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In God's Hands, Small Things Have Huge Potential! | Zechariah 4

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Welcome to Real Life . Small things have huge potential. Faith the size of a tiny mustard seed can move mountains! “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” —African Proverb Each one of us begins small. From the President to the billionaire to Olympian, we all enter this world as a tiny, helpless infant. Though we start small, in God’s hands small things have huge potential! After languishing for seventy years in Babylonian captivity, the once mighty nation of Israel had greatly diminished. God opened the door for the first wave of Israelites to return home through a miraculous decree by King Cyrus. This small contingent began the arduous process of rebuilding Jerusalem. Twenty years later, a second wave returned. These pilgrims were tasked with reconstructing the Temple of the Lord under the leadership of Zerubbabel, governor of Judah. The once magnificent temple had been raided, burned, and left a ruin by the Babylonians. With few resour...
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Created in Our Father's Image | Genesis 1

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Welcome to Real Life. What is God like? His image is reflected in you and me. “Mirrors don't lie. Lucky for you, they can't laugh either.” –Anonymous When I look into a mirror, I often see my father’s face—high forehead, thin lips, long eyelashes. I resemble my father’s side of the family. Just as I bear the image of my earthly father, you and I bear the image of our heavenly Father. “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27 NIV) You and I were created in the image of God. So, what does that mean? Maybe it's not that we have inherited the color of our Father God’s eyes, but rather, his attributes are clearly evident in our psyche. God is love. [1] He is both the author and the source. Love is the most beautiful, powerful, and significant force within us. The presence of love is one of the strongest proofs of the presence of God. He cr...
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Where are You, Child? | Genesis 3

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Welcome to Real Life . From the dawn of creation to this morning’s sunrise, our God calls to you and me. “Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.” –André Malraux A friend of mine is estranged from her adult daughter Sarah [1] . Although Sarah was raised in the church, as an adult she walked away from God. Recently, because of their opposing views on faith, Sarah broke contact with her mother and the family. My friend’s heart aches as she cries, “Where are you, Daughter?” This mother’s cry echoes the heart of our Father God. Before time began ticking, when the universe was a dark, empty void, God called the world into existence. After creating stars and moons, oceans and continents, fish and animals, he designed the first man and woman in his own image. God placed his children, Adam and Eve, in a garden called Eden [2] . In the cool of the day, God himself would walk with them and enjoy their company. Adam and Eve lived utterly free. They knew nothing of shame, fear, or re...
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Who Will Love Jesus More? | Luke 7

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Welcome to Real Life . Sometimes we forget. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. [1] “Being lost is worth the being found.” –Neil Diamond Why is this woman in my house?  She just showed up. Unwanted. Uninvited. But there she stood—directly behind Jesus.  My name is Simon. I am a Pharisee. I pride myself in keeping my hands clean. I invited Jesus to a dinner party in my home. I also extended an invitation to some of my colleagues, other Pharisees and religious leaders. The type of men I am proud to associate with. We were all curious about this Jesus of Nazareth. I recognized the woman, of course. Everyone in town knows who she is and the kind of sinful life she leads. A woman of her reputation had never crossed my threshold. But before I could rise to throw her out, she began to weep. As she wept, she knelt and allowed her tears to wash the road dust from Jesus’ feet. Then, she let down her hair and used it to dry them. Afterwards, to my horror, she began kissing Jesus’ feet...
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A Treasure in a Clay Jar | 2 Corinthians 4

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Welcome to Real Life.  Got pain? “The fact that my entire body cracks like a glow stick whenever I move, yet refuses to actually glow, is very disappointing!” –Anonymous In the last few months, I have battled some minor health issues. First, I had a difficult tooth extraction. The ache lingered longer and stronger than I expected. Then, I developed an infection. Before that healed, I came down with a horrendous cold. “We have this treasure in jars of clay.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV) I happened to read this Scripture while struggling, and I felt the truth of that last phrase. I am a jar of clay. I easily chip, crack, and break. I tire quickly and small setbacks (like a toothache) discourage me. This clay jar is aging. Our bodies face an expiration date. Honestly, in itself, this ordinary clay jar is not worth much. But, wait! Because this Scripture also unveils a powerful word of encouragement. For those who place their faith in Christ, these ordinary clay jars hold an eternal treasur...
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Do You Really Love Me, God? | 1M Views Celebration!

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Welcome to Real Life . Join me in celebrating. Recently, this blog recently reached a HUGE milestone— one million views ! Can you believe it? All praise and glory to God for taking this little blog far beyond my expectations. And I am also grateful to you, my wonderful readers! Whether you’ve stopped by once, or read every post faithfully, I thank you for trusting me with a few minutes of your time. In honor of reaching the one million mark, I am reposting my very first Real Life blog, published on September 10, 2011. _____ “Do You Really Love Me, God?” The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV) At one time, I couldn't own this verse. Intellectually, I knew it was true. God loves me. He loves everyone, right? I could easily believe God loves you. But I struggled to experience his love myself. Although the Christian life is not based on fe...
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What Makes a Life Complete? | 1 Corinthians 13

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Welcome to Real Life . What do you long for? “What does not satisfy when we find it, was not the thing we were desiring.” –C.S. Lewis What makes a life complete? Earn a degree. Get a promotion. Raise a family. Grow a healthy financial portfolio. Travel the world. All these things are good and beneficial. But we can reach these goals, and soon feel empty afterwards. Because accomplishments pale in comparison to the one thing that completes us—love. To love and be loved fills our hearts and lives like nothing else can. Although we know this is true, sometimes even in the church, we get it wrong. We tend to downplay the importance of love. We elevate action: powerful preachers, bold and impressive apologists, charismatic teachers, and impactful missionaries. Certainly, those who pour out their lives in service deserve our respect and honor. For this reason, God’s perspective in 1 Corinthians 13 may shock us. If I lead worship with the voice of an angel or fill stadiums with my captivatin...
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