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Top Ten Once Again
Tis that time of year when reflections run deep. Looking back on that which has been caught, I share. Here are a few of my favorites overheard this past year. I do not take credit for these. They are not mine. May these be a blessing to you as well.
1. When Jesus is in the midst, there will be peace.
2.True stewardship begins when we shift from giving to a need—to needing to give.
3. Exercise responsibility for that which has been entrusted to you.
4. Part with your stuff.
5. The three layers of prayer consist of—the history of, the mystery of, the practice of.
6. “Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.” D.B.
7. “The person who’s in love with their vision of community will destroy community. But the person who loves the people around them will create community everywhere they go.” D.B.
8. Sometimes bad things can happen to you, but it can teach you good things.
9. Look away from ourselves — towards the needs of others. 10. We give Thee but Thine own.
The following are the top ten take aways from my favorite book read this year. The title of the book, “Sinner Saint, A Surprising Primer for the Christian Life” was written by a theolo-gian at heart, Luke Kjolhaug (and yes, he is related.) He sheds light into our divided hearts.
1.“We may see the sinner, but God sees the saint.”
2.“In the battle with sin, we are called to honesty rather than perfection, because the more honest we are the more keenly we see our need for grace.”
3.“In our weakness, we have the chance to experience the strength of our Lord more intimately.”
4.“Life is not a journey toward independence but dependence. It is Christ-reliance we are after.”
5.“Growing up implies leaving home behind. Growing down implies we never outgrow home because we never outgrow our need for Christ.”
6.“The purpose of the law is to drive us to the gospel.”
7.“Where the law is the diagnostic tool (the spiritual CT scan), the gospel is the cure (the medicine that puts things right and restores health to the body).”
8.“For the Christian, Christless growth is not an option.”
9.“Jesus’ deepest impulse toward sinners is compassion. Is it ours?”
10.“The Holy Spirit daily empowers us to fight against our inner sinner, freeing us from its tyrannical power and enabling us to live differently.”
As you gather wisdom while journeying through 2026, may you take time to share it with others. It encourages. Amen.
