An Encounter with the Living God
“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations”—James 1:2 (AMPC). A friend recently posted the following on social media: “One encounter with God can change your whole life.” She added, “I’ve personally experienced many God encounters that created a 180-degree change in my life.” Her post led me to ponder my own “God encounters.” My earliest childhood memories of experiencing God were in nature. I grew up in southwestern Louisiana, where I spent many hours outside inhaling His creation in the branches of a Mimosa tree …
When Decisions Lead to Defining Moments
“The Lord’s word came to Zechariah: The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims: ‘Make just and faithful decisions; show kindness and compassion to each other!’”— Zechariah 7:8-9 (CEB). Looking back on your life, can you remember a choice leading to a life course change? At some point in our Christian lives, we’ve either faced or will be faced with crossroad decisions. Crossroads decisions are defining moments. Those decisions influence or change our lives and affect our future. Imagine a fork in the road. Depending on the moment, and how you react to it, your life can go in one direction or …
Finding God’s Peace in the Unplanned Moments
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”— John 16:33 (ESV). A recent trip to the zoo with our youngest granddaughter was more memorable than we’d anticipated. We expected to experience the sights and sounds of the wild animals through a five-year-old’s eyes—which we did. However, we didn’t expect unplanned events to lead to delays throughout the day. The first delay was easily solved when the women’s restroom was shut down as we waited in line. Two toilets overflowed …
Helping Others Reveals Our Love for God
“He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, Love your neighbor as yourself’”—Luke 10:27 (NIV). In a recent sermon, our pastor used the parable of the Good Samaritan to remind us that we can all do something to help another in need. He said, “I’ve decided never to do nothing. Because we can always do something.” Then, in our Sunday School class after church services, we shared stories of when we helped a stranger or missed an opportunity to help someone. …
Has Your Faith Been Shaken?
“All of creation will be shaken and removed so that only unshakable things will remain”—Hebrews 12:27 (NLT). It was 1987 when I learned Oklahoma has a series of fault lines running through our state. When I heard this, I laughed in disbelief at the agent who was promoting earthquake insurance. I associated earthquakes with California, not Oklahoma. Twenty-two years later, I wasn’t laughing when our state experienced its first noticeable earthquake, at least in my lifetime. Late one evening, while I was reading a book, my bed began to vibrate. “Nah,” I thought, “I’m just imagining things.” Then, it happened …
Are You Hungry for More of God?
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry”–Matthew 4:1-2 (NIV). Several years ago, a social media challenge became popular as parents tested the patience of their toddlers. Some toddlers surrendered to the temptation before them, while others passed the test. The test involved placing a handful of candy on a kitchen table. The toddler, seated at the table, was then told not to eat the candy while the parent was out of the room for several minutes. Some toddlers didn’t realize they …
An Unanswered Prayer Isn’t the Last Word
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”— Philippians 4:6 (NIV). As I’ve grown spiritually, I find myself praying more often. Throughout my day, when someone or something comes to mind, I lift them in prayer. However, before I leave the house, I start the morning with prayer and my favorite hot drink—Earl Grey tea. I’ve created a special place to meet with my Abba Father each morning. In the corner of my spare bedroom are several devotionals, a notebook for jotting down my thoughts and prayers, …
Making Your Bed is a Gift
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change”—James 1:7 (ESV). A recent social media post on a friend’s page led me to consider the gifts we’ve received from God. Gifts we might overlook or not even consider in our daily lives. The story in the social media post was one of those gifts we sometimes don’t even consider. In the story, an adult daughter was packing up to head back home after visiting her aging mother. When the daughter noted …
Finding Hope in the New Year
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”— Isaiah 40:31(NIV). Isaiah 40:31 is one of my favorite scriptures. When I close my eyes, I can picture an eagle soaring overhead as I look up toward the heavens where I find my hope. The scripture also renews my strength and keeps me moving forward in a world often filled with hopelessness. We’ve just come out of a season of hope and joy—a season filled with goodwill toward …