• Relationship with God - Renewing the Mind - Spiritual Disciplines - Spiritual Growth

    How to Have an Easy Yoke

    - By 

    Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ake my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 Consider how subversive the idea that Jesus offers us an easy yoke. Certainly, this is the first time that such a thing is even suggested, even in the Bible. The Levitical laws don’t strike me as a burden that is light, after all. And religion is filled with duties and…

  • manipulation
    Communication

    Five Predatory Forms of Manipulation to Cut Out of Your Life

    - By 

    Most of us are guilty of manipulation at times. We all want to have our own way and sometimes communicating our desires requires a skill set which we have not yet acquired. Or perhaps we have learned manipulation in our childhoods from parents who learned it from their parents. Manipulation in any form is an illegitimate way of getting what we want. Manipulation, at its ugly heart, is dishonest. The good news is that normal, well-intentioned people respond well to both honesty and genuine attempts at communication. After all, the main goal of real communication is to reach understanding, if…

  • gift
    Relationship with God

    The One Gift God Still Desires

    - By 

    Gift giving is more complicated than simply handing over a nicely wrapped present. In fact, most of our gifts are not actual gifts. They are presents. The difference is that while a gift is unconditional, a present has a motive and often, an expectation. Notice no one ever says come get your free present. Free is a word only associated with gift. I am not slamming the present exchange we do at Christmas. We solidify and honor our family ties with the exchange of presents. We give our children things they need and want, though the fact that Santa Claus…