According to the Bakers Evangelical Dictionary of Bible Theology, “the generic meaning of sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is “sanctified” when used to write. Eyeglasses are “sanctified” when used to improve … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 34 – SANCTIFY

Have you ever been in a rowboat? Once when I was on holiday, I tried to cross over to a small island in a rowboat. The further I went out into the lake the further the island seemed to be from me. I enjoyed using all my muscles to lunge the boat forward, but it … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 33 – STEADFAST

We are really good at excuses. We seem to be born with an innate ability to blame shift. If you have ever hung out with little children for any length of time it doesn’t take long before you hear some kind of excuse.  As we grow into adulthood, we simply refine our technique.  We learn … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 32 -IT’S SERIOUS

Once upon a time there was an old sea captain. His hair was white from the years he had spent at sea, and his skin was like leather, stained by the sun and the salt.  In his many years on the sea he had seen a lot of heartache, pain, and sorrow. Indeed, he had … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 31 – ONCE UPON A TIME

If we have ever been in love, or at least keenly interested in someone, we know the intensity of love in its newness. Our lives begin to revolve around that person, getting to know them, spending time with them, and planning on spending time with them. Our younger friends laugh and tell us that we … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 30 – YOUNG LOVE

If a person killed another person in premeditated cold blood, and if that person standing on trial, was given a full pardon, we would say that justice was not served out to that man. If in the same vein, we were to stand trial for our sin, so dark and so continuous, violating God’s righteousness … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 29 – GUILTY AS CHARGED

The Bible is filled with the term “mercy”. We know that our God is a merciful God. We are told to “be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:35) The Gospel of Matthew tells us, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”(5:7) But what exactly is it? According to the Baker’s … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 28 – NO EXCUSE

We are busy people; always running here and there, schedule bound, maintenance leaning, hamster wheel-running people. We often have cluttered minds, live in cluttered houses, and have cluttered lives. Much of the vacation industry is built on our desire to escape this daily obstacle course, and remove ourselves from the constant pull of our often … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 27 – IT’S SIMPLE

“Let’s have a party!” There can be a real pause when we hear those words in Christian circles, but there doesn’t need to be. Of course the culture’s idea of a party and ours will look different, but gathering in celebration was not only practiced in bible times, but anticipated as well. Celebrations were part … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 26 – PARTY TIME

Do you ever feel alone in a crowd? Do you ever feel alone in a struggle? Do you ever feel that no one could possibly understand where you are coming from or where you seem to be going? Human beings were made for community, but there are many times in our walk through this life … More Daily Encouragement for a Healthy Life in Christ Jesus – Day 25 – ALL ALONE