My Journey Journal

But [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Sometimes I’m tired.  Sometimes I want to blog, to write something encouraging; my heart wants to express things but I get tired from the mental work and the things that pull at me and chip at me.  None of it is overwhelming, individually, but collectively it can be wit-dulling and energy-sapping.  Read more... (730 words, 1 image, estimated 2:55 mins reading time)

My mind understands manhood backwards. I’ve grown older thinking much of what I saw around me as “manly” was the definition of “being a man.” It isn’t necessarily.

Against what do you measure manliness?
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Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, defines the characteristics and behaviors of men and His definition is unchanged in the face of my predecessors’ or my contemporaries’ thoughts, feelings on the matter or choices.

God gives examples of courage and steadfastness in Daniel as he went into the lions den or when Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) & Azariah (Abednego) were thrown into the fiery furnace in Babylon.  Read more... (387 words, 1 image, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

God’s word, the Bible, is powerful.  Both the Jewish Testament and the New Testament tell us that God’s word is profitable.

Sometimes, however, English translations have subtle differences from the original texts.  Take for example a passage from Paul’s first letter to Timothy.

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.
1 Timothy 1:5 NLT

The Bible presents lists like this passage in 1 Timothy.  My question when I read this was which part is “the list?”  I see two possibilities and the difference may change what I focus on as I seek to follow Jesus.  Read more... (703 words, 1 image, estimated 2:49 mins reading time)