Water. Can you smell it? The salty spray of an ocean shoreline. The earthy aroma of a running brook. The humid air before a thunderstorm.To me, the scent of water is humble; it is neither over-powering nor obvious. In fact, it’s almost hidden in the neon array of sensory experiences that surround us. I guess that’s what makes it such an interesting metaphor for describing hope.Why describe one of ...  Read More

What if we could fundamentally reframe how we see life’s challenges?We have to get good at handling the bad.What if pain and problems were not our enemies? What if the challenges we face in life were also the same things that shape us, define us, and take us to a new and brighter future? Can good come from our catastrophes?It was through asking these questions that I was inspired by the story of a...  Read More

Jeremiah 29:4-13Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 'Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce.  Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do n...  Read More

Saying “Hello” to a New Way of Living  When we step forward into new beginnings and yield to his will, on some level God is calling us to leave the comfort of the familiar. A spiritual adventure may contain few plateaus, leading us instead on rigorous treks filled with highs and lows or the heart-sinking dip of waiting for the rope to catch. But it’s a call to step out, to leave behind earthly con...  Read More

Saying “So Long” to Control of My Life  Much of life’s enjoyment relies on correct expectations. We battle our expectations of ourselves, and the expectations others place on us. And when we dig still deeper, we discover we’re even harboring expectations of God. These can make or break our spiritual lives. When God lives up to our expectations, we thrive spiritually. When he doesn’t, we are left d...  Read More

Saying “So Long” to My Comfort, Myself, and My IdentityWhen we say “so long” to our normal, sometimes we’re saying it to a home we had cherished, that was part of who we are. Sometimes it means saying “so long” to ourselves, or to who we see ourselves to be. This can be difficult, but also may be necessary to step into what God wants to do in our lives.  Leaving behind the places we’ve called home...  Read More

Understanding NormalSomething in us likes to create patterns in our days and stick to them. What is it about normal that feels so safe and comforting? Why do we crave it? The Bible says that we are created in God’s image (see Genesis 1:27). This longing that we have is a yearning to touch the infinite, to share in the Immortal’s eternal existence, to rest in Him. Normal feels so safe and comfortin...  Read More

1 John 5:14-21This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.  If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. Th...  Read More

Four Steps To Stop WorryBy Rick Warren“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT, second edition)It takes more than willpower to stop worrying. You already know that, because you’ve already tried it. You’ve thought, “I shouldn’t worry about this,” and yet you just keep on worrying about it.It’s going to take more than your willpower to stop worrying. It take...  Read More

Four Reasons Why You Shouldn’t WorryBy Rick Warren“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25 NIV)Worry is essentially a control issue. It’s trying to control the uncontrollable. We can’t control the economy, so we worry about the economy. We can’t control our children,...  Read More

Why Keep Praying When There Is No Answer?By Rick Warren“Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers.” (Ephesians 6:18b NLT, second edition)The Bible says in Ephesians 6:18, “Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers” (NLT, second edition).Why should you be persistent in your prayers, even when you don’t get an answer? There are four reasons:1. Persistent prayer focuses your attention.When you ...  Read More

Why Won’t I Let God Take Control?By Rick Warren“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires …. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” (Romans 6:12-13 NLT, second edition)Every day you are controlled by something. You may be controlled b...  Read More