Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. ~2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV I needed the presence and the peace of God. I try to spend extended time with the Lord on Sundays, reading His Word and praying. One Sunday, an overflow of prayer needs came to mind. My wife had undergone three hospitalizations the month before and was in rehab, getting healthy enough to come home. … Continue reading →
The Sheep I grew up in the upper Midwest, in a small community near the United States’ sheep capital. I could drive past farms and sale pens and see hundreds of sheep—large and small flocks. But my favorite time of year was spring, when little lambs with fresh fleeces danced in the fields and played beside their mothers. Their wool was always the brightest white, and their faces so sweet. They were endearing and curious. The older sheep had thick, … Continue reading →
My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weaknesses. ~2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV We say grace before a meal. We speak of God’s grace. But do we really know the power of grace? Grace comes from the word charis and may be defined as “the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life.” Grace happens within our spirits. Paul knew something about grace. He had to because he had experienced sorrows and … Continue reading →
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” ~Luke 12:15 NLT Who would have thought a book of stamps would buy what I wanted? Sadly, they turned into stamps for trade that disappoint. Years ago, as an additional marketing tactic to attract customers, Piggly Wiggly grocery stores offered Greenback stamps. A small machine was located just above the cash register. The cashier punched in the amount the customer had purchased, … Continue reading →
The hummingbirds found the hummingbird feeder on the front porch. At first, I only had one regular visitor: a small bird, most likely a female. She visited occasionally for a week. The next week, everything changed when two territorial male birds discovered the feeder. Every few minutes, tiny projectile-like blurs landed on the top of the feeder. They scanned for other birds. Once they deemed it safe, they dove in for a quick slurp of nectar and zipped off to … Continue reading →
But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see. ~Deuteronomy 3:28 NIV Our God is generous in His goodness to His people. Like Him, we are rich in His goodness and blessed to bless others. I read this verse and wondered if a “Joshua” might be in my life whom I had failed to recognize. Or, had I recognized a Joshua, but … Continue reading →
The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy. ~Proverbs 28:13 NET I am notorious for losing jewelry. Bracelets have slipped off my wrists, necklaces have mysteriously vanished, and years ago my wedding ring disappeared. Thankfully, I’ve since replaced it. Recently, however, I lost my ring again. I searched for weeks and finally gave up. While doing laundry, I found the ring wedged between the wall and the dryer. While inspecting … Continue reading →
“I’ve forgiven, but why am I still upset?” Why do I feel the same pain? The Pain of Unforgiveness These questions hit me every time someone hurts me. The emotions tear me down, giving me a heavy heart, even after I have forgiven. But God commands us to forgive because He has forgiven us. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of … Continue reading →
The Accusation “He said that I’m a liar.” My grandson’s eyes widened. “I’m not a liar!” he said, scuffing his foot across the grass. “What’s a liar?” Hiding a smile, I bent and spoke into his little ear, “When we say things that are untrue, that is lying. Is what you said the truth, or did you make it up?” “No, I didn’t make it up. It was true. He’s just being mean to me.” “Well, if you were speaking … Continue reading →
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ~2 Corinthians 4:8 NLT We are experiencing troubling times. The Bad News These are times of uncertainty. Bad news lurks on every front. COVID-19 hasn’t gone away. Inflation is through the roof. Fuel costs are reaching unprecedented highs, and food costs continue to rise. Wars and rumors of wars are the recent headlines. At times like this, however, it … Continue reading →
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law … so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law … so as to win those not having the law. To … Continue reading →
