Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42: 5-6 It’s that time of year again. The particular season of the year when I’m prone to remembering some very specific difficult events and even more painful emotions. It used to be that fall was my favorite time of the year. But that was before my daughter’s... Read more
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46: 1-2 “Some persons do first, think afterward, and then repent forever. “ Thomas Secker I was afraid. I sat in the circle of women and listened to another woman talk about the difficulties in her marriage and I could hear in her voice... Read more
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27: 14 “How do we get to the morning, to the sunshine, to the joy? There is only one way. By waiting for it.” Ken Gire I hate waiting. Like everyone else, I struggle against the ticking of the clock when I feel such a sense of urgency inside for something to change or for relief to come right this minute... Read more
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3: 17-18 “I know that every good and excellent thing in the world stands moment by moment on the razor-edge of danger and must be fought for…” Thornton Wilder When we consider making peace with someone, what thoughts... Read more
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20: 35 Your life has a plot; your years have a theme. You can do something in a manner that no one else can. And when you find it and do it, another sweet spot is discovered. Max Lucado in Cure... Read more
Don’t lose your grip on love and loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people. Proverbs 3: 3, 4 Circumstances may well appear, well, “circumstantial” and still we wrongly decide to become judge and jury in one fell swoop. But, we all can remember those painful moments when we were “so sure” we understood a situation and called... Read more
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34: 17, 18 Experts consult; then move on. Friends and family keep at it. Edward T. Welch in Depression: A Stubborn Darkness Much has been written on the topic of depression, some worthy of the press received, others not. Sadly, many of the... Read more
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. James 4:17 “In many ways, sin is the punishment for sin. The more I choose against God’s design and give in to my sinful desires, the more I suffer even if I never get caught, even if no one else knows.” Philip Yancey How much would you pay for a clean conscience? To sleep sound at night? To enjoy a guilt-free existence? What about the... Read more
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3: 25 Remember that old saying, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream? Well, in today’s world ice cream isn’t what’s causing most folk to run around screaming in silent frustration. It’s waiting. We’re a sorry bunch of “waiters” aren’t we? Our entire nation wants, no, demands that needs be met immediately. Whether the coveted object(ive)... Read more
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 Some persons do first, think afterward, and then repent forever. Thomas Secker Are You Careful Or Careless How would you describe yourself? Are you a careful person, one given to thoughtfully weighing decisions and their repercussions before acting? Or would you consider yourself the free-flying... Read more
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