Altar of Remembrance.

“…To serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:6-9)

In the early stages of a relationship, everything is still so new and shiny. The two people are so intrigued by how they could go from strangers to lovers in such a short period of time. They might frequently and openly marvel at the first time they had a conversation or their first kiss. Anyone who asks will get the full story, not sparing any details. And there’s something special about the way that re-telling the story makes this couple fall more in love. The power of remembering.

If you thought this just became a dating blog, keep reading! See, God is a huge fan of the “re-tell”. In the Old Testament, there are many instances of someone building a physical altar, usually of stones, so they would see a visual reminder of what God had done. After Noah and his family experienced the flood, before worrying about “next”, Noah built an altar and worshipped (Genesis 8:20). In our passage today, Joshua instructed the people to build a similar altar, to teach future generations about God’s faithfulness. And this is not an antiquated Old Testament practice. In the New Testament, the Church began when the disciples went around telling about their experience with Jesus. The synoptic gospels in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are altars of remembrance as they detail Jesus’ ministry.

Altars of remembrance are so important that when the disciples told about Christ, people believed and were saved! What if your story, your act of remembering, is what opens someone’s heart to the Good news of the Gospel?

Today, build your altar. Find old pictures, journal entries, even old outfits, and tell the story of the faithfulness of God. Just as with the couple, each time you recall the story, it will inspire others and increase your own faith. Don’t forget to remember.

Lessons at the nail salon.

“Behold I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

(Isaiah 43:19)

I was at the nail salon one day and while there was nothing special about the occasion, this particular visit seemed to preach to me. An aside, while I love prayer and quiet time, there is something so special about the way God speaks through everyday life. God is genuinely always speaking, and it’s up to us to be tuned into the right channel to hear Him. 

Anyway, I was new to this particular salon and I showed the nail tech a picture of a nail design I had found on the Internet. All morning I had been so excited to see this vision come to pass on my nails. To my dismay, the nail tech immediately told me “I can’t do that. I don’t know how to do that technique.” Almost as suddenly, my mind started racing- I hadn’t come with a Plan B in mind. I was so focused on what I brought with me, that it hadn’t even occurred to me that I wouldn’t get my way. I was faced with a choice: I could either dwell on my disappointment and not get anything, so married to what I had in mind, OR I could be open to something new. 

Long story short, I agreed to choose a new color and sat in amazement as this male nail tech (a true hidden gem) with tattoos and gelled hair filed and shaped my nails with more precision and perfection than I had ever seen. I watched as his passion for details made me forget about my brief disappointment. It was as I complimented him on his work that I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me. He began to show me the times that I had come into relationships with a tight grip on a picture of how the relationship should look/feel/produce. I had been so married to my vision that I became blinded by judgment, criticism, and discontentment with good men. God was suggesting to me, as He may be suggesting to you now, what if you are missing out on the beauty of what someone CAN do because we are so caught up in the disappointment of what we thought it should be. No, he may not be a pastor, but the way he is able to make people see the magic in themselves is crucial to the kingdom of God. No, she may not cook like your mom, but when you have a vision that seems crazy she is your number one supporter.

This applies to many areas, not just relationships! What if the job opportunity in front of you is actually your answered prayer, but you’re about to pass it up because it looks different than you imagined. My prayer for you and me is that we would submit our eyes for God’s. With His eyes, we will be in a constant state of awe at the hidden treasure lying within the Earth. 

Today we declare, “I love You more than my picture.” 

The constants of life.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Nothing is more constant than the presence of change. With each passing birthday, transition from winter to spring, and every new day, there will be change. It can be overwhelming when it seems like everything is changing at the same time. In moments and seasons of change, I encourge you to look to the things that are constant. The scriptures today remind us of two constants: trouble and Christ. Anyone who preaches a gospel void of trouble is selling you a dream. Jesus himself assures us that there will be trouble. There will be moments that don’t feel good. There will be things that happen that aren’t fair, right, or comfortable. Being a believer does not erase the reality of living in a fallen world. Being a believer does, however, give us hope in the second constant of life: Jesus Christ.

While there will never be a day without some form of challenge, there will also never be a day where Jesus is not on the throne. For every difficult day, there are an equal number of days where Christ’s love remains constant. The next time you feel overwhelmed by all the moving pieces in life, remember that there is One who never changes. His character is constant, his faithfulness is proven. Rest today!

Pick your price.

“There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

“‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’”

(Matthew 7:13-14)

Driving all over the vast state of Texas has left me with a fair share of revelations about life. One night after a particularly long day I found myself faced with a decision: either drive an extra 10-20 minutes to avoid the tolls or spend the money to get home faster. Inevitably I chose the toll road, deciding that getting to my bed was worth whatever the cost. In life, there are many moments that force us to choose between two routes. One route may take more time, effort, or sacrifice. However, the route that appears to be shorter is never without its own price. In today’s passage, Jesus tells us that it will be tempting to choose the easier route. The “wide gate” refers to the way of life that the world presents: a love full of self-pleasure and the idolatry of our own desires. The wide gate offers quick ways to make money that may not be based on integrity or godly principles and priorities. It may bring fame, fortune, and popularity with humans. However, this “abundant life” only leads to destruction, or death as we read in Proverbs.

It is only the narrow gate, Jesus Christ, that can offer true satisfaction. This route involves denying ourselves, picking up our cross, and choosing every day to follow Jesus. This route means loving those who hate us, apologizing when we feel justified, and serving without applause. This route, like the long way home, will take our entire lifetime before we see the final results. It is a stark contrast to the microwave-quick generation we live in today. In times of disappointment and feeling frustrated with waiting, the quick toll road will seem to be the only option. However, the bill will come.

There is a choice before you today: will you pay the price now of living as a sacrifice for the sake of God’s promises in eternity, or will you choose to indulge now and pay later? God doesn’t promise that this life will be easy and without pain. He does promise, however, that the indescribable nature of heaven will make it all worth it.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your word. When I look around, it looks so much easier to live like the world so I can have the “blessings” they seem to have. Help me to remember that everything comes at a cost, even if it doesn’t look like it. Please give me the power and desire to choose the narrow gate, Jesus Christ. Give me the strength to endure the harder path, trusting that the glory that is to come is going to make everything worth it. I love you more than the shortcut. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“My pleasure.”

“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (Acts 5:41)

Chic-fila employees have five-star customer service and are known for their popular phrase “my pleasure”. Everything is considered their pleasure, even when the task pushes them completely out of their way. It may not feel like a pleasure, but the culture of the company is service. As Christians, it’s easy to get distracted by other goals presented to us. Especially for those of us in Western society, we may be tempted to find pleasure in the pursuit of generational wealth, bigger houses, or larger platforms. None of these are inherently evil or wrong, but let us be reminded that we are joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), joining in his glory as well as his suffering. When we are only concerned with the gospel when it’s widely accepted or when it benefits us, we dilute the mission of the Church. Instead, the reason for the Church is to proclaim the Good news! Like the early church, we are to share our testimony of the man named Jesus and all he did for us. We are to tell of our lived experiences and the stories of the Bible days. The message is the same: Jesus is the Christ, God’s son who came to save those who believe in him.

And, because not even Jesus himself was spared from pain and persecution, we ought to welcome that too. Now persecution may not look like literal murder or flogging, but for you, it may be family members or friends who tease you for living for Christ. You may not get invited to the same functions as before. Twitter may deem you “canceled”. However, the next time you are persecuted for boldly declaring the goodness of God, or sharing Jesus with a coworker, may your heart be aware of the privilege to “suffer shame for his name.”

My pleasure.