"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit." – 1 Corinthians 12:4Imagine it is Christmas morning, and there are beautifully wrapped presents under the tree with your name on them. Would you leave them sitting there, untouched? Right now you’re thinking, pastor, you’re crazy! I would open every single one, eager to see what is inside! No one would walk away from a gift meant for them an...  Read More

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." – John 14:27In what way have you been wounded so badly that there is not a moment it does not cross your mind? People say, “Just forgive and forget,” but they have no idea what they are talking about. Forgetting is not an option. You did not ask fo...  Read More

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." – James 1:22If you have ever seen a circus elephant, you have probably wondered how such a massive, powerful animal can be kept in place by a simple shackle. As a baby, the elephant is tied to a stake in the ground, unable to move freely. Over time, it learns that when the shackle is on, it is stuck. It stops trying to break f...  Read More

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." – Romans 12:2You cannot think the same way and expect your life to change. You cannot keep believing the same lies and wonder why you feel stuck. Change does not happen by accident. It happens when you decide that eno...  Read More

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." – John 8:36Labels are powerful. Maybe you have been called something so often that you started believing it was true. You are not smart enough. You are not strong enough. You will never be more than what you are right now. These words start as someone else’s opinion, but over time, they stick. They shape how you see yourself. And if you are n...  Read More

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." – Romans 12:2If you have ever been to a doctor for pain, you have probably been asked to rate it on a scale from one to ten. It is a way to measure what you are experiencing. But when it comes to emotions, it is not t...  Read More