From. Through. To. HIM.

How timely to be studying 1 John in this season of Advent.   When the days are short and dark and the twinkle of lights illumines houses and trees. …God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.   If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.   But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. These words have me asking questions of myself, have me pondering where the light and darkness lie within me: What parts of my life are dark and not light?   What things do I seek to keep hidden, rather than be exposed?   What thoughts and feelings am I allowing myself to ruminate on, despite the fact that they do not acknowledge God as king? See, by nature I obsess.   I think things through again and again.   Then one more time, just for good measure.   I worry. ...

In the midst of a normal day, in a normal kitchen, a realization hits me.   I’m struck by the fact that the past few months have been pretty good.   To be sure, they’ve had their ups and downs, but there has been substantial progress in many ways.   I realize that it’s the most at ease I’ve felt for a long stretch of time in quite a while. The thought is met with a feeling of plateauing. I’m reminded of how much I don’t like that feeling. I’m reminded of difficult, struggling times in the recent past and the deep intimacy and dependence on the Lord that resulted. I find that I’m missing that. A sense of longing begins to build within me, a desire for that close friendship with Jesus once again.   It’s not that I’ve lost friendship or ceased to be learning from Him, but it is not the same.   I don’t turn to Him with a keen awareness of just how much I need Him every moment. The longing intertwines with dread. Memories of restless nights, anxi...

Spending more time in the Old Testament has proved to bring a greater understanding of the grace of God. As I read the words I’ve read before, that so often ring with rules and standards, my perspective begins to change as I begin to look for the character of God revealed in the structure He gives to His people. As I read Exodus and Leviticus, the theme that starts to emerge is one of holiness.   The holiness of God that demands a holy place and people becomes evident.       Further internalizing this truth begins to change the tone of the words that I am reading.   Where once commands seemed harsh and impersonal, now they seem tender and gracious. A holy God that can only exist within a holy environment could easily pull away from humanity.   How much easier it would be to leave the people of Israel to themselves.   But, He doesn’t. The laws and rules and standards and structure are all for the purpose of creating a space in which God...