Category Archives: Spiritual Devotions

It’s evident that this weeks reading will focus on our thought life and the world of ideas that surround us. I’m always reminded of the nature of American car names and how even that is a cultural teaching moment. Names like Explorer, Navigator, Yukon, Mustang, Expedition, Tundra, Passport, Ridgeline, Colorado, Canyon or Sierra. All ofContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 22”

Todays chapter reminds me of an A.W. Tozer quote, roughly… “What we think about, when we are free to think about what we want, is either what we are or what we will become.” This chapter labels that as our first freedom, the power to select what our mind will dwell upon. We are theContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 21”

Vision. Intention. Means As we look at Spiritual formation, these are the three topics of consideration as we look into the future. Vision is about an ever-growing awareness of what it means to be part of God’s Kingdom and being Ambassadors for Him. “God’s name and God’s fame is the desire of my heart.” IsaiahContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 20”

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and there you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16  Years ago, while living in Duluth MN, I made a decision to snowshoe to work every dayContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 19”

We are finally headed in a forward direction and the discussion starts off with Vision. Looking forward, where are we headed? When riding a motorcycle around a curve, the best advice is to look ahead to see where you want to go. If you keep your eyes on the goal, you will intuitively make theContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 18”

Today’s chapter is a bit of a warning about moving into this journey and simply focusing on white knuckling the outward appearance of transformation. The chapter introduces the topics for the next three days. VIM Vision: Where am I headed Intention: The recognition that this stuff doesn’t just happen. Means: What are some of theContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 17”

Death to self can be a mixed bag and somewhat confusing and create great and obnoxious results!! Death to self is really an invitation to have Gods view of the matter and when it conflicts with my own view I surrender to His view. But we still live in a world filled people and sometimesContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 16”

Dead to self: what does that mean/look like? The book speaks about organizing our life around God instead of self… “we reject the preeminence of what we want, when we want it.” It’s an exchange of the way I see things for the way God sees things. The way I act for the way HeContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 15”

Every once in a while I probably should let people know that the title of my blog for 61 entries with be the title of the book we as a church are reading together. Your invited to read through it with us, we’re doing 5 two-page chapters a week for 12 weeks and a day!Continue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 14”

Today will be a little shorter as I have a heavy travel day before church tonight. “Moral Therapeutic Deism” is what this chapter reminds me of. Instead of understanding a ruined soul in desperate need of being transformed through the power of Christ, we’ve reduced Christianity to everybody just be a little more nice. AContinue reading “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Chapter 13”