Posts

When We Feel Resistance

I’ve read 11/22/63 by Stephen King, and there’s a word that keeps resurfacing throughout the story: obdurate . In the book, the past is described as obdurate. Stubborn, resistant, unwilling to be changed. The closer Jake, the main character, gets to altering something significant in history, the more the past seems to push back. Circumstances unravel. Obstacles multiply. Things just… get hard. It’s almost as if history itself doesn’t want to be rewritten. Which makes me wonder… What if that same kind of resistance shows up in our spiritual lives? The Resistance to Becoming When the Holy Spirit begins to transform us, nudging us toward deeper trust, greater surrender, or a more Christlike way of living, something happens: It doesn’t get easier. Sometimes, it gets harder. Temptations feel stronger. Distractions get louder. Doubt creeps in more subtly, more persistently. It can feel like something is pushing back. And maybe… something is. Not because the enemy has authority over us, but...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Armor of God Through the Lens of Jesus

 For many of us, the passage about the Armor of God in Ephesians 6 has often been framed like a battle cry. We picture soldiers preparing for combat, ready to fight against enemies and defend truth. But the passage itself contains a quiet correction: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood…” In other words, people are not the enemy . When we read the Armor of God through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, something surprising begins to emerge. The armor is not primarily about attacking others or winning arguments. It is about forming our lives around the character of Jesus so we can remain faithful to His way in a broken world . It’s less about fighting people and more about putting on Christ . This perspective aligns deeply with the rhythm many of us are learning to live, inspired by John Mark Comer: Be with Jesus. Become like Jesus. Do what Jesus did. When we look at the armor this way, each piece reflects something about the life and posture of Jesus. Belt of Truth...
Post a Comment
Read more

Looking Back at 2025, Stepping into 2026 with Immanuel

Image
As 2025 comes to a close, I don’t feel the urge to measure it by accomplishments or outcomes. What lingers instead are moments... conversations, questions, silences, and realizations that have slowly reshaped how I understand faith, growth, and the presence of God. This year has been less about answers and more about attention. Less about certainty and more about formation. I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to the idea that the Christian life is not something we optimize or complete, but something we live with God, one ordinary day at a time. 2025: A Year of Reorientation If I had to name what 2025 offered me, it would be this... a growing awareness that much of my spiritual energy had been spent trying. Trying to get it right, trying to be useful, trying to stay ahead of uncertainty. And slowly, graciously, God has been loosening my grip on that posture. Through Scripture, conversation, prayer, and reflection, I’ve been reminded that faith is not primarily about doing things for Go...
Post a Comment
Read more

Advent 2025 - Week 4: Preparing with Love

Image
Sunday, December 21 - The Humble Love of a Hidden King Scripture: Micah 5:2,4-5a “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel… He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord… And he will be our peace.” Reflection: Jesus’ arrival subverts expectations. He comes as a humble king, born in a stable, far from earthly power. Yet his mission is profound: to restore, shepherd, and bring peace. This Advent, reflect on the humility of God’s love and the unexpected ways he shows up in your life. Questions: How does the humility of Jesus’ birth impact your understanding of God’s love? Where in your life do you need to see God’s peace and shepherding presence? Practice: Take a few minutes to sit quietly and reflect on God’s unexpected ways of showing love. Invite Him to show you where His peace is breaking into your life. Monday, December 22 - Immanuel: Love Draws Near Scripture: Matth...
Post a Comment
Read more

Advent 2025 - Week 3: Preparing with Joy

Image
Sunday, December 14 - Joy That Leaps Unexpectedly Scripture: Luke 1:39-41 “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Reflection: Joy often comes in unexpected moments. Elizabeth’s baby leaped for joy at Mary’s greeting, a physical expression of the Spirit’s delight. Today, notice the moments when God’s joy is present, even in small or surprising ways. Joy can precede understanding—it doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. Questions: Where have you noticed small, surprising sparks of joy recently? How might God be using ordinary moments to remind you of His presence? Practice: Spend a few minutes reflecting on one unexpected moment of joy from the past week. Thank God for it and let it linger in your thoughts. Monday, December 15 - Joy Shared, Joy Multiplied Scripture: Luke 1:42-...
Post a Comment
Read more

Advent 2025 - Week 2: Preparing with Peace

Image
Sunday, December 7 - Peace in the Midst of Fear Scripture: Luke 2:8-10 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” Reflection:  What began as a terrifying night for the shepherds became a night of amazement and joy. Peace is often proclaimed in moments of fear and chaos. Notice that God’s peace came first as a message, not as a circumstance. Today, reflect on your own fears—what anxieties feel loudest in your life? Let the angel’s words sink in: do not be afraid. Questions: Where are the moments in your life today that feel frightening or uncertain? How might God be speaking calm into those fears? Practice: Spend a few quiet minutes with God. Invite His presence into areas of fear or anxiety. Simply say...
Post a Comment
Read more

Advent 2025 - Week 1: Preparing with Hope

Image
Sunday, November 30 - Simeon’s Waiting Scripture: Luke 2:25–32 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Reflection: Advent is a season of waiting. Simeon — “righteous and devout” — modeled waiting not as passive resignation but as active, Spirit-attentive hope. Waiting exposed his dependence: he wasn’t in control, but he ...
Post a Comment
Read more