Angela Mackey

Rethinking Christian Life

The Day After: How to Carry the Wonder of the Resurrection Every Day

I hope you enjoyed my lent devotions. I will be posting three times a week for the foreseeable future. I hope you are challenged, encouraged, and strengthened in your faith as you journey with me through Rethinking My Thinking. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go…

Waiting for Sunday When You Are Not Sure What Day It Is

The women who had come with him [Jesus] from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. Luke 23:55-56 ESV In the four gospels the only mention of the day between Jesus’ death and resurrection is found in…

Desperate Need Meets Amazing Supply: The Answer to Our Deepest Cries

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 ESV This is the day we remember that Jesus…

Betrayal and the Garden: Going Back to Church After Being Burned

but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48 ESV “I love Jesus, but I don’t like the church.” Yet the church is Jesus’ bride. His choice to bring the gospel to the world. Still some argue: The church is full of hypocrites. The church rejected me and abandoned me…

Eagerness and Peace: How to Fight for Unity

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV Unity. Jesus prayed that His children would be unified so that the…

When Religion Impedes Progress: How to Grow Uncomfortable

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 ESV If I narrowed my marriage down to a check-list what kind of marriage would it be? I said I do. Check. I live with him. Check. I take care of our kids. Check. Marriage is a relationship. One…

Defeat and Victory: Dying to Self to Live for Christ

Truly, truly, I [Jesus] say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24 ESV He held me in His hand. I saw the light of the sun and felt the cool breeze. Then one day He dropped me into…

Enough Faith: Trusting God When Things Don’t Go Our Way

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24 ESV “If only you had enough faith, you would be healed…” I’ve heard folks utter those words too many times. Is God really a great vending machine…

When Victory Limps

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Genesis 32:30-31 ESV In my mind victory looks like a basketball team jumping up and down after the last second…

Patience: Growing in the Waiting Times

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:25 ESV No one likes to wait, but many things in life take time. Sometimes we have to wait for test results, the call back from an interview, or a response to a text. Other times God has us…