyes FIXED on the main thing. He’s the only thing that can FIX the lesser things.

And guess what? Overthinking anything fixes nothing!

So, focus on what matters most — God, family, friends, in that order, keep them close. I promise you’ll see the difference it makes, and find clarity in any steps you need to take to keep the main thing the main thing.

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His Word > our words. His Truth > our truth.

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His Word > our words. His Truth > our truth.

I love the book of Ephesians. Today I spent time in Chapter 4, and it made me think ALOT about our words in light of His Word and our tone in light of His Truth. I encourage you to read it, too. I promise it is more powerful than these words I’m about to share with you.

Allie Beth Stuckey put it this way, “It goes back to pride. We think we are more loving than God, we think we are wiser than God, we think we are more compassionate and empathetic than God, we think we know truth better than God. It’s all about exchanging the God of scripture for the god of self.”

When we think we know better than God, and we abandon His Truth, we will inevitably give in to the deception of the enemy. We will buy into the lie by constantly asking the question the enemy himself asked Eve in the garden, “Did God really say?”

He tries to trick us into thinking our tone is more important than speaking the truth.

He tries try to tempt us to believe our words show others love by coddling and comforting them, even if our words condone their sin.

We’re more concerned about how something sounds than what is being said.

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Only Then & All for Him

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Only Then & All for Him

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” ~ Joshua 1:8


We can’t obey everything in it if we aren’t in it everyday — Continually and consistently in the Word, not casually and conveniently to receive a word. God wants to speak to us every single day in an ongoing and active way — not just to tickle our ears but to transform our lives.

Two little words in this verse positioned perfectly to perfectly position us in complete submission and total surrender.

ONLY THEN.

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The Short-sighted Vision of Woke-ism and Why We Must Stay Awake for Heaven’s Sake

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The Short-sighted Vision of Woke-ism and Why We Must Stay Awake for Heaven’s Sake

I know I write about this ALOT, and I apolog... Actually, no, I’m not sorry for sharing what I do, because, in my humble opinion, anything less would be the most unloving, hateful thing I could do. To withhold the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ from a world in desperate need of Him would speak louder than these words I’m about to share. It would say, “I don’t care.” And I do...so very very much!


So, in light of that eternal perspective, I offer this plea...


It’s time to wake up. And if you are awake, it’s time to stay awake and shake others awake. Woke-ism is on the move and it’s coming for me and you. It’s a game the enemy is playing, with rules governed by the lies he is saying, and fueled by the evil he is displaying...


And many are buying into the lies, playing the game, going along to get along, letting evil have its reign.


I came across this video series by Pastor Neil Stewart of Christ Covenant Church in Greensboro, NC, and quite honestly, he says all the things my eyes have been seeing, my spirit has been sensing, and my mind has been discerning (and he says them much more eloquently and concisely than I ever could)!


The series is entitled “Living Against the Darkness,” and this video (Be Woke) is all about the anti-Gospel methods used in counterproductive agenda of woke-ism…

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Stop the Scroll if it’s not Feeding your Soul.

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Stop the Scroll if it’s not Feeding your Soul.

Stop the scroll if it’s not feeding your soul.


If scrolling has you stressed or depressed, I’d love to offer you two simple words, followed by two more that lead to far more...

Just stop. Then start.

Stop scrolling. Start seeking.

Stop aimlessly and mindlessly reading content that leaves you discontent, and start reading THE WORD. God’s Word. It doesn’t return void (Isaiah 55:11), nor does it leave you feeling devoid.

I know there are accounts you follow that encourage and equip you with Biblical truths, and that is great.

But don’t just snack on sound bites, when you can feast of the Bread of Life.

We must stop the scroll if our feeds are weakening our souls. Our thumbs may be strengthened, but our spirits are weakened.

When God’s Word is read, we are not only fed, we’re nourished instead, and our spirit strengthened while the enemy is weakened.

Greg Boone of Look Up Lodge, says, “The absence of weight gives the illusion of strength.” I love how this pertains to and parallels this spiritual analogy of a well-nourished soul.


Scrolling, liking, commenting, and sharing may give the appearance of being “strong in the Lord” or “well versed in His Word,” but if we are not truly IN the Word, we will never truly live it OUT in the world. It’s merely an illusion or facade.

The absence of true connection with God (because of online connection with others) can give an illusion of intimacy. In time, however, it can lead to a misconnection with others and a disconnection with God.

Webster defines “misconnection” as “a wrong or faulty connection.” I define it this way: “online connection with others that causes a real life disconnection with God”... which makes us all desperately MISS CONNECTION with God!

“Connect with God first so you can connect with others best” has become a mantra of sorts for the way I want to live life and encourage other believers to live as well. But actions speak louder than words, and at times, I can find online connection with others coming before my connection with my the One who is above all others.

And it leaves me feeling frustrated and deflated because snacking on sound bites has me desperately craving more of Christ.

