Looking Up, Looking Back, Looking Forward
“Come!” answered Jesus. So, Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. “Save me, Lord!” he cried— Matthew 14:29-30 (GNT). When I read the story of Peter taking a step out of the boat to walk on water toward Jesus, I’m amazed. While Peter has been described as impulsive, outspoken, and headstrong, he was also courageous. Jesus commanded Peter to come. But when Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. How many times …
Give Thanks to the Lord for Spilled Milk
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds”—Psalm 9:1 (NIV). Did you know that giving thanks is not a spontaneous emotion? It’s a habit we must develop, according to an article by Pastor Rick McDaniel. After reading McDaniel’s article, I contemplated the above statement. I had to agree with him. I’d never considered that giving thanks wasn’t an automatic response. Think about a reaction you might have had, let’s say, to spilled milk. I used to get upset when one of my young children knocked over a glass of …
Our Father’s House Has Many Rooms
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going”—John 14:1-4 (NIV). As I was returning from a visit to Kansas City, Missouri, where my sister lives, I reflected …
Peace Comes When We Give God Our Mess
“God is not a God of disorder but a God of peace” – 1 Corinthians 14:33 (GW). Recently, during my morning time with God, I grabbed my prayer journal before opening my Bible. I needed peace. Needed to pen my thoughts to my Heavenly Father. Seeing, in writing, what was really bothering me helped me to slow down and listen to the Holy Spirit’s reply to my pleas for help. After spilling my frustrations onto the lined paper of my journal, I took a deep breath. Then, I prayed, “God, please help me make sense of this mess.” The mess …
God Has Given Each of Us a Gift
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” – 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT). In late spring, I purchased a small plant on a close-out sale. The tag stated it was a Morning Glory vine. I love the cheerful flowers, but I have not grown one in over ten years. The plant had been a gift from a friend. Anticipating blooms of pink, purple, or blue, I was disappointed when nothing happened. By early August, there were still no blooms popping up. However, each morning, I noticed …
We Need the Power of the Holy Spirit
“But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”—Acts 1:8 (GNT). I never thought I’d be sharing the gospel message in Wal-Mart. The timing was right, but I couldn’t do it in my own power. Our conversation began while the young man was preparing to give me my yearly flu shot. Glancing at the paperwork I’d filled out, he asked me to confirm my birth date. When I answered that I was born …
Do You Ever Doubt God’s Love?
“Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”— Joshua 1:9 (TLB). At one time or another in our Christian walk, I imagine most of us doubt God and His love for us. Some of us may doubt, after years of praying, that He will ever answer us. However, we’re in good company. Remember Abraham and Sarah, who doubted God could give them a son in their old age? In fact, Sarah even laughed in disbelief. But God had a better plan, and everything is in His timing. …
Do You Remember God’s Deeds?
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds”— Psalm 77:11-12 (NIV). If you’re like most people, you probably don’t want to dwell on past mistakes and sins. Sometimes, it’s difficult to purge those thoughts from our memories, especially if our past is filled with pain and regret. However, there is one thing we can do to let go of the negativity and embrace the goodness of God. We can reflect on God’s past actions in our lives to …
God Prunes Us for His Kingdom Work
“He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more”— John 15:2 (NLT). Each year as the summer wanes, I force myself to continue pruning my flowers or deadheading them. In the horticulture world, deadheading means removing faded blooms, especially in flower gardens. After the plants are pruned, more blooms emerge. In the spring, I’m filled with energy and excitement as I dig holes to plant my flowers. Pruning them as they grow isn’t a chore, but a delight because I know it will …