Pursuing More

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Not because of the Bunny, because of the Cross. There is so much purpose in it. Christmas and the 4th of July have purpose, to be sure. But Easter begins with Good Friday, which was good for us, but I doubt Jesus would list it as one of His favorite memories. Yet, He allows us to call it Good Friday. Because this holiday is for us. His love for us. Divine love, stooped down from heaven to take the blame and shame for humanity. As I read the Easter story, I can’t help but wonder about Peter. Peter was warned during dinner that satan had demanded him, to sift him like wheat. He didn’t believe it. Yet just hours later, he did just that. He denied that he even knew Christ. And again. And again. Three times. Scripture tells us that when he heard the rooster crow, he remembered. Remembered? How could he have forgotten? And so quickly? Was this what Jesus’ words in the garden were about? “Keep watch.” Keep watch so he would be ready when satan would ...

When my daughter was 2 she was a demanding child. Her bark was bigger than her chubby little 25 pounds. Barney was her show of choice and her perspective of choice was that if she wanted to watch Barney, then she should get to watch it NOW. One afternoon while at my parents house, my dad was watching a show. Little Laura entered the room, pointed to the TV and said, “Grandpa,…Barney…NOW!” She added a stomp of her foot for emphasis. It was hard not to laugh, it caught us all by surprise. Who did she think she was? The center of the universe? The main attraction? Apparently, yes and yes. Proper discipline showed her otherwise and brought some submission and respect for authority to her heart. As I look back on this memory, I can’t help but notice the parallel between that little heart years ago and mine. I enter the presence of my Heavenly Father, point to my life and lay out my demands. I even add a little foot stomp sometimes. Who do I think I am? We live in a society that enco...

I attended a Priscilla Shirer Simulcast this weekend. I’m fairly certain that God told Miss Priscilla what to say just because I would be there. Even the words of the songs and the words Anthony Evans spoke I’m sure were divinely orchestrated all for me. How does He do that?! The topic was “Life Interrupted”. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like interruptions. If I have exactly 30 minutes to pick up a few items and then get home to have supper ready, I’m not too thrilled inside when an interruption happens. Someone calls out my name… and wants to chat. Or the car won’t start. Or there is a line at the store. Sometimes the interruptions appear on a larger scale. Loss of employment. Chronic illness. Financial struggles. Strained relationships. Or when God overlooks your plans and sets His own in motion. These interruptions can leave us feeling anything from annoyed to abandoned. Jonah 2:8 offers a warning to us in the middle of our whining. “Those who cling to worthless idols t...