RMPP Blog

"Create in me a pure heart, O God"...

That’s the familiar tune we all know, but the writer of The Message puts it as follows,

‘Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make…

Our culture is about fast and easy access. Our phones are the fastest they've ever been, our food is cheap and our transport is fast. I've always wondered if this way of thinking spills into other aspects of our lives? Does this affect the way we talk to people? How we think about life? Is that how we approach our relationships?

With respect to relationships, it seems that our high-paced…

Does unforgiveness affect us as believers? I think many of us would agree that it does. So then why is it hard to forgive some people? As someone who has harbored unforgiveness towards others more times than I care to admit, I know this is still an area of growth for me.

Sometimes I find it more comforting to hold on to the offense than to walk away from the disappointment, anger, frustration,…

I am always being challenged in my walk to pursue greater maturity that reflects Christ in all that I do, whether in a public or private setting. I believe that the pursuit of greater spiritual growth is not dependent upon my feelings but upon His command to FLEE immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), be STRONG in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10), and PURSUE righteousness (2 Timothy 2:22).

We can only…

I would like to encourage you with a verse that I have highlighted in my Bible. It is Job 5:2 and it says:

"Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple."

There are times in my life where I have held on to resentment or envy. I have felt resentment before not only towards others but also towards God. I have held resentment towards God when I did not receive something…

In the beginning God created everything and it was good. Everything, except the fact that man was alone. About that God said, "It is not good...." (Gen 2:18). And, the results of a 75-year Harvard study have now proven God right (as if there was ever any doubt!). These results show that the secret to a long, happy and healthy life lies in relationship – not the number of but the quality of the relationships.…

What is the point in being sarcastic? As a person prone to this habit, I often found myself asking this question. More specifically, why did I find sarcasm such an appealing way to respond to people? As I have reflected on this question, I began to recognize that the following three attitudes are the primary reasons why I would choose sarcasm.

Defensiveness: I have used…

Take a look at the world today and you will see a society that is influenced by an enemy that seeks the breakdown of marriages. Divorce is common, immorality is everywhere and many marriages today are a far cry from what God intended for this sacred institution to be. But that doesn't have to be the case for our marriages. As husbands, we have a call and a responsibility to be the spiritual head…

I have learned these past few years that my spiritual health is of utmost importance and such a vital component to my pursuit of greater purity and consistent victory. For far too long I fought the idea that I just needed to find more time or to be better at balancing the time commitments I already have. Perhaps we need to look at how we can find a better blend as opposed to a better balance.

The…

I am in the process of finishing "The Good and Beautiful God", a book by Bryan Smith that is helping me to understand my God better. It really struck me when the writer penned: "The most important thing about a person is what they think about God." And further down he continues with: "What we think about God – what we think God is like – will determine the relationship we have with God. If we think…