“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 →
“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 →
“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 →
“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 →
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” — Romans 12:15 NIV We were created to connect with others, to experience relationship, to share in life’s ups and downs. It is usually easier to share in the joy of others than it is in the grief of others because grief hurts. Even the grief held by another hurts … Continue reading →
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” — Proverbs 18:21 NIV The old saying that sticks and stones may hurt but not words is wrong. Words have a weird way of getting under our skin if they are critical. Hurtful words leave us emotionally troubled. They stick, they last … Continue reading →
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” — Matthew 6:26 NIV I wonder how aware we really are when it comes to the lessons presented to us in creation. Birds don’t fret about their … Continue reading →
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” — Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV Anxiety can often overtake us when we realize we are facing unknown territory. The thought of doing something different, being with a large group of people, or engaging in … Continue reading →
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11 NIV Next time you think to say, The universe is working against me or The stars are not lined up for me today, consider that the God of … Continue reading →
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13 NIV If God requires an intentional seeking to find Him, what makes us think we can haphazardly bounce through life like pinball game as our plan for achieving success. God doesn’t hide from us and He doesn’t make it difficult to be … Continue reading →
“make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands” — 1 Thessalonians 4:11 NIV Climbing the ladder of success or clawing for the big promotion or obsessing about the most social media followers is not the means to a life of peace, contentment, and satisfaction. There is nothing wrong … Continue reading →
“The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV It’s likely that we all know someone who thinks they are an expert in a subject just because because they did a quick internet search. The … Continue reading →
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NIV Don’t wonder where God is when adversity strikes, if all along you’ve been pushing Him away. God doesn’t hide from us and He doesn’t make it difficult to be found by us. God is there when we need Him but He does … Continue reading →
“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” — James 3:8 NIV Many years ago I was a chaplain in the emergency department when the ambulance brought in a man who was still receiving CPR. The doctor called the time of death shortly after. When the family arrived I got the … Continue reading →
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” — Philippians 4:8 NIV It can be argued that the only thing about our lives that we have control over is our thoughts. Our physical traits are inherited from our … Continue reading →
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” — 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV The verse is contrasting putting our energy into a temporal earthly purpose vs putting our energy into an eternal spiritual purpose. There is value to doing things for temporal … Continue reading →
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11 NIV Please don’t think that you are a walking example of Murphy’s Law. Don’t even entertain the thought that you are given to bad luck, that the stars … Continue reading →