Give Generously with God’s Provision
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand”—1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV). My hairdresser and I were recently discussing her experiences cutting hair at local nursing and assisted living facilities. Two days each week Rachel gives her time to make the elderly residents feel better after getting a haircut. The recipients are grateful, and Rachel enjoys being able to give of her time and talent to others. Our conversation led to my sharing stories …
Jesus Cares for All of His Children
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”—1 Peter 5:7(NIV). Stopped at a busy intersection in a large city recently, I noticed a large, scribbled message on one side of a large grey utility box. In black permanent marker, someone had written, “Nobody cares.” On another side of the metal box, in bold black block letters, someone else had written neatly “Jesus loves you.” I’m positive the first message, scribbled in haste, was written first. The second appeared to be an answer to the first person’s cry for help, an encouragement to whomever had desperately penned the …
Reflection’s from a Mother’s Heart
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”—Deuteronomy 6:5(NIV). My oldest son will turn 44-years-old next week. His younger brother turned 40 several months ago. For more years than I can recall, I’ve considered, but not followed through, on sharing in writing, the things God has laid on my heart. Maybe it’s because writing books and blog posts have taken a front seat to my desire to pen the words I want to share with them. I’ve told them stories from my childhood. They’ve witnessed the change in me …
Let’s Adopt a Christ-like Attitude
“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus”—Philippians 2:5 (CSB). Overwhelmed describes the feelings I was experiencing on the day of my pre-op appointments last week. Preparing for my left knee-replacement surgery on March 24, my schedule included the following: a visit with the physician’s assistant, an anesthesiologist, and an RN; a blood draw, an EKG, a COVID test, a CT scan, and paperwork—lots of paperwork. I took notes to remember all of the do’s and don’ts connected to my upcoming surgery. My appointment times, according to the scheduler, should have taken no more than two hours. Instead, because …
Pray and Be Transformed by His Peace
“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it”—Matthew 5:33(MSG). It has taken me years to follow faithfully through on my promises to pray for others when asked. I still fail, sometimes. I’ve learned a secret. Pray right then. Right now. Whether in public or private, I stop and pray, because if I don’t, I forget. Inserted inside my Bible …
Clinging to the One Who Never Changes
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”—Hebrews 13:8(NIV). If we need a reminder of the changes that have occurred in our world, we only need to study history. One can also read newspaper headlines or listen to the daily news. Nothing stays the same. If it did, there would be no news to report. A recent post on Facebook reminded me of how times have changed since I was born and maybe since your birth. The list was long, but here are a few of the mind-boggling changes mentioned: Did you think in 1998 that three years …
When You’re Called by Jesus
Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles—Mark 3:13-14a (NLT). Currently, I’m reading through the gospels again. I love the similarities and differences found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John because they reveal a more complete picture of the life of Jesus. While each one is concerned with the same historical events—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—they present different versions of these events. We get distinct viewpoints because characters are portrayed from …
Searching for Significance in a Broken World
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart”—Jeremiah 29:13(CSB). Social media has created a world where people can publicly and shamelessly promote themselves. From U-Tube videos to live-streaming on Facebook, many seek significance in a broken world. And it’s not just celebrities. Watching young people constantly posting selfies breaks my heart. I understand their struggles, including feelings of worthlessness. They want to know they’re loved, wanted, and needed. They’re searching for significance. Seeking to be known, people often choose paths that lead to self-destruction. Today, where more connections are made online than …
Discovering Where You Belong and to Whom
“Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need. God’s kingdom belongs to them”— Matthew 5:3(ERV). Two words describe my immediate feelings when I see a homeless person walking down the road: grateful and blessed, followed by a prayer for the person. If the area is safe, I stop and offer money or food, depending on the place and time. I often wonder, “Where does he or she belong? What is their story? Of course, I never ask. God has increasingly placed it on my heart to help the homeless. In the past, I would have judged …