Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Archives for December 2016

Putting On the Armor of God

by

I recently wrote a blog post about personalizing the armor of God for yourself (see, “The Armor of God”).  During my time of study this morning I was given some new insights which excited me and I hope will prove useful to you as well. The idea came while listening to Bruxy Cavey teach about using the morning ritual of getting dressed as a reminder to pray for certain things.

putting on the armor of God,Ephesians 6:10-18,prayer,triggers,Marshall Goldsmith,humility,love,purpose

image © kevron2001 via Fotolia

It clicked in my mind we could pray through putting on the armor of God as we actually put on our own clothing. I’m going to walk through this so you can see a practical example of what praying through putting on the armor of God might look like.

[Read more…] about Putting On the Armor of God

Jesus Has Come

by

We just completed a season of Advent. The word advent simply means “coming.” More specifically in Christian circles it means the coming of Christ. We celebrate Advent at Christmas time in memory of Christ coming to earth as a baby who would grow up to die for our sins. Now this season has passed, we look forward to a new season of advent.This is the second advent, the second coming of Jesus.

Jesus has come,advent,second coming,rapture,Jesus is coming again,commitment,humility,love,peace,mission,Kingdom of God,Heaven on earth,Lord's prayer,Thy Kingdom come

image © Ig0rZh via Fotolia

With Christmas in our rear view mirror, we now turn our focus for the next year to building His Kingdom on earth in preparation for His return. This is the future advent. While we celebrate the Advent of His birth in memory of what He did, we celebrate the Advent of His coming again in honor and praise for what He has yet to do.

[Read more…] about Jesus Has Come

What Will You Do with Christmas?

by

I don’t know when you are reading this, but as I write it, Christmas is less than a week away. That means it’s somewhat obligatory I write a Christmas themed post. I know this because every sermon I’ve listened to for the past month (and I listen to a lot of sermons; call it a job hazard!) have all been around the Christmas story. Therefore, since I am a Christian writer, I apparently need to write about Christmas. But here’s the problem: regular readers of this blog already know all about the Christmas story.

what will you do with Christmas,Christmas,priorities,love Jesus,Jesus as Lord,birth of Christ,Christmas story,talk to your friends about Jesus,sermons

image © Photographee.eu via Fotolia

You’ve heard the same messages I have over the years. If we’re honest, it is rare we hear something in a new way this time of year. So instead of focusing on the Christmas story and trying to find some new twist to illuminate a story that cannot possibly be improved, I’m going to ask you a simple question: What will you do with Christmas?

[Read more…] about What Will You Do with Christmas?

Reason for the Season

by

Those of you who work retail understand that particular career field has a way of destroying the wonder of Christmas. I’m twenty years removed from more than a decade of retail management, and I confess I think I am only now beginning to fully recover. To all of you in retail I want you to know I truly understand why this time of year may no longer be overly special for you.

reason for the season,Jesus is the reason for the season,Christmas,love,God is love, humility,humbling,omnipresence,baby Jesus,god in the flesh,focus

image © estherpoon via Fotolia

You are more likely pulling your hair out (or fantasizing about pulling out the hair of certain customers!) than you are experiencing the magnificent peace of the season. If you could hit pause for just a couple minutes, I’d like the opportunity to remind you of what an amazing time of year this is, and to hopefully help reorient your focus on the true reason for the season.

[Read more…] about Reason for the Season

Victory in Surrender

by

That there is victory in surrender is one of the great mysteries of following Jesus. Almost everything about the life Jesus lived seems upside down and counterintuitive, but perhaps nothing more than this. Who wins by surrendering? History books are not written about those who waved the white flag, but about the conquering heroes and nations. We grow up daydreaming about being the champion, the victor, and the overcomer.

victory in surrender,A.W. Tozer,tozer,discipleship,commitment,surrender,upside down kingdom,Gregory A. Boyd,Gregory Boyd,Greg Boyd,Donald B, Kraybill,Luke 9:62,no one who puts his hand to the plow,Matthew 28:18-20,great commission,go ye therefore into all the world,make disciples of all nations,Luke 9:59-60,let the dead bury the dead,first let me bury my father

image © Antonioguillem via Fotolia

No one dreams of being the one who grows up to surrender. But it is exactly to this Jesus calls us. In fact, He makes it pretty clear unless we are willing to surrender everything, He won’t be able to do much with our lives.

[Read more…] about Victory in Surrender