“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” — Ephesians 5:1 NIV The secret to spiritual contentment is not found in joining the solitude life of a monk, or in the amount of money you give to a church, or in a multitude of good deeds. For any of us to know peace and wholeness in the depths of our … Continue reading →
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice” — Proverbs 24:17 NIV Whenever my grandmother heard of someone’s misfortune, she would say, “Except for the grace of God there go I.” Perhaps she was reminding herself not to worry about the same thing befalling her or maybe she was taking advantage of … Continue reading →
“Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” — Isaiah 57:2 NIV For generations the abbreviation R.I.P. has been recognized and affirmed to mean Rest in Peace. When a person passes from this life into death we often comment that they now appear peaceful and we take solace that they are resting from … Continue reading →
“Yet we urge you…to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:11 NIV Our world tends to glorify those who have made it big in the field of sports or on the stage of music or up on the … Continue reading →
“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.” — Psalms 34:12-13 NIV A long good life cannot be built on a foundation of evil or the practice of lying. However, a life that values honesty, authenticity, and the welfare of others can bring one a … Continue reading →
“I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope” — Lamentations 3:20-21 NIV The first national observance of what would become Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868. It began as a day of decorating the cemetery for civil war casualties and became a day of mourning … Continue reading →
“The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.” — Proverbs 5:22 NIV There really is no perfect crime because our own attempts to hide something or conceal a wrong or the effort we invest to be untruthful, falls apart by our own human nature. We forget to hide something. We inadvertently reveal … Continue reading →
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” — Mark 6:31 NIV Among police homicide detectives there is a saying that goes, “Everybody has their body count.” It means that at some … Continue reading →
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” — Philippians 4:11 NIV Life is a series of ups and downs, good times and bad times, successes and losses. It’s easy to be in the center of success when we’re celebrating and life is good. However, it’s not so easy coping with losses and difficulties, so how do you deal with those … Continue reading →
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 NIV An off-duty hospice nurse was at the beach contemplating her yearning for God’s intervention in her life when she was distracted by a small child and his dad. They were walking across the beach toward the parking lot as the small child was struggling … Continue reading →
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” — Proverbs 4:25 NIV Our world bombards us with messages trying to recruit us into someone else’s cause. Turn on the television, dial into the radio, or scan a social media platform and you’ll be confronted with someone trying to convince you to join in their emotional zeal … Continue reading →
“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.” — Proverbs 3:25-26 NIV Evil may be ready to ruin your plans but don’t let it threaten your future before it even strikes. Life has enough things to cause us to … Continue reading →
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” — Proverbs 11:25 NIV After 12 years as the top law enforcement officer in a Georgia county, the Sheriff decided to find work that was less stressful. He started a tire store that brought him good working hours and great financial rewards. However, he felt miserable and purposeless until … Continue reading →
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2 NIV A writer from the 1930’s once told the story of a wealthy family whose interior decorator suggested placing an ornate fancy hanging bird cage under a stairwell to fill in the empty space. The family said they did … Continue reading →
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” — Proverbs 16:24 NIV The words that come out of our mouth mark us as a positive or a negative influence to others. Most people who we encounter in a typical day are starving for gracious words that will encourage them or positively influence them. If … Continue reading →
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” — Proverbs 29:11 NIV Those who are owners of multiple dogs know that they influence each other to bark and get riled up without reason. When one starts barking the other joins in without knowing why. Undisciplined dogs will blindly follow the other’s lead. However, … Continue reading →
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” — John 11:33 NIV The Lord Jesus Christ is not a callous unemotional being who is unmoved in spirit by the sorrow of the human experience. The message of the Scriptures is that the Son of … Continue reading →
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 NIV In 1979 Bob Dylan released an album with the award winning song, “Gotta Serve Somebody.” John Lennon said the song was “stupid” and wrote a song titled, “Serve Yourself.” However, Bob Dylan … Continue reading →
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” — John 13:35 NIV The early Christians were frequently mocked by pagans because they were recognized as truly having love for each other. The pagan mind could not comprehend people being in harmony and unity without any expression of selfish behavior. Christian gatherings were often … Continue reading →
“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” — Isaiah 45:2 NIV Obstacles either stop us from proceeding toward our objective or they challenge us to find a way to work with them so we can realize our goal. Too many give up on pursuing … Continue reading →
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 NIV Many are too fast to assume that God is unaware or uninvolved in the affairs of men because they expect Him to show up and show out like a Super Hero from a comic strip dishing out instant justice. The cosmic … Continue reading →
“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” — Matthew 5:37 NIV This verse is the words of Jesus, but He is not saying that we don’t need to explain ourselves or offer any commentary. What He is saying is let your communication be clear and simple. Our words should … Continue reading →
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1 Begin this year with the God who brought life from the void of the earth and he will bring life from the blank calendar in your days ahead. The new year may cause you to be apprehensive, but whatever may befall, know that you will not be … Continue reading →
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” — Revelation 12:10 NIV Christmas is an annual reminder that … Continue reading →
“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” — Job 12:12 NIV I once heard a psychologist say that the death of an elderly citizen was equivalent to the burning down of a large library. His point was that old age gifts us with experiences and knowledge unknown to the majority of our population. We often … Continue reading →
“Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.” — Proverbs 12:16 NIV Circumstances give us the option of reacting or responding. Reacting is usually an immediate assumption that leads to unthoughtful retaliation or revenge. Foolish people jump to conclusions and react without thinking. Don’t be like them. Instead, choose to respond by giving the situation some … Continue reading →
“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” — Matthew 5:45 NIV The provisions of creation are equally available to all. The sun shines on the ungrateful man the same as it shines on the grateful man. Rain blesses the bad man just as much as it … Continue reading →
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23 NIV Somewhere in college I heard a professor say that humans can only maintain 12 healthy relationships. Relationships beyond 12 people are going to be superficial, on the acquaintance level, and not really deeply connected. Likewise, when it comes to our topical interests, hobbies, … Continue reading →
“you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” — Numbers 32:23 NIV No one really gets away with a crime, especially in this age of forensic science where trace evidence can identify the criminal and tell the story of the crime scene. There is also the fact that the guilt one carries never really goes away. While … Continue reading →
“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” — Matthew 5:45 NIV Success in life does involve a certain amount of being in the right place at the right time or taking advantage of opportunities not available to most. A business man who became a multi-millionaire overnight, … Continue reading →
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” — Psalm 19:1 NIV Our day to day tasks can be so consuming of our energy and focus that it is easy to miss the beauty of nature. Our eyes are usually fixed on the road, our minds are contemplating pressing problems, and we just … Continue reading →
“I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” — Ezekiel 11:19 NIV We speak of the criminal mind but it’s the criminal’s heart that puts them on the wrong side of the law. A heart that is callous and stony is inconsiderate of other people. It cares not if it hurts or … Continue reading →