Less of me. Less of the world. Less scrolling.

Stop the scroll if it’s not feeding your soul.

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Fact. Faith. Feeling. What’s Drivin’ Your Train?

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Fact. Faith. Feeling. What’s Drivin’ Your Train?

Fact. Faith. Feeling.


What’s drivin’ your train?


Let’s face it, feelings are fickle. On any given day, we can be up or we can be down. While our feelings are real, they are not always right. And if we allow those real, but sometimes wrong, feelings to rule our wayward hearts and fuel our forward motion, we may very well be headed for derailment!


That’s why I love this illustration I learned in college when I was involved with Cru. A train has an engine, freight cars, and a caboose. The engine, the one driving the train, must be fueled by FACT. As a Christian, a follower of Christ, who holds fast to a Biblical Worldview, FACT (Absolute and Objective Truth) comes from the Word of God. Period. There is no other substitute for truth.


That fact must be followed by FAITH (the freight cars), close behind the engine (FACT), Our faith must be pulled and drawn by the Word of God. There must be something to have “faith in” before faith can by attached to and led by that fact.


And finally, FEELINGS. Ah, those fickle FEELINGS. Sometimes I wish we could simply uncouple them and leave them in the train yard, but remember, they’re real...and as long as they are in their proper place, behind the FACT of God’s Word that drives the train and our FAITH in that truth that allows it to reign, then those FEELINGS can remain. As the caboose. The end. They are just along for the ride.


We must have a high view of God and a humble view of ourselves by believing what His Word says about His holy, righteous, and unchanging character as it relates to our sinful, fickle, and forever changing nature. When we do, we can let Him lead us, and that frees us to simply follow, without fear because He will never fail us or derail us.

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deCONstruction: Does it Always Lead to Destruction?

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deCONstruction: Does it Always Lead to Destruction?

Deconstruction. I hesitate even using the word, because it is definitely a term widely used by many people on both sides of the conversations that surround it. And because it’s so widely used, it’s honestly also widely confused because it’s often misused.


Which is why in this post, I pick apart the word itself as it may reveal more about the process.


So, what is it, and is it harmful or helpful? Before we dive into the topic, would you agree with me in this simple prayer…


Father, we ask for wisdom as we seek to understand you and your great love for us. We humbly approach this topic as we humbly approach your throne, asking you for grace in the space of seeking you, knowing that apart from Christ, we will never reach you. We seek you and you alone for discernment and wisdom to know when we are removing you from your throne and placing our trust in men or religion or our own moral relativism. We trust you to help us in the conversations we’re having by drawing us closer to your heart, taking us deeper in your Word, and making us stronger in our faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen


I have friends on both sides of this deconstruction conversation — friends who have deconstructed because they were hurt by the church and friends who have been hurt by loved ones who have deconstructed and not only walked away from their faith, but also their family.


Some feel it’s a freeing process, others say it’s a fleeing process. Are deconstructionists running to God as they run away from the church and those who’ve hurt them or are they running away from God as they run straight into the arms of the world and a culture that will embrace them?


You may still have no idea what “deconstruction” even is (as it relates to faith). You may know quite well what it is because you’ve walked through it yourself or with someone. Or you may be wondering what the big deal is and why people on both sides need to keep talking about it.


It’s definitely been defined in different ways by different people, and because of that, can breed confusion, which is exactly why I believe the enemy is using it to breed confusion.


The term dates back to the 1960’s and the work of philosopher, Jacques Derrida. It can be applied to a vast number of areas, but as it relates to faith and theology, it is a process that begins with doubting, questioning, and examining (which isn’t wrong or bad and can many times, deepen our faith); however, if done in a way that walks away from the firm foundation of scripture and Biblical truth, the end result is the literal deconstruction of one’s faith — picking apart and dismantling God’s Word and His Authority.


This article is a great description of deconstruction, and in my opinion, it is a non bias and thorough definition of the process.


Got Questions Article on Deconstruction


So, in an effort to apply the principles of deconstruction to the word itself, even picking apart the word De-CON-struc-tion, reveals a three letter word in the center of the word that in my opinion, represents the enemy who loves to weasel his way smack dab into the middle of process. Satan is the original CON artist (a person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true). He is the father of lies, and his con artistry started in the garden when he said to Eve, “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1) He’s been planting seeds of doubt ever since.


Upon further scrutiny of the word DE-con-STRUCTION, we see, WHEN the enemy is at the core of it, what’s left is DESTRUCTION. WHEN we know his master plan is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), we can recognize his tactics and combat them with the Word of God and the Good News of the Gospel as we claim victory over our enemy through Jesus Christ who sets us free!


I just heard this quote from Pastor Riggins of New Life Church on Sunday, “Satan tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to deepen our faith.” We must recognize the difference. Are we believing lies or standing on truth?

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