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 …
Have You Lost Your Christmas Joy?
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy”—Matthew 2:10 (ESV). Overhearing a conversation at my doctor’s office waiting room, I silently agreed with the two women. They were discussing the hectic rush of preparing for Christmas. The joy of this wonderful season was obviously gone for them. Joining in their conversation, I said, “The commercial aspect of Christmas can suck the joy right out of you—if you let it.” One of the women asked, “What do you mean?” What Did I Mean? Until I returned to my faith and church services and activities over 20 years ago, …
Generosity: A Gift of Love and Thanksgiving
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God”— 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV). Generosity is the spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others (Dictionary.com). The word generosity can also refer to an overall spirit of kindness. During this time of the year, meaning the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, generosity increases. Some are motivated to be more generous during these weeks because of the festive nature of this season. Created in 2012, a global generosity movement began to encourage …
Are You Thankful No Matter What?
“Oh, how grateful and thankful I am to the Lord because He is so good. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord who is above all lords.”—Psalms 7:17 (TLB). One of my daddy’s favorite sayings was, “It doesn’t do any good to complain because no one wants to hear it.” I find myself repeating that saying when someone asks me, “How are you doing?” While I could complain about my aches and pains, I doubt anyone cares to hear about them—unless it’s my doctor. Recently, I spied a man walking down the sidewalk. His uneven gait and …