Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in Italy
My Letter to Future Goers
You are blessed. Prayers go before you, hope goes with you, love remains behind you. You are hedged in by more blessings than you understand. How many people have spoken truth and goodness into your life and ministry as you’ve begun this holy pilgrimage? How many intercessions and praises will be declared over you by the time you return? More than we know, praise God. Draw near to God, rejoice always, and be still. Good and bad times will come. As will both extraordinarily great and difficult ones. That’s true anywhere. Don’t forget that the same people who helped you through life in your... Read more
Seeking God
God has done so much. God went through extreme measures to be with us. After an excellent, honest conversation with an unbelieving friend, I was drawn to reflect upon just how much effort God invests in relationship. Not that it’s difficult or tiring for the Lord, but from my perspective it seems like a lot of work. After a long and varied conversation, my friend offered her timeworn conclusion. She lacks motivation and desire to pursue God with her whole heart. She wants to encounter Christ; she simply doesn’t want the effort of seeking Him. This confession transformed into a prayer. But as... Read more
The Beauty of Balance
Balance is universally desired. Consider people, nature, work environments, religions, relationships, or anything else. Creation favors equilibrium because that was God’s design from the very beginning. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The light and the darkness. Day and night. Land and water. Plants and animals. Male and female. Things that are not the same, but exist in a beautifully mysterious symbiosis. This month, I’m reading Genesis in Italian with the fresh eyes of my English students. Reading the Bible in another language always reveals something new, but... Read more
Power to Pray
Today I’m writing about something I rarely share. I’m not opposed to talking about it, but I never discuss these things on a public platform because of potential misunderstanding. So here is your disclaimer: please don’t think anything I am about to say is communicated in pride. Humbly I come in hopes of both encouraging you and showing a bit of my private faith. Last month, my cell group began studying Matthew 5-7, known as the Sermon on the Mount. We began with the Beatitudes, reflecting upon something we’d like to see expanded in our lives and praying for God to bless it with growth. I... Read more