Change is Possible with God
“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect”—Romans 12:2 (GNT). A recent news item about a car prototype made me wonder, “What’s next?” The German automakers of BMW have designed a vehicle for those who are indecisive about the color of the car to choose. Currently, there are only three options—black, white, and grey—but with the push of a button, the consumer can change …
Our Days are Already Determined
“A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed”—Job 14:5 (NIV). On Christmas morning, as I was reading one of my daily devotionals, something I’d never thought about grabbed my attention. Forty days and forty years are significant in the Bible. However, while reading my daily devotional, the number forty weeks was mentioned. The devotional, written by O.S. Hawkins, appears in his book titled, “The Believer’s Code.” He writes, “Jesus came to earth as a helpless, tiny seed planted in the womb of a young Jewish virgin. Forty weeks …
God’s Word Brings a Peace Unknown in the Natural World
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him, nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”—John 1:1-5 (NIV). Morning is my favorite time of day. Before I get busy with the demands on my time or unexpected interruptions, my heart longs for the quiet. During this busy season, it’s even more …
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Advent: Practicing Hope Leads to Bold Faith
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful”—Hebrews 10:23 (NIV). As the first candle of Advent was lit this past Sunday at our church, it set the tone for this season—a season of hope. For those unfamiliar with the Christian liturgical year, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. For Christians, Advent is a time to reflect. It’s a time of anticipation, a time of waiting. In the midst of this busy season, we seek the quiet reflected in the starry night, thanking God for what He …
Prayer Changes Us, Not God
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”—Philippians 4:6 (NIV). Each Monday, I receive an email from one of our associate pastors. Attached to his correspondence is a list of prayer requests from members of our congregation. The list has grown exponentially since I started receiving the requests about eight years ago. I often wonder. Have the needs grown or have people come to realize the power of prayer? As I prayed over the latest requests, I also wondered why God answers some and not others. I …
Helping the Homeless: An Invitation from Jesus
“Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”— Isaiah 58:7 (ESV). Driving by a deserted storefront, I did a double-take. Underneath the overhang was a mishmash of stuff. Someone’s meager belongings. An empty cart. A lump of humanity huddled under a blanket. In a town with a population under 20,000, it’s not a common sight here. I’ve seen people passing through with backpacks or pushing carts, but I’d never experienced a homeless person …
Tomorrow is Promised to No One
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. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we shall live and do this or that”—James 4:14-15 (TLB). After a prolific professional football career, Walter Payton died at a young age at 45 from a rare liver disease. Known as one of the most outstanding and beloved pro football players of all time, Payton set records and amassed numerous awards. What many may not know about …
God is Perfect in All His Ways
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”—Matthew 5:48 (NIV). Confession time. I’m a Christian, but not perfect. I make mistakes and I mess up—sometimes big time. But God’s grace is bigger than my sins. And, for that, I am grateful. As a recovering perfection seeker, I know what it’s like to strive to do and to be perfect. The only thing I accomplished, in the end, was my own unhappiness. The more I tried, the more I was burdened to maintain what I thought being perfect meant—”a state of flawlessness, without defect.” For humans, that is impossible. Matthew …
When God Interrupts Our Plans
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”— Proverbs 19:21(NIV). Before turning my life over to God, I was in complete charge of my life, or so I thought. My plans were spelled out each day on my to-do list. Without the list, I couldn’t accomplish the tasks I’d set out to complete each day, each week, each month. I considered myself a woman on a mission. Looking back, I wonder how many times my missions didn’t line up with God’s plans for my life. Since then, I can see how God …