Reset with Bonnie Sala
Episodes
Richard Foster wrote, "Celebration is central to all Spiritual Disciplines. Without a joyful spirit of festivity, the Disciplines become dull, death-breathing tools in the hands of modern Pharisees." So here's the question: does our faith seem cold and dead or does it invite others into joy?
Would you say that you have a personal relationship with God? As with any relationship, the connection is deeper when there's good communication. Do you spend as much time talking with God as you do messaging with family or friends? God doesn't demand that we set aside a certain amount of time to talk to Him, but the example that Jesus gave us in His own life shows us the importance of connecting with God.
Do you struggle with knowing how to nurture your child's spirit? So often, parents feel frantically busy and exhausted just keeping everyone alive. It takes thought and dedication to feed children spiritual food as well as milk, rice, and broccoli. When we internalize the truth of the gospel in our own hearts, we can share it with our children more affectively.
Supremacy is the "condition of being superior to all others in authority, power, or status." We tend to think of political leaders who declare their power supreme or one group declaring supremacy over another. Yet no human is truly supreme, because each of us eventually dies, and our influence for good or evil along with us.
How much stuff is enough? Even if you don't consider yourself rich, have you thought about this question in regard to your own lifestyle? What brings you satisfaction? If you got something you desired, how long did the satisfaction last?
It sounds like a scene from a horror movie: A naked man with superhuman strength living in a graveyard. He broke free from chains, cried out and cut himself. This man was possessed by many demons, but one day he saw Jesus from afar and ran to Him.
Have you ever felt spiritually stuck or lost, or sensed a lack of spiritual connection? This can be discouraging because we long for the feeling of harmony and growth that we have experienced before. God knows that we will go through difficult seasons, and he provides encouragement throughout the scriptures.
As Christians, we should reflect God's image in all we do. But we live in societies, or cultures, that we would have to call "ungodly." How should we then live? Should Christians be against media, for example, that does not reflect God? There is certainly evil reflected in the actions of humans, including Christians, but God's image may be found even in those who don't know Him.
Many things demand our attention. We've been conditioned to absorb information as rapidly as possible, and it can be a struggle to focus on concepts that require more time or study.
As we interact with the Bible, we should know that the Holy Spirit speaks through scripture. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is living and active. This is because it's the Holy Spirit that guides our minds when we read.
"We are terrible hopers in this day and age," says pastor and writer, Francis Chan. "We expect the worst because we've been let down too much. If something even halfway decent happens in a day we consider that a good day."[1] Does this describe you? The Bible says that "hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12 ESV). Part of the human condition on this planet is loss, pain and disappointment.
...The Bible talks about hope in God's glory, but it won't do us any good if it's little more than a nice-sounding religious sentiment. What, then, is God's glory? What does it mean to us? The glory of God is in the Gospel: God's story of Jesus' death for us, resurrection and our redemption and restoration back into right relationship with Him. When this story is told, God's glory shines out.
How often do we ask God to make things easy on us and to let us make all the major decisions? Thankfully, God doesn’t usually answer these prayers. “When we choose to stay in control, we are choosing to be controlled by something other than God,” says Cynthia Heald. “Although it seems safe and logical to be in charge of your life, it becomes a heavy responsibility.”[1]
[1] Heald, Cynthia. A Woman's Journey to the Heart of G...
Which is easier to remember--the last time you had an afternoon off when nothing was really planned, or your most recent stress headache? Most likely you remember the headache.
In Bible times, it was common for people to go on pilgrimages to worship at the temple of God. This journey was usually undertaken on foot, and passed through desert land, where water was scarce.
It is excruciating to watch someone that you love, who is far from God, making choices that you can see will end in ruin and pain. But we aren't responsible for the happiness, success, spiritual condition, contentment or fulfillment of any other person, other than ourselves! The Bible tells us in Romans 14:12 that we aren't called to improve anyone other than ourselves by saying, "So then, each of us will give an acco...
They just stood there, absolutely terrified. The king, all the men, their wives and little ones of Judah just stood before God, and cried out for rescue! The story is found in the Bible book of 2nd Chronicles. A vast army was headed their way and they didn't stand a chance. They begged God for guidance. "We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are on...
If you love Jesus, it can be scary, confusing, and feel embarrassing to experience doubt. Thankfully, Jesus himself is a good listener to our questions about Him, and He answers some of them in the Bible for us. In Mark 9, Jesus interacted with a man who was desperate for his son to be delivered from an evil spirit. "Anything is possible if a person believes," Jesus said to him and "the father instantly cried out, "...
Have you noticed that during crises, relationships feel more tense or difficult? In difficult circumstances, it is imperative to focus on conflict resolution through grace. Ephesians 4:2 reminds us to "make allowance for each other's faults because of your love." Making allowance means to create space or plan ahead. In other words, expect conflict during crises and respond knowing that arguments are often situationally ...
The life of Jesus Christ was radical in His day and continues to be a radical example today. He was not pressured by the traditions and social customs of His own culture when they went against the Word of God. He was willing to stand apart from the crowd, yet could say, "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?" (John 8:46). His life displayed complete honesty and soul‑penetrating insight into the lives of His contemporaries...