Are You Bearing Fruit in Old Age?
“They bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green”—Psalms 92:14 (NIV). “Age isn’t a number, it’s an attitude.” It’s the most famous quote about aging. Scientific evidence supports that. Researchers from Yale and Miami University agree that people who choose to see growing older as something positive live seven and a half years longer than those who don’t. I will be 70 next month. My mind cannot grasp that number, but my body says otherwise. Instead of complaining about my aches and pains, I choose to thank God for my health. I may not be able to …
What is the Whole World Talking About?
“And His name shall be the hope of all the world”–Matthew 12:21 (TLB). How many times have you heard television news anchors excitedly announce, “The whole world is talking about…” And then, they mention the name of a famous personality. The news might be about a music idol, a TV reality star, a pro sports figure, or a well-known Hollywood actor. Sometimes the news is good; other times it’s associated with the negative choices made by a celebrity. When I hear those words, “The whole world wants to know or is talking about…(fill in the blank),” I ask myself, “Really?” …
Lord, Increase My Patience
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience”— Romans 8:25 (ESV). “God didn’t give me patience.” I laughed when my youngest son shared my 5-year-old granddaughter’s reply to her brother’s admonition to “just be patient.” Cash, age 14, and his younger sister, Ruby, were washing their dad’s pickup truck. Cash was in possession of the hose. Several times she’d ordered her brother to “give me the hose.” But, like most older siblings who like to be in charge, he hadn’t complied. When Cash grew tired of her demands, he not only sprayed …
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”—Philippians 4:8 (NLT). “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow” is a hymn that when I sing it, springs up in my soul and brings comfort. I feel His holy presence, wrapping me in His love. Reflecting on all He’s done for me, my heart bursts with joy. In my quiet time each morning, I thank Him for never giving up on me. Without fail, …
Having a Christ-like Attitude
“Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had”—Philippians 2:5 (GW). As a former high school teacher, I recall students who had a good attitude and those who had bad attitudes. It was often challenging to be nice to the ones with the latter. However, that still, small voice always reminded me I didn’t know what was happening in their lives that might be leading to their bad behavior. This past month, I’ve been blessed to interview people who are on a mission to help others in our community. As a freelance writer for the local newspaper, I’ve been selecting stories …
When You Need Rest, Seek Jesus
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”— Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV). Deafening fireworks, intense thunderstorms, a restless mind, and not enough sleep have all combined to sap me of energy this month. Although fireworks ended around July 6 where I live, thunderstorms have intensified in our area, leaving me tired because they’ve been striking at night while …
Do We Ever Learn to be Patient?
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”—Romans 12:12 (ESV). Straight-line winds, reported up to 100 miles per hour, hail and several tornadoes toppled trees and power poles, ripped off roofs and sparked structure fires across Oklahoma on June 18. Over 350,000 power outages were reported across 20 counties. Oklahoma electric companies worked day and night to restore the power. Help arrived when power company employees from other states assisted in restoring electricity. Almost 1,000 across the state were still without power 10 days later. I’m blessed because my electricity was restored after 13 hours. Others in …
Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself
“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”— Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV). Walking my dog through the neighborhood where I’ve lived for almost three years, I often …
Happy as a Hot Dog
“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live”— Ecclesiastes 3:12(NIV). Standing on my deck, my five-year-old granddaughter sang a popular song released in the year 2000. At the top of her lungs, she sang, “Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who, who? Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who, who, who?” As she belted out the lyrics, several neighborhood dogs started barking and howling. Ruby stopped long enough to hear the dogs’ response before she continued singing. However, in a fit of giggles, she couldn’t …