Mike Jantzen
Mike’s passion is crafting words that carry grace to the heart. He has four children, and he’s married to Stephanie, who is also a writer, and a much finer one in his opinion.
Jesus, The Gospels, and The Telephone Game
If you’ve ever played the telephone game, you’ve probably had some funny, maybe even nonsensical results. We’ve all heard stories that were embellished and distorted in the retelling. It’s healthy to have some skepticism when it comes to outlandish sounding stories. The stories of Jesus and his miracles found in the Bible are quite spectacular […] Read More >
Let it Rain
We’re only a few days away from Advent! Are you ready? Today’s Advent Journey Life Lesson is The Wise Men: In Search of the King (Pt. II) “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3, ESV […] Read More >
My Second Chance at Evangelism
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16) When it comes to evangelism, I’m a pretty slow learner. Fear and timidity often hold me back from obeying the Holy Spirit. Several years back I was […] Read More >
Please Disturb Me
Scripture Reading: Luke 8:26-39 I would definitely rate some Gospel stories as PG, maybe even 14+. I vividly recall my first experience watching the Jesus Movie as a kid. I held my breath as Legion came on the scene. “Look out! Don’t get out of the boat!” I almost shouted to the disciples as I […] Read More >
Pleasing Everyone, All the Way to Burnout
Some of us are hardwired to try to please everyone. We were the kids growing up who actually listened… well, most of the time. We cared what our parents and teachers thought and wanted to make them happy. It was easy to become a people pleaser because the applause reinforced it — made us believe […] Read More >
Put a Smile on God’s Face
Share this Devo on Facebook and Twitter: What does a warhorse have to do with Christmas? http://thelife.com/DailyDevotions/put-a-smile-on-gods-face #LifeDevo “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” Psalm 147:10-11 “Christmas is just […] Read More >
Remarkable Love
There’s a longing in each of us to belong—to find people who will accept us for who we are, not for who we pretend to be. It can be pretty tiring to feel like we have to veil or adapt who we are in order to please others. That’s a big part of why Jesus […] Read More >
Six Myths About the Abundant Life
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b) Abundant life. We talk about it. Sing about it. Pray for it. Books and conferences promise it. But what is it really? There are so many different ideas about how to live the abundant life, so here’s a look at six myths Christians […] Read More >
So What if Jesus Rose From the Dead!
Would you like to attend a TED conference? I know I would jump at the chance! My brain would be stretched in new directions—untapped synapses igniting, my imagination exploding with new possibilities! Why is TED so popular? One reason is the high caliber of speakers they garner: innovators, out-of-the-box thinkers, people carving out new ways […] Read More >
Stop Trying to Get Right With God
Are you trying to stay right with God? Maybe it’s time to quit! http://thelife.com/dailydevotions/stop-trying-to-get-right-with-god #LifeDevo “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Romans 4:25 “Come to the front to get right with God.” I heard that a lot at youth events. I’d often respond to the altar calls: guilt-ridden, […] Read More >