Faith Journey Blog

Jesus, the Son of God, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, proclaimed and demonstrated the Kingdom of God through His teachings and miracles, suffered and died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead. Through Him we are forgiven, reconciled to God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and invited to participate in His Kingdom now and forever. The Gospel Mark 1:14-15 (Kingdom announced) Titus 2:14 (Redemption and transformation) 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (Death and resurrection) Revelation 21:1-5 (New creation) Bible Verses that Summarize the Gospel Path to Salvation

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...

 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...

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...

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...

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 ...

Every year, Advent invites us back into a slower, more intentional rhythm—one centered not on consumerism or countdowns, but on the arrival of Jesus and the deep formation that His coming brings. This year, I’m stepping into that rhythm by walking through Advent Meditations: Preparing for the King , a resource created by John Mark Comer and the team at Practicing the Way. Their reflections, Scripture readings, and weekly themes— Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love —have shaped the devotionals you’ll find in this series. (Original source: Practicing the Way, Advent Meditations 2025) Get your PDF copy here. In the introduction to the Advent guide, Comer reminds us that preparation in Scripture is more than activity—it’s alignment. John the Baptist “prepared the way” not by doing more but by calling people into a new way of life, one that made room for the Messiah. In the same way, Advent becomes a time for us to make room—for Jesus’ presence, His peace, and His transforming love. We live, as the ...

Micah 6:8 stands as one of the most profound and concise summaries of what God desires from His people. Long before Jesus arrived in the flesh, God revealed a way of life that perfectly anticipates the heart, posture, and mission of Christ. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." This ancient command carries a surprising clarity. It outlines a rhythm of life that shapes how we engage God, ourselves, and the world. Act Justly - Doing what is right, even when it costs you To act justly is to align our actions with God's heart for righteousness, equity, and truth. It means choosing what is right over what is easy, convenient, or socially acceptable. Acting justly shows up in the small, everyday moments... telling the truth, honoring our commitments, advocating for those who are mistreated, and treating people with dignity. It's justice rooted not in human systems b...

Lately, I’ve noticed something in many Christian conversations that’s been weighing on me. The word “woke” has become a kind of shorthand for everything someone disagrees with, especially things that feel “progressive” or “left.” I hear it tossed around like a dismissal rather than a discussion. And honestly, that grieves me. Because underneath the noise, there’s a deeper issue at stake. We’ve allowed a word that once meant awareness to become a weapon. Awakening Is a Biblical Theme Long before “woke” entered our cultural vocabulary, Scripture called us to be awake. “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” - Ephesians 5:14 That’s not political language, that’s spiritual. To awaken, in the biblical sense, means to become aware of God’s presence, God’s heart, and the reality of His kingdom breaking into the world around us. The prophets were awakeners. They called people to see what God saw in the idolatry that blinded them, the injustice that broke His h...

Sometimes we forget a simple but profound truth... who we are in Christ comes before what we do for Christ. I love this metaphor in The Cure that reorients how I see my spiritual journey. Imagine this, if you took the DNA of a caterpillar and analyzed it, it would say, "Butterfly." The caterpillar isn't trying to become a butterfly, it already has the blueprint. It's simply maturing into what it already is. Isn't that how God sees us? Even when we feel like we're crawling, fumbling, or far from "perfect," He sees our true identity in Christ. The wings are already part of our design. Transformation isn't about performance or earning approval, it's about maturing into the life God has already placed inside us. This metaphor reminds me of a few truths for the journey: Identity before effort - We don't become children of God by what we do, we act from who we already are in Him. Grace over shame - Crawling isn't failure. It's part of ...

There's a subtle shift that can happen in our walk with God, one that's easy to miss but quietly changes everything. We start our journey in wonder and dependence, but somewhere along the way, faith can begin to feel like a job. We clock in through morning devotions, try to meet performance goals of prayer and service, and submit reports in the form of "good behavior." It's not that these practices are wrong. They're good and even necessary but without intimacy, they can become hollow rituals. Paul warns us about this in Colossians 2:16-23. He reminds the church not to get caught up in the rules, rituals, and appearances that look spiritual but can actually disconnect us from Christ Himself. Faith isn't meant to be a system to maintain, it's a relationship to abide in.

Scripture "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14) "Blessed is the one… whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night." (Psalm 1:1--2) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:1,14) "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:11) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22--23)   Reflection When we talk about the Word of God, we often think first of the Bible. And rightly so as it is God's Special Revelation, His gift of truth and guidance. God also reveals Himself through creation and stillness (General Revelation), reminding us that His Word is alive and all around us. John 1 takes us even deeper: the Word is ...

Our lives often feel like scattered strands of thread… some strong, some frayed, some knotted from choices we regret or paths we wish we had taken differently. But in the hands of the Master Weaver, no thread is wasted. God takes the bright colors of our joy, the dark tones of our struggles, and the ordinary shades of our everyday routines, and He weaves them together into a tapestry we cannot yet see in full. From our side of the loom, the weaving looks messy and unfinished. Loose threads dangle. Colors seem misplaced. We question why certain seasons had to unfold the way they did. Yet from His side, every crossing thread is intentional, every shade chosen with purpose. What feels like wandering to us is, in His design, the shaping of a pattern that reflects His glory. Prayer, then, becomes our way of aligning with the Weaver's hands. It is not merely asking for different colors or new threads, but opening our hearts to trust that His design is better than anything we could sketch...

Mark 11:15-17  On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’"   As I picture my journey of faith, I see the temple in the distance… a symbol of God's presence, a sacred place of communion and holiness. That's where I want to be. But the path to the temple is crowded with distractions. Along the way, the enemy has set up tables, each one carefully crafted to catch my eye and slow my steps. There's the table of pride, with its trinkets of admiration and accomplishment. The table of lust, covered in fleeting images and desires. The table of comfort, offering me an easier road than the o...

 Recently, I listened to a sermon on  Psalm 67 . He described it as a  “Harvest Psalm”  structured in a chiastic form, an intentional literary form that highlights the core message right in the middle: “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.”  (Psalm 67:4) He started with a simple question: Where is the Gospel in this Psalm? His answer:  Right there—in the middle. Verse 4. This isn’t just a Psalm about worship. It’s about  worship that sends . Worship that overflows. Worship that fuels mission. Then he offered a simple, actionable rhythm: Pray. Welcome. Send. Go. But what  is  mission, really? As I sat with those words, I started to wonder if we’ve sometimes painted mission with too narrow a brush. Is mission only about going overseas? Does it have to involve preaching to unreached people groups? Is it only for full-time missionaries or those called to dangerous, despe...