Be Ready and Don’t Be Afraid (Matthew 23-24; Mark 12-13; Luke 21:5-38)
Do you live today as though you will live forever? Jesus’ words in Mark 12 remind us how fragile life is and call us to love God with all we are and honor Him now.
Do you live today as though you will live forever? Jesus’ words in Mark 12 remind us how fragile life is and call us to love God with all we are and honor Him now.
Contrary to what culture tells us, joy is not an emotion reserved for exciting days or momentous events. In a world that seems steeped in despair, choosing to rejoice is spiritual warfare that shapes our perspective and opens our eyes to the gifts we already have.
As much as we'd wish otherwise, we can't avoid sorrow here on this earth. But for the Christian, real joy isn't tied to the absence of sorrow; it is found in the person and presence of Christ.
Being excluded and finding ourselves on the outside can leave us feeling uncomfortable at best, and deeply wounded or broken at worst. What a relief to discover that Jesus came for the ordinary, weak, and tired, bringing joy to every one of us.
Do you sense that God is distant? If so, here are a few things you can do.