What Can Unity Accomplish?
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”—Psalm 133:1(NIV). These people are not drowning today!” This thought entered Jessica Simmons’ mind when she watched as six members of a single family struggled after a powerful riptide had swept them away at a Panama City Beach. Others had tried to reach the family in trouble, but each previous rescue attempt left more people stranded. A lifeguard was not on duty. A rescue boat had not yet arrived. People began to use boogie boards, surf boards and their arms and legs to attempt a rescue. When someone …
Making Each Season Count
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day”— 2 Corinthians 4:16(TLB). My two oldest grandchildren, now 12 and 13, spent several days with me recently. Cheyenne is now taller than I am by almost two inches. Her brother, Brennan, is also catching up with my five foot plus three inches. I’m not getting any taller, but they are. It’s sometimes difficult to fathom how fast the years have gone. It seems just like yesterday that I was changing their diapers. While I miss those years, I’m …
Baseball, Blackberries and Bless to Me Moments
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be in my mouth”—Psalm 34:1 (CEB). It was a game “where the real action took place off the field.” This subtitle appeared above an article titled “Take Me Out to The Blackberry Patch” in a recent edition of Reader’s Digest. The article was written by Ernie Johnson, Jr., sportscaster and host of NBC’s “Inside the NBA.” In the article, Johnson recalls a little league game of eight-year-olds when the baseball score was tied. During a time-out, so the coach of Johnson’s team could discuss strategy, they noticed two …
Embrace each day with a positive attitude
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”—Psalm 118:24 (ESV). When I saw the following post on a friend’s Facebook page, I had to share it with my readers: A famous writer was in his study and compiled the following list: 1. Last year, my gallbladder was removed. I was in bed for a long time. 2. The same year I reached the age of 60 and had to leave my favorite job. I spent 30 years with this publishing company 3. The same year my father died. …
Understanding the Paradox of Freedom
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”—Galatians 5:1 (NIV). To most Americans, the word freedom connotes images of the American flag. We associate July 4 with the freedoms we’ve been granted by the U.S. Constitution. We celebrate our country’s independence with fireworks and parades. According to dictionary.com, freedom means “the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.” Physical freedom is denied those locked behind prison walls. But those who have discovered a relationship …
What is Your Focus in Life?
“But God has blessed you, because your eyes can see and your ears can hear!”—Matthew 13:16(CEV). When I was in sixth grade, I was diagnosed with myopia or nearsightedness, meaning I had the ability to see near objects more clearly than distant objects. To compound the diagnosis, I also had astigmatism, an imperfection of the cornea preventing part of it from focusing light onto the retina. At 10-years-old, I was fitted for glasses. Because my eyesight was so bad, the lens in my glasses were thick in appearance, almost like the bottom of the classic soda pop bottle. As usual, …
Do You Know What Tomorrow Will Bring?
“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”— James 4:14 (TLB). I have all the time in the world.” After reading this quote from a 25-year-old, who had just won a six-figure payout in a tournament competition, I wanted to tell him, “No, you don’t.” His comment was in response to a reporter’s question about the young man’s plans for the prize money he had won. He planned to save it, for now, according to the newspaper article, but …
Praising God Through the Trials and Turmoil
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God”— Psalm 43:5 (ESV). Gulley-washing rains have plagued parts of the country during the past months, leaving a path of destruction behind in many areas. Lives have been lost and property has been destroyed due to the flooding. Living close to the lake, I’ve seen the aftermath. My house is on higher ground but some of my neighbors have had to contend with rising water because their homes are lakefront property. …
Seeking God’s Wisdom in Practical Ways
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm”— Proverbs 13:20(NRSV). Social media and 24/7 news programs have added a new dimension to the cacophony of voices clamoring for our attention. While there are some advantages to having this access, I am beginning to think they are surpassed by the negative weighing us down and often leading to wrong choices. As fabricated stories, also called fake news, continue to proliferate on these social sites, it has become more difficult to discern the truth. Although some are outright unbelievable, many will fall for the false information …