Author: Stephen De La Vega
1 || Spiritual Growth (8) 1a || Christian Character (33) 1b || Disciplines and Habits (26) 1c || Hope and Hardships (6) 1d || Walking in Freedom (13) 2 || Society and Culture (8) 2a || Citizenship and Government (9) 2b || Outreach and Evangelism (16) 3 || God and His Plan (25) 4 || Relationships (15) 5 || Stories and Poetry (33)
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Serve God with the Matchless Wisdom of Solomon
Wisdom was nicely packaged along with a dreamy and delectable fruit dangling from a forbidden tree. At least, that’s how it seemed for the…
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Sunshine Blogger Award
This blog post is a little different. It’s unplanned and not my regular, biblically-based writing. I’m happy to announce I’m a Sunshine Blogger Award nominee. …
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Our Master’s Voice: Comfort Outside the Comfort Zone (Animal Instinct Trilogy, Part 3)
[If you’re able, read Part 1, then Part 2, then this post. This trilogy includes some extraordinary but true animal stories and offers insight into…
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Follow the Leader
Paul was a man on a mission. Why wouldn’t he be? He was commissioned by God. God chose Him, told Him what to do,…
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Why I Write, Part 2 (or, Knowing God Will Bless Our Work)
My son participated in a community-wide summer youth orchestra and concert. During his practices I went to the gym after dropping him off. One…
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He Put the Ocean in the Shells
We’ve all listened. We put our ears to a sea shell so we could hear the ocean. Of course, what we really heard is…
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Why I Write, Part 1 (or, Knowing God’s Specific Plan for Our Lives)
Just over a year ago I published my first blog post: Even on Garbage Day, God Loves Us. 22 posts later, it’s still one of…
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It’s a Big World. What’s a Father to Do?
Gone are the days when I was regularly seen with an infant in my arms. I remember before my firstborn turned 1, my church…
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Run Faster. Run Farther. Breathe Deeper. (Animal Instinct Trilogy, Part 2)
[This is Part 2 of Animal Instincts Trilogy. Also read Part 1 and Part 3.] I stepped out of my comfort zone one day…
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Tulips, Transformation, and Team Blogging
Call us tulips. I claim the dark one. Yeah, I know it’s pink, but it’s the one that’s different, and I feel a little…
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Do We Appreciate the Many Colors?
We see colors when light refracts. That’s God’s design. He also designed each of us differently. Do we appreciate the colors when we look…
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Authenticity and the Identity Thieves, Part 2: Protecting Our Identities by Upholding God’s Truth
What determines our next steps? Who do we listen to? Do we follow God’s truth? Are we careful to discern and turn away from…
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Authenticity and the Identity Thieves, Part 1: Finding Authenticity Where Darkness Once Ruled
We live in days where some people pretend to be people they are not. They do this for their own gain, often with some…
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Freedom: Unleashed for a New Master (Animal Instinct Trilogy, Part 1)
Patrick Henry had the right idea when he stood before the Virginia Convention and said, “Give me liberty or give me death.” He wanted…
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Celebration of Life and Legacy
3 weeks ago I attended my aunt’s memorial service. We call it a “celebration of life” because of the life she lived on earth…
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Stone Cold Truth about the Grave, Grace, and Honor
We may not think of Jesus’ tomb as a tomb of honor, but it was. It was prepared with honor, it was sacrificed with…
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‘Going Postal’ Is Unwise and Counterproductive, and It Doesn’t Actually Characterize the Postal Service – Have Patience Instead
I used to think I was very patient. Any offense was water off my back. If things didn’t work out, no big deal. …Then…
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Emmanuel, God With Us …Still
Another Christmas has passed, but the celebration is not over. Do you remember this from last week? … the angel of the Lord appeared…
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The Christmas Story Began with a Forerunner
Alternate Title: Why Did We Hear from John the Baptist Before We Heard from Jesus? As I enjoyed Thanksgiving, I looked forward to Christmas…
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John 1, a Rhyming Paraphrase
To help ring in Christmas, I hope you enjoy this paraphrase of John 1. I wrote it in a fun meter so it might…