daily reflections

  • Oratio: For His Glory

    Oratio: For His Glory

    May even my painbe for the gloryof Godwhat I perceiveas sufferingis not done to mebut for meto bring me closerto Himfor nothingabsolutely nothinghappens in this lifeourside of God’sgreat andloving purposefor meHis beloved ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

  • Lectio: Many Hardships

    Lectio: Many Hardships

    They preached the gospel… strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ~Acts 14:21-22

  • Scriptio: Prioritize The One Thing

    Last year, we had jiu-jitsu black belt Brian Glick come to our academy to teach a seminar for the academy’s third anniversary, something he has done every year since we opened this particular location. Whenever he comes down, he is gracious enough to spend much of our time together answering my many jiu-jitsu questions.…

  • Oratio: The Foundation

    Oratio: The Foundation

    The love of the Lordis the foundationbeneath my feetHis waysare mighty and justHe carries mewhere I need to gothrough the storms of conflictand the deserts of despairHis loveis the bridgeacross which I walkto salvation ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

  • Lectio: The Advocate

    Lectio: The Advocate

    “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to…

  • Scriptio: Living A Worry-Free Life

    I often wonder how much worrying is enough. In fact, it could be said that I worry about how much I should or should not worry. I worry that if I don’t worry then no one will worry and the things that need to get done, the things about which I am worried, will…

  • Oratio: Shadows Run

    Oratio: Shadows Run

    The shadows runfrom your divine lightas you risethey fleecursingyour presencefor exposingtheir liesbut I will not hideI will walk into the lightin your loveand your truthI am set free ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

  • Lectio: Private Spirituality

    Lectio: Private Spirituality

    “To attempt to make spirituality a private affair is to reject part of our very nature and walk inside of a lonliness that God himself has damned.” ~Ronald Rolheiser

  • Scriptio: Writing For The Lord

    I’ve been struggling for a while now with a feeling that I can only describe as “restlessness, irritability, and discontentment.” I had been feeling great, perhaps better than I have felt in years. Then, one day, it just kind of hit me and, in spite of my efforts and prayers, I can’t seem to…

  • Oratio: May They See You

    Oratio: May They See You

    Jesus help me to loveeven when that loveis not returnedwhen I am mockedscorned and betrayedhelp me to lovemy enemiesno matter how nearthey are to memake me a vesselof your gracethat through methey may see you ~Robert Van Valkenburgh