Recapturing Our Joy of the Lord
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”—Romans 15:13 (NIV). Time spent with my grandchildren brings this grandmother, known as Nana, great joy. My youngest, now three, recently spent a few hours with me while her daddy and older brother went to a movie. Although I was tired from mowing my lawn earlier in the day, I gave in when Ruby wanted to play outside. Barefooted, we stepped into the backyard to enjoy the waning days of …
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”—Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV). If you’re feeling anxious or going through a difficult season, you’re not alone. With pandemic issues, worldwide disasters, divisive discourse, and political division, many are unsettled, even the most faithful Christians among us. Struggling to make sense of our chaotic world, it’s often difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Have we’ve taken our eyes off “The Light?” In John 8: 12, Jesus says, “I …
Why Do We Complain so Much?
“Friends, don’t complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner”—James 5:9 (MSG). Have you ever been around someone who could do nothing but complain? I’m not saying I never complain, but I’ve been around others, who, as my dad used to say, “wouldn’t be happy even if you hung them with a new rope.” I used to laugh when my dad used that expression, which originated, according to some sources back to Medieval times when people had to be hung with a new rope to …
God, Please Open Our Ears and Eyes
“For this nation’s heart has grown hard, And with their ears they hardly hear, And they have [tightly] closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, and turn [to Me] And I would heal them [spiritually]”—Matthew 13:15 (AMP). A friend and I were recently talking about our hearing. I don’t recall how our conversation led to this topic. But we’ve both experienced improved hearing after our physicians discovered a buildup of wax in our ears, requiring a cleansing of the ear canal. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but …
What Does it Look Like to Walk the Talk?
“And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it”—2 John 1:6 (ESV). Our pastor often asks the congregation the following question: “Do you know who you are and to whom you belong?” In other words, do we belong to the world, or do we belong to Jesus Christ? Belonging to the world means we’re not following the example of our Savior and Lord. If we claim to be a Christian, yet let ourselves be swayed by the world’s values, we …
What We Do for the Least of These
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”—Matthew 25:40 (NIV). A recent social media post from a friend gave me “God bumps.” The story she shared began with a dream she had about homeless people on her street. She writes, “People just kept walking past them. The words ‘the least of these’ kept coming in my spirit.” After waking up, Stacy turned on the TV. “A Samaritan’s Purse commercial came on quoting Matthew 25, and talking about ‘the least of these,’” she said. Later that …
Charley Rose Has Captured My Heart
“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart”—Luke 18:1(NRSV). It’s difficult to not lose heart when our prayers go unanswered. Whether it’s for a specific need or a special person, when we don’t see immediate results, we can lose hope. One encouraging scripture about hope is found in Isaiah. “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” (40:31). Our hope is in the Lord. We can’t lose …
God Never Gives Up on Anyone
“If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have”—1 Corinthians 13:3-6 (MSG). Have you ever wanted to give up? Maybe you’re tired, worn out, and frustrated. You want to walk away. I’ve been there. How about you? I’ve been in physical therapy since late March …
Lord, What Do You Want Me to Do?
“Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord? … What do You want me to do?”—Acts 9:3-6 (NKJV). Most of us are familiar with the story of Saul, the persecutor of Christians. After being struck down on the road to Damascus, he was used by God and eventually became the apostle, Paul. Paul discovered God’s gospel truth and God’s will for his life. He then spent the rest of his days spreading the …