Fresh Start

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Fresh Start
/

I remember a season a couple decades ago when I felt things were falling apart. By that time in my life, I’d already noticed an interesting development. Despite a lot of hard work, regardless of best intentions, even after applying good counsel and working to apply Scripture – things don’t always turn out. That’s when you discover the value of a fresh start.

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Looking For Donkeys – God’s Timing

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Looking For Donkeys - God's Timing
/

What a weird title for today’s content. But I promise – it’s straight out of Scripture! But what does “looking for donkeys” have to do with God’s timing? Sometimes “looking for donkeys” oddly describes life. But that’s not reason enough to designate a full article to it. So, what is reason enough? I’ll give you a clue. It has a lot to do with God’s timing.

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

God’s Dimension: Real And Very Near

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
God's Dimension: Real And Very Near
/

 

One freezing early morning, I pushed back my curtain to see what the winter storm did to my yard overnight. My eyes struggled to focus in the flood of “sun-on-snow” brightness. Gradually adjusting, I saw something magical. It was like a story book scene. This piece of incredible winter art – in front of my eyes – reminded me – God’s dimension is real and very near.

(If you live in an area where this weather never happens, I’m including a few pictures so you can imagine.)

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Who’s Got Your Right Hand? – Advent #2

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Who's Got Your Right Hand? - Advent #2
/

We’re in a series to help prepare your heart for Christmas. Each week we light another candle in our hearts as a statement of preparation for Christmas. (Notice each additional week’s article in this series has another candle lit in the main featured image.)

This is the second article in the series. With Christmas closing in, it’s time to consider your right hand.

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Rise Up Higher

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Rise Up Higher
/

While I recently re-read a favorite author, I was encouraged to keep pursuing something God placed in my heart years ago. So – what is that something? “Rise Up Higher.” And what’s the relevance with the world in such upheaval? Well, I can tell you this – it’s a really good place to live – with many practical applications. So, I hope you will be encouraged with this content.

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

ACM: A Tool To Build Noble Character

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
ACM: A Tool To Build Noble Character
/

Keeping track of all the details in life is challenging. How do you track things in your life? Your workload, diet, property care and home chores? What about bill deadlines, healthcare appointments, fun with friends. To stay on top, you need a good tool. Tracking your spiritual development and growth in noble character requires a good tool, too.

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Need A Miracle?

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Need A Miracle?
/

I’m sure you’ve heard stories of people who died but came back to life. Some have been miraculously healed of serious diseases. There are stories of amazing financial provisions – down to the penny needed. Imminent tragedies have “somehow” dissipated. People have prayed for rain in drought and received it. These kinds of things are on the list of “Big Deal Miracles.” But most of us just need a regular miracle – something to encourage our hearts. I also think we get so focused on our own stuff that we miss the entire list of “Super Special Small Miracles” that happen each day. Do you need a miracle?

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Why Don’t I Change?

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Why Don’t I Change?
/

Someone once told me being a follower of Jesus is exclusive of behaviors, and it’s only about God’s love and their heart. “Behaviorism” is a term that was used. I’ve prayerfully and extensively thought about this perspective. God has blessed this pensive exploration with some interesting ideas. It has to do with “why don’t I change?”

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Faith Jump!

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Faith Jump!
/

Have you watched paratroopers flinging themselves from the safety of an aircraft into the vast skies at a very unsafe height?  To accomplish their mission, they just . . . JUMP! Paratroopers are equipped and trained to do something super scary and hard for most people. But for them, it’s as natural as walking. In the same way, living by faith can seem super scary and hard. It takes a daring leap. But with practice and determination, you can be just as equipped and trained as a paratrooper. So, are you ready for a faith jump?

(This is Part 2 in a series on faith. See below for the entire Faith Series articles/podcasts links.)

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

What Does God’s Face Look Like?

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
What Does God's Face Look Like?
/

Ever wonder what God looks like? I remember being intrigued with this as a child. What does God look like? How about Jesus? There were no phone cameras back when Jesus lived on earth. So we have no pictures. We don’t have any life portraits of the God, either. So a lot is left to imagination. Still, God’s Word gives clues – not about God’s physical appearance. Rather, it paints a masterful portrait of God’s nature, personality, and character. And it uses characteristics of God’s face as a tool to communicate His appearance.

Read More …

FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail