The Redeemed Rose

  I recently read, “Heart chaos is the result of a worship disorder, not circumstances” . You see, my world is anything but chaos free. A minister’s family with seven children ranging from age eleven all the way down to eighteen months; there is always some kind of busyness and noise. Sometimes just accomplishing dinner for that many people can be chaotic!  But it is more than just noise from the sheer amount of people living together in a small space. Sometimes there is unrest, bickering, clamoring, spitefulness, anger, frustration, irritation, and snapping at the smallest thing. And that’s just in my own heart! Now multiply that by eight more.  I have been praying for us to have a peaceful home for many years now. Given our circumstances, many would say that’s impossible. I would have agreed with them. But then I stumbled upon that quote. It isn’t my outward circumstances that cause me to feel chaotic; it is my own heart. If I want a peaceful home, it starts from the i...

  A salvation story doesn’t have to be R-rated to be powerful. We may not all be saved from a life of crime, drugs, or persecuting Christians (like the apostle Paul). Sometimes it is what God  protected   you from doing that testifies to His glory and grace.  I grew up as an only child in a half-Christian home. My mom was a believer; my dad was not. I can count on one hand the number of times my dad went to church (a last ditch attempt to save his marriage).  My mom took me to whatever flavor of church she was into at the moment. When she was feeling in touch with her Catholic roots, we did our fair share of kneelers, making the sign of the cross, and dabbing ourselves with holy water on our way out the door. I even made my First Communion and baptism (at age seven – I was a latecomer) in the Catholic church and started Confirmation classes. We went to a Lutheran church for a short stretch when she worked at their daycare. We also frequented a non-denominational...

  (Hebrews 12:1-4 ESV) [12:1] “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. [4] In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” It seems that everyday I struggle with the same sins over and over. Sometimes it is frustrating, sometimes it is discouraging, and other times I am in such despair that I break down crying and pleading for God to help me. I always ask, “Why do I keep on sinning?” And sometimes, “Why do I keep doing this same sin over and over? Shouldn’t I...

A short devotion on 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 from my morning reading 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Sin is like a venom, a poison, that slowly seeps through the whole body, spreading to every vein and limb.  It will eventually be the death of us. (Rom. 3:23) But where does sin get it's power? Or simply put, why does it even matter if we sin? (56) "The power of sin is the law." If there was no law, no commandments, then sin wouldn't matter. Without a good there could be no knowledge of bad.  (Rom. 3:19-20, 5:12-13, 7:7-13) But there IS a perfect law, given by the perfect, holy, and just Creator and Judge of the Universe. And every offense against that law is the vilest act of treason against the Most High King and deserves the greatest of punishments. (57) "But thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord J...