For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in. ~Matthew 25:35 NASB2020 The Opportunity Presented I hate missed blessings, but deciding when to help is difficult. Are they truly in need? Is it safe for me to engage with them? Are they trying to scam me? I want to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in … Continue reading →
Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. ~Galatians 6:1 NASB Many years ago, I had a schoolteacher friend who fell into sin with a student. He was exposed and went to prison. Our supervisor told us not to communicate with him because he had disgraced our school … Continue reading →
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! ~Psalm 133:1 ESV My wife and I decided to have biscuits for breakfast. We also wanted our biscuits to rise up. We pulled out the can and read the baking directions. Two options presented themselves: separate the biscuits so they didn’t touch, or let them touch so they would be unified—as if we were baking a single biscuit. Knowing we wanted taller biscuits, we chose the latter. … Continue reading →
The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. ~Proverbs 12:10 NLT When the boss asked if I wanted four kittens, I jumped at the offer. After all, I lived in the country with chickens, goats, and hogs. I needed a few cats to cut down on field mice and other critters. The Kittens I had not grown up in a household with cats. Nor had my parents. My grandparents on Mom’s side owned hunting dogs, mostly, … Continue reading →
Flannel pajamas, a cozy blanket, and a hot cup of lemon ginger tea come to mind when I think of comfort. But what if comfort is more than a feeling? What if it is a gift from God that He gives us, and that we, in turn, can give to others? Receiving and giving comfort is a large part of Christianity. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source … Continue reading →
“No!” Fred said, covering his overflowing ashtray, “You can clean everything else, but my desk is off-limits.” Fred needed me one-on-one. The Challenge I complied. How could I complain? I had a job that I thought I’d lose on my first day. When I realized the campus Human Resources Department had assigned me to a chemistry lab after I had taken Chemistry 101 twice, barely passing with a C-, I knew I had to inform my new boss, even … Continue reading →
For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you. ~Romans 1:11 CSB My five-year-old granddaughter peeked at the Christmas gifts under my tree. She bent over one box and read her name. “This one is for me!” She looked up. “Are there any more for me?” Physical Blessings I smiled. “That’s all for now. Isn’t that enough? Do you even remember your gifts from last year? What was … Continue reading →
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ~Ephesians 4:2 NIV My granddaughters love the pancakes I make and request them for breakfast whenever they stay overnight, which is frequently. Since I make the batter from scratch, the girls are always anxious to help by fetching ingredients and stirring the mixture. One day, seven-year-old Ade asked if she could try making the batter. Ade is a bit like a hummingbird: never still and always moving … Continue reading →
Be hospitable to one another. ~1 Peter 4:9 NKJV Mother pulled the pie from the oven. I hovered, waiting for a taste. How could she resist giving a portion of the friendship pie to her eight-year-old daughter? She continued to work, scalloping the edges of a second pie. Then she sliced apples and placed them in the pie shell. Next, she poured in the blueberries and raspberries that had been set aside in a bowl. Finally, she topped the … Continue reading →
I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! ~Matthew 25:40 NLT He pushed a buggy and always seemed in a hurry. The Challenge “I hate to throw away these leftovers,” my wife said after we finished supper. Cooking for two people is challenging, and she had prepared too much for our New Year’s meal. We had eaten leftovers twice and still had more … Continue reading →
