Don’t Be Ashamed to Share the Good News
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile”—Romans 1:16 (NIV). Is it difficult for you to share the Good News of Jesus Christ? Does fear of ridicule stop you from sharing? Maybe you don’t share because you think only a pastor or evangelist, like Billy Graham, can be successful in the quest to tell others about the greatest news ever. You’re not alone. But God isn’t looking for all-stars. After her father passed, Anne Graham Lotz described her …
Change Doesn’t Need to Cause Fear
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed”—Malachi 3:6 (ESV). Change in life is a guarantee. We can fear it, ignore it, gripe about it, become anxious, or we can embrace it. I’m struggling right now to embrace a forced transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10. My thoughts are “if it ain’t broke, why change it?” Waiting until the last minute to make the switch, I was thankful my techie brother-in-law was available to download and install the new operating system. It’s like going from crawling to walking in 60 seconds …
Finding True Love in God’s Arms
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”— John 3:16 (NIV). In the early 80s, a popular Country Western song became one of the soundtracks for the movie, “Urban Cowboy.” The song, “Lookin’ for Love,” expressed the song writer’s feelings with these lyrics: “lookin’ for love in all the wrong places.” The song’s lyrics refrain “lookin’ for love in too many faces, searchin’ their eyes, lookin’ for traces of what I’m dreaming of…” is all too real for those dreaming of perfect …
What Scripture Can Do for Your Well-Being
“God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing”—2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIRV). A commercial many of us are tired of hearing on TV is for a miracle facial product. It’s guaranteed to erase wrinkles and shrink under-eye bags right before your eyes. The product claims to work within 10 minutes …
Kindness Never Goes Out-of-Style
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience”— Colossians 3:12 (NIV). Kindness in today’s world is often overshadowed by the negative around us. But, as God’s chosen people, we are called to “clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col. 3:12). Ask yourself: Am I stirring the pot of unkindness prevalent in society today or am I seeking to uplift those around me with acts of kindness? As you ponder this question, let’s delve further into what it means to be kind. Is being nice the same as …
Is It Time for a Baggage Check?
“…a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away”— Ecclesiastes 3:6 (NIV). While some people like to clean out their clutter in the spring, January is my time to toss out anything unnecessary. When I start going through manila folders of paperwork and organizing my taxes, I’m also motivated to declutter. If you notice the store ads after Christmas and through January, there are a plethora of organizational tools for sale. Shelving, storage boxes, and office supplies tempt us to get our life in order. While going through home …
Guest Post by Elece Hollis: Does Your House have a Study?
by Elece Hollis Remember the days when nice homes had studies? Your father, or maybe your grandfather, sat in his study after supper reading, perusing the newspaper, paying bills, or typing a letter. Behind him were shelves filled with books, a trophy or keepsake or two. He might have gone there to relax and smoke a pipe. The door was closed if he needed quiet to concentrate, requiring you to knock if you wanted to say goodnight and discuss a problem. Decisions were made there. Sometimes discipline was applied there. Isolated from the business of life, it became the place …
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No Shortcuts on the Path of Life
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”—Psalm 16:11 (ESV). January is almost over. I wonder how many people have already given up on their resolutions. We have high hopes at the beginning of a New Year, resolving to lose weight, get healthy, quit smoking or get out of debt and save more money. Why is it so difficult to follow through? To stay the course? To reap the benefits of staying on the path? To reach our goals? Is it because we try …
Living a Life in View of Eternity
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’”—John 6:35 (NIV). A recent post by a Facebook friend led me to respond. She posed this question: “Do you suppose our life here on earth is a training program for eternity?” After thinking about her question, I responded, “Yes, I absolutely believe this, Jan! I am so grateful God doesn’t stop loving us when we mess up. He takes our messes and turns them into a message…a masterpiece to glorify Him!” We can try …