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William Blake, Moses Indignant at the Golden Calf We become what we worship. This idea is something we encounter throughout Scripture. What grips our hearts—what holds our attention at the center of our lives—motivates us, moves us, and leads us wherever it desires. We see this clearly in the sharp contrast between Herod the Great …
Continue reading "What Has Your Heart?: Jesus, Herod, and the Temptation toward Idolatry"
This week, I am sharing some spiritual practices for reflecting on the previous year and stepping forward into the new year. Stepping Forward with Dedication Related to this focus on God is a dedication of our lives from the inside out. Psalm 86 is a one of my favorite psalms. Verse 11 has become particularly …
Continue reading "Stepping Forward into 2021 with Dedication and Praise"
This week, I am sharing some spiritual practices for reflecting on the previous year and stepping forward into the new year. Stepping Forward with Focus Just as we look back at the previous year gone by with thanksgiving, lament, and repentance, it is important to step forward into the coming year in a personally engaged …
This week, I am sharing some spiritual practices for reflecting on the previous year and stepping forward into the new year. Looking Back: Lament Sometimes, however, when we look back over the year, particularly in this devastating last year, even while we’re trying to give thanks, we remember experiences, events, or relationships that we’d rather …
Continue reading "Looking Back at 2020 with Lament and Repentance"
The end of the calendar year provides a good opportunity for us look back at the previous year and to look forward at the coming year. Oftentimes, we try to set New Year’s resolutions. I am not against the practice but much research shows that the majority of New Year’s resolutions, about 75%, are never …
Matthew Erickson 