The Journey

Written by: Carlisle Bilbo There have been several deaths in our family in recent years. Each time I hear of s o meone's pa ssing I cannot help but think of the finality of life ended. What is done is done. There  are no do-overs. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that "sorrow is better than laughter because s ober reflection  is good for the heart."  In these times of reflection, the Bible offers so much insight into the divine nature of God and into the very human nature of people. Reg retting wasted years, I have been thinking quite a bit about  God's plan for my life, but in looking back over those years, I can see God's guidance, protection, and His prov ision. The rain brought growth and the days of sunshine enabled me to stand tall. The years of drought and of plenty taught me stability and the importance of "being content in whatever state I am in." (Philippians 4:11) I see the missteps, too. For a long time, I have felt like much of the heartache I ...

Photo by Engin Akyurt Approval is something we all desire and rarely obtain because we look to human beings to provide it. We look to flawed, complex, selfish beings for validation on everything from how we dress, how we talk, what we watch on television, what we eat, how we raise our children, to who we date or even marry. We do this for that temporary moment of satisfaction that comes with an endorsement from someone we look up to or for the popularity we seek--even if it is done under the guise of "ministry." Meanwhile, we are being offensive to our Creator and living a life that is a betrayal and contradictory to the Bible.  Wait. What? I challenge you to seek out scriptures on this topic. Galatians 1:10 made my jaw drop. Paul wrote, "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." When we let others dictate our every move, we are in ...