Sanctified-ish ThoughtsA work in progress, living life on life's terms (Phil. 1:6). Soli Deo Gloria!Rest in Christ

He Saves His Enemies!

I update and repost this every year on this day. I am so grateful for the work of Christ in my life and I want to glorify Him and to make much of Him every chance I get! 27 years ago today the Lord, in His sovereign love, grace, and mercy, changed my heart and […]

Christ Is Enough!

Christians are those who have been born again, loved, forgiven, redeemed, adopted, and given new hearts with new desires and affections. “Our love and desires are so high that were we to gain the whole world it would not satisfy; and were we to lose the whole world and everything in our lives, we would […]

Our Worth

Our worth is not defined by our possessions, our accomplishments, our strengths, or even our weaknesses or failures. Our worth is not defined by what others think of us or how they treat us. Our worth is defined by our Creator. Our worth is found in the cross of Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean that […]

You Are Mine

One of my favorite songs is a beautiful, encouraging song based on Isaiah 43. It’s such a great reminder that the Lord is with us, He will always be with us, He will never let us go, we belong to Him. He is the One in control… But He may not (at least not on […]

I Have To Deal With This Again? Really?

It’s one of the things I’ve written about before because, evidently, it’s something that I struggle with a good bit. And one reason I write is that writing send to help me work through things… so, welcome to the process, I guess? Often I feel inadequate, like I’m not enough (I’ve done the best I […]

Inadequate

During those times when life starts to get the best of me; situations and circumstances are working against me; my own mind begins to work against me, and it feels like my own heart is condemning me… thoughts of “I’m not enough” begin to beat down on me. I know if I don’t get out […]

His Gospel is Peace

In Christ my weaknesses, struggles, failures, and insecurities don’t define me; troubles and circumstances do not determine my destiny. They may overwhelm ME, at times even overcome ME, but they cannot and will NOT overcome Christ. He is the One who controls all things. He determines my destiny. He is why I have peace in […]

One Morning At A Time

In taking things one day at a time, I tend to do better if I start my day focusing on the One who gives me the strength to make it through the day. So I thought I would share a few brief, simple prayers that I start every morning with. My hope is that this […]

I Am an Alcoholic

This post has been on my heart for a while now, but I didn’t want to do it while my sobriety was fresh and new. Because, well honestly, it’s difficult to take someone seriously who only has a few weeks or months of sobriety talking about how different they are now. They may actually be […]

Suffering Brings Hope?

My life doesn’t look the way I thought it would 10, 5, or even 2 years ago. Things haven’t gone according to MY PLANS. Yet things are not out of control. I have learned (well, still learning) what it means to trust the One who is in control and sovereign over all things. Admittedly, some […]

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Faith Over Fear

I’m afraid. There, I said it. It’s really not that difficult… now. There was a time in my life not too long ago when I was afraid to admit I was afraid. I thought it displayed weakness or lack of faith. And I needed to be strong; for my family, for others. I was a […]

Vertical Peace

Whether we have realized it or not, what we’re really searching for is joy, peace, and life; we want life—life to the fullest, life abundant. God has blessed us with instincts, desires, and so many gifts (marriage, sex, kids, friendships, community, food, drink, homes, hard work, jobs, ministry, sunrises/sunsets, mountains/beaches, etc.). All of which are […]

Where Is Your Hope?

Hope is inevitable for our human experience. We are hopeful creatures. We are all looking for someone or something to place our hope in. That is the way God has created and wired us. Or lives are fueled and directed by hope. The question is will the object of our hope let us down? Paul […]

The Hope of Healing

I hate when my weaknesses, fears, insecurities, and character defects are exposed. It’s painful. It’s ugly. It’s embarrassing. But they are always there, all that brokenness, lurking in the shadows, wreaking havoc on our lives, whether they have been revealed to us or not. Sometimes that brokenness comes from our own sinful desires and wicked […]

The Prodigal Remembers

Luke 15:17-18 But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. In utter despair, the […]

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