TAKE 5 | Avoiding Undigested Scripture Reading
Have you read through the whole Bible or ever deeply studied God's word? 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 explains "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." What does our scripture reading time look like? Is it deeply reflective, focused on the wisdom of God?
TAKE 5 | Creating Space for Grace: The Power of Saying No and Yes on Retreat
When we plan retreats or rest, do we really, fully remove distractions? Do we take the courage to say No so that we can experience the grace of God? Do we leave room for the Yes to God's generosity of his grace?
TAKE 5 | What is the Season of Your Soul?
Whether it's the weather or change amidst our lives, we all experience the ebb and flow of seasons. Today let's look closer and reflect on what season we're in and how and where God is meeting us in it.
TAKE 5 | Practicing Silence in Church
In today's fast-paced world, moments of quiet reflection in church services can be overlooked. But, silence on deepens our connection with God. Rethinking silence can bring a renewed sense of peace and spiritual growth to our worship practices.
TAKE 5 | Beyond Resistance: Discovering Peace Through Dependence and Surrender
The close relationship between righteousness and peace is fostered through the little virtues. Learning to align ourselves with God’s very good way for us tends to increase peace in our lives and our work. This is what I think the psalmist means when he writes, “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Psalm 85:10).
TAKE 5 | Focus vs. Distraction: Unpacking the Mary & Martha Story
What if we stopped labeling ourselves as a Mary or a Martha? What if we instead focused more on the characteristics these women portray in the Biblical narrative? How can we tune our focus to Jesus?
TAKE 5 | Little Virtues, Big Peace: Rediscovering Humility and Gentleness
To minimize anxiety we change our outside circumstances to be less stressful and more structured. But what if they keys is to focus on inward change? What would happen if we sought virtues Jesus embodied like humility and gentleness?
TAKE 5 | 6 Verses to Foster Spiritual Formation
God initiates. God transforms. Our part is to remain open, respond, and obey. Let's dive into the word and meditate on Him together. Let’s foster formation!
TAKE 5 | In the Eye of the Storm: Finding Peace Amidst Anxiety
Jesus cares about our concerns, but they don't worry him. He takes care of us just as he cares for and provides for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. Where is he providing and caring for you?
TAKE 5 | Unlocking the Power of Transformation
Some Christians talk about conversion as a one-time event. But we are all being converted over our entire lifetime into the likeness of Christ. Conversion is long and slow and messy because it’s a change in nature. The question is, are you aware of and cooperating with the God-initiated process?
TAKE 5 | The Journey to Peace: Overcoming Anxiety in Mind, Body, and Spirit
Anxiety can secretly envelope the different areas of our life, affecting our mentality and even the physical tenseness of our body. But when we take away anxiety's authority and replace it with God's peace, out mind, body and spirit can recover.
TAKE 5 | Trust Tested
Today we ask of ourselves the challenging question "How far would I go in sacrificing that which I hold dear, in a spirit of loving trust?" It's not easy when our deepest more prayerful desires and dreams have not been fulfilled. But what will you do with the emotions that come with that unfulfillment? Are you going to God for healing or pushing Him away in anger?
TAKE 5 | Unmasking Anxiety (Part 2)
In today's devotion, Alan gives us three more types of anxiety that may be unintentionally driving our life. Anxiety claims to warn us of a problem, but the anxiety itself may be the problem.
TAKE 5 | From Information to Transformation: A Gracious Path to Growth
Hearing passages of the Bible over and over again inform us, but how often do we let them transform us? It usually isn't as often as we are informed by them. Let's walk through the Parable of the Sower today with the expectation of transformation.
TAKE 5 | Unmasking Anxiety (Part 1)
Anxiety can underly our heart, mind, soul, and work. Today we'll share three attributes of God, the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, and Father we can remember when we become aware of this. Remember God is always with us!
TAKE 5 | The Importance of Abiding
In the midst of suffering we often ask God to remove our struggles. But what if we asked how God is in and with us in the midst of our suffering? How might that shift our perspective and encourage us?
TAKE 5 | Embracing the Yoke: Finding Soulful Rest in the Way of Jesus
The way of the Lord, taking on the yoke of Christ, is an invitation for us to learn and grow and rest in our Savior. This kind of rest refreshes our soul, renews our mind, and restores our bodies because we are made for the fullness and richness of soul that is complete in Christ. Let's look at a few ways we can full embrace Christ and his ways in us.
TAKE 5 | Gladness and Singleness of Heart
The phrase “singleness of heart” reminds us of how easy it is to wander from the presence of the one our heart belongs to. Whether it’s relying on our own strength to work or being distracted from our work, when our heart is not focus on first receiving and learning from God it is difficult to serve well. Where might you need to correct the focus of your heart?
TAKE 5 | In the Yoke of Jesus: A Path to Soulful Renewal and Rest
We might be familiar with the passage Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...", but how often have we actually thought about what this verse actually, practically means for our soul? What does this passage really say about the rest that we have in Christ?
TAKE 5 | Collaborating with God in Christ
It's easy to gloss over some parts of the Bible, but when we look close we find that little phrases can have huge intention and application. Let's zoom into the phrase "in the Lord" and investigate how Paul's words mean more than we might initially think!