Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. Psalm 23:6 (MSG) Can you imagine if a man who was thinking about proposing to his girlfriend said to her, “Okay, cut to the chase. Tell me what I’ll have to do to keep you off my case if I marry you. How many times do I have to come home every week? How many household chores will I have to do? Do I have to talk to you every day? Give me the list now so I don’t have to figure all this out.” Judging by his questions, he was trying to find out the minimum he could do to stay on her good side. But she’s not interested in joining a …

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28–30 (MSG) When people find out that I’m a pastor, a common phrase I hear is, “I don’t like organized religion.” I always respond, “Me either,” which really confuses people. They can’t understand how a pastor could say that he hates religion, but it’s true. There’s nothing about religion I enjoy. You see, just because you …

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (ESV) Why is it that we often have an easier time weeping with the hurting than rejoicing with the successful? Maybe you’ve wrestled with insecurity when someone you know started doing better than you. Or maybe you know someone who struggled with jealousy when you moved on to a better house or job. As believers, we need to be there for others in both cases. We’re all familiar with the story found in Matthew 14 when Peter walked on water. When Peter focused on the storm and began to sink, Jesus caught his hand and walked back to the boat with him. When others are sinking in life’s seas, Jesus’ example shows us …

Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7 (NKJV) We lose sight of our true worth when we focus on the wrong identity. Let’s say that a man gets a job washing cars at a dealership. He shows up daily to work in his coveralls and rubber boots like the rest of the crew, enjoying camaraderie and friendship. Then one day he gets promoted to the parts department, receives a raise and now is expected to come to work in a dress shirt and tie. The first day he shows up dressed for his new position, his former colleagues might comment, “Shirt and tie? Who do you think you are?” …

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) Is a fear of being hurt or a fear of failure holding you back in life? Often these fears are rooted in pride, and we’re trapped into thinking that we’re comfortable, competent and looking good. The problem is, pride can also keep us from trying anything new, because new things always hold the possibility of failure. If God’s going to take us places far beyond what we’ve even dreamed to be possible, we need to be willing to get out of our comfortable rut and go for it! The apostle Paul was one man who put …