#haven today

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

To Where Did Jesus Ascend?

“‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” - Acts 1:11

Now where did I put my car keys? After checking all the likely places—purse, pockets, counter—I start to look in the unlikely ones, like the dog’s crate. When Jesus ascended, He disappeared from sight. Everyone wondered, Where did He go? He went up to the most welcoming of places: heaven...

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Gospel in History

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God.” - 1 Corinthians 15:14-15a

Those who attack the gospel often focus their attention on whether Jesus actually rose from the dead or not. Paul links the gospel with Jesus’ resurrection (Romans 1:4), acknowledging it was so critical that if Christ had not been raised, our faith is in vain...

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

All Things Together for Good

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

Sometimes we are privileged to have a “look behind the curtain” with the ways the Lord works all things together for good in our lives, as Paul assures us is true. When a stroke eight years ago forced me to transition from my job as a corporate real estate attorney...

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

What Christmas Is All About

Bright lights, festive music, and time with family. Isn’t this what Christmas is all about? Even Christians sometimes lose sight of the main thing — that God sent His Son to save the world from sin. Re-center your heart around Jesus this Christmas when you listen to this week’s series.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Ruling Creation and Church

And seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority …. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” - Ephesians 1:20-22

by Charles Morris | When we brought a new puppy into our family, we had no idea how much work lay ahead of us. Potty training and puppy classes filled our days and nights for a long while. One particularly frustrating day, I cried out to God while Genesis 1:26 popped into my head...

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Glory

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

“What is our purpose in life?” This was the question I asked as a teenager at a Wednesday night church fellowship gathering. The pastor responded by saying, “To bring glory to God.” At the time, that didn’t make much sense to me. It wasn’t until years later that I realized the problem wasn’t in his response; it was in my understanding of the word “glory.” Glory is one of the most common words...

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Remembered by God

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness …, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” - Luke 1:78-79

Everybody, it seems, is looking for a Christmas miracle. This time of year, the heart yearns for something new. Just google “Christmas miracle” and see how many results you get! But eventually the post-Christmas letdown comes with the return of life’s everyday dark clouds...

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Got Any Good News?

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21

Charles Spurgeon summarized what this good news is by saying, “The heart of the gospel is redemption and the essence of redemption, is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ” (1886). The more we let this sink in, the more we realize...