ARCHIVE September, 2016

Reserve: A Virtue Worth Remembering

Here’s a  Tiny Virtue for Exemplary Christian Living that you may not have considered: Reserve. In a microwave culture where we want everything instantly, consume things immediately, but tire of them just as quickly, the idea of reserve (until later) is a foreign concept. But even those who have mastered the art of saving, there’s […]

September 29, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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The Virtue of Reliability, an Anchor for the Soul

Can you think of someone in your life who you can always count on? Reliability is one of the more beautiful virtues among the Tiny Virtues for Exemplary Christian Living. Reliability is a lovely anchor for the soul. Like solid ground and rest for the weary and worn traveler. Some of you may be thinking, […]

September 28, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Discipline: a Holistic Virtue

Discipline is another character virtue, tiny in its visibility, powerful in its results. Have you ever stopped to think about the connection between faith and discipline? About discipline in a holistic sense?  The centurion did. Matthew 8: 5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, […]

September 27, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Calm: a Virtue of Wisdom

One of the Tiny Virtues for Exemplary Christian Living can easily go unnoticed, a character virtue of being calm. Just think how easy it is to become riled up over the latest atrocity or scandal. How easy to fly off the handle at some perceived insult. How quickly we can unfriend or hide posts of […]

September 26, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Honesty: the Tiny Virtue That is Bedrock

Do you put a premium on honesty? Do you expect it from others? If you’re like many people, you think that honesty is being systematically stripped from American life. We’ve become too satisfied with lies and have tolerated it in ourselves and in others. God doesn’t like falsehood at all. Especially from Christians. Honesty isn’t […]

September 25, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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A Tiny Virtue Called Contentment

The world is filled with people who don’t know contentment. They aren’t content with their jobs, their spouses, their children, their diets, their accomplishments, or their political candidates. (Figured I might as well add that one since everyone’s thinking it anyway.) In many cases, they feel as if they’re owed something better, something more. What […]

September 24, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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When Mindfulness is a Virtue

Mindfulness. It’s kind of popular these days to talk about being mindful, being present, but what all these gurus are talking about is different than biblical mindfulness. Author Julie Beck parodies this concept of mindfulness in The Atlantic: You probably see stories and tips about mindfulness online every day. But did you realize that reading these […]

September 23, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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The Tiny Virtue of Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness is not often seen as a virtue. It’s seen as evidence of mental decline into the sad world of dementia and the long goodbye of Alzheimer’s. But forgetting the right things can be a virtue to be gained. The Apostle Paul thought so. And God thinks so. Forgetfulness? “Don’t be silly!” Some of you […]

September 22, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Biblical Realism for Exemplary Christians

God is not a myth and Christians don’t live in a fantasy world. Sure, it’s easy to pass off a God we can’t see. But realism doesn’t ignore the spiritual. It’s a Tiny Virtue for Exemplary Christians who have one foot firmly planted on earth and one foot firmly planted in a spiritual world we […]

September 21, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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Caution-the Flip Side of Encouragement

Caution is the flip side of encouragement. Speaking a word of caution into someone’s life is never as welcome as speaking a word of encouragement. Never as welcome, but every bit as necessary. How do you feel when someone offers you caution about an approach you’re taking or a risk you’re running? It doesn’t take […]

September 20, 2016 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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