Reflections on faith, Scripture, and the everyday places God meets us. I share devotionals, sermons, and thoughts from life and ministry.
-
“Now I finally know the real meaning of Christmas.” I’ll never forget the Christmas Eve my family and I spent with our friend Jaeyoung in Daejeon, South Korea. It was a cold, snowy night—just the way Christmas Eve is supposed to be—and we walked from our apartment to Jaeyoung’s restaurant for dinner. The restaurant was…
-
“He withdrew to the district of Galilee.”—Matthew 2:22, NIV Matthew slips this line into the Christmas story right after Joseph brings Mary and the young Jesus back from Egypt. Warned in a dream not to return to Judea—because Herod’s son was now ruling there—Joseph takes his little family north, back to Galilee. Galilee. An ordinary…
-
But Saul, who was also called Paul… – Acts 13:9, ESV You know the tune—you can probably hum it without trying. Amazing Grace has been sung for nearly 250 years, and behind those familiar words stands a man—John Newton—who was blind in ways he couldn’t even recognize. A slave trader. Hardened. Adrift. Spiritually lost… yet…
-
Hi Friends, As December begins, the lights appear — and so does the Light our hearts quietly long for. In these early days of Advent, I’m reminded how the Lord often meets us in simple, unexpected ways… sometimes as quietly as the glow of lights on a tree. Below is a reflection from Nudgings that…
-
Hi Friends, For Thanksgiving, I wanted to reach back into the pages of Nudgings and share a chapter from the book titled “I’m Thankful.” I hope it speaks to your heart today. *** I’m Thankful Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God.—Psalm 50:14, NLT The other day at work, I passed a colleague in the hall…
-
The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never not heard.— Psalm 19:1–3, NLT (alt. rendering) There’s power in a pause — in a silent moment. That…
-
Friends, Hard to believe Nudgings has been out for a month now. What a joy it’s been to hear how God has used it to bless people — and one moment from those early days has stayed with me. A few days after release, I went to visit a family whose dear wife and mother…
-
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. — Romans 10:17, ESV When Paul wrote those words, few people could read. Most believers heard the Scriptures—not from a page, but from a person. God’s Word was first spoken—passed from mouth to ear, heart to heart. Faith came by hearing because that…
-
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. — Romans 12:2, NIV All summer long I kept telling myself I’d get to that fence in the backyard.…
-
When I was a kid, I loved watching American Bandstand—Dick Clark on the mic, live bands on stage, people dancing and clapping along to the music. I ended up being a musician myself, and I’m sure those Saturday mornings had something to do with it—for good or for ill. My parents came of age during…
Ryan's Ramblings 