“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 spiritual 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 … 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 their passion for supporting … 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 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 not want a … 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 →
“My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the desires of my heart turn night into day; in the face of the darkness light is near.” — Job 17:11-12 NIV It has got to be a hopeless empty feeling, knowing your life is soon over and your dreams and goals were never realized. Having a body too old to … Continue reading →
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23 NIV We often talk of the heart as the seat of emotions or attraction. A couple speak of falling in love as the other stealing their heart. Our endearment to something is explained as a heartfelt experience. We must guard what we allow our … Continue reading →
“Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.” — Psalm 25:7 NIV As we age, we can find ourselves dealing with regretful memories from the days of our youth, when our stupidity surpassed our intelligence. Memories of mistakes made and indiscretions of the past can … Continue reading →
“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” — John 16:20 NIV Don’t be too quick to judge an outcome based on the immediate reaction of others. Things change. People adjust to their circumstances. Many are the successful people in our day who were … Continue reading →
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” — Isaiah 26:3 NKJV When peace eludes us and seems beyond our reach, the first thing we should do is refocus our mind. Our problems get larger in our imagination when we keep thinking about them. While it may be natural to … Continue reading →
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” — Luke 12:27 NIV The same Creator who cares for the flowers of the fields is just as sure to care for us. Flowers don’t worry about getting enough water or … Continue reading →
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” — Proverbs 3:27 NIV If you have the authority to dispense help or the ability to help another, don’t make their need an opportunity to show off your position or prove your power over them. Turning a blind eye to others … Continue reading →
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2 NIV There is a scene in the Winnie the Pooh story when Piglet asked Pooh if he wants to talk about his “difficult day.” Pooh said “No, I don’t think I do.” “That’s okay,” said Piglet. Then he sits next to Pooh … Continue reading →
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” — James 1:26 NIV A man’s heart changes under the conviction of religion but the first place it’s noticeable is in the way one speaks. The faith that empowers will tame the tongue and pull the reigns … Continue reading →