Helping the Homeless: An Invitation from Jesus
“Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”— Isaiah 58:7 (ESV). Driving by a deserted storefront, I did a double-take. Underneath the overhang was a mishmash of stuff. Someone’s meager belongings. An empty cart. A lump of humanity huddled under a blanket. In a town with a population under 20,000, it’s not a common sight here. I’ve seen people passing through with backpacks or pushing carts, but I’d never experienced a homeless person …
Tomorrow is Promised to No One
How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we shall live and do this or that”—James 4:14-15 (TLB). After a prolific professional football career, Walter Payton died at a young age at 45 from a rare liver disease. Known as one of the most outstanding and beloved pro football players of all time, Payton set records and amassed numerous awards. What many may not know about …
God is Perfect in All His Ways
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”—Matthew 5:48 (NIV). Confession time. I’m a Christian, but not perfect. I make mistakes and I mess up—sometimes big time. But God’s grace is bigger than my sins. And, for that, I am grateful. As a recovering perfection seeker, I know what it’s like to strive to do and to be perfect. The only thing I accomplished, in the end, was my own unhappiness. The more I tried, the more I was burdened to maintain what I thought being perfect meant—”a state of flawlessness, without defect.” For humans, that is impossible. Matthew …
When God Interrupts Our Plans
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”— Proverbs 19:21(NIV). Before turning my life over to God, I was in complete charge of my life, or so I thought. My plans were spelled out each day on my to-do list. Without the list, I couldn’t accomplish the tasks I’d set out to complete each day, each week, each month. I considered myself a woman on a mission. Looking back, I wonder how many times my missions didn’t line up with God’s plans for my life. Since then, I can see how God …
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 …