I read this week from Rebecca Smith in her book, A Better Life, where she talks about the possibility of “slowing down to get ahead.” And it got my mind to turning with some thoughts. What comes to mind when I ask you what your biggest dream and desire in life is. What is it […]
Scripture & Thought Romans 12:8 (NLT): “If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.” Some people don’t know how to pay compliments to others. They’re always critical, always critiquing this or that. And when they do pay a compliment, it’s more of the backhanded variety. For instance, they’ll say, “Hey! You’re on time!” […]
Have you ever thought it curious how few people Jesus raised from the dead. He healed hundreds and fed thousands, but as far as we know he only raised three: the daughter of Jairus, the boy near Nain, and Lazarus. Why so few? Could it be because he knew he’d be doing them no favors? Could it […]
Scripture & Thought Esther 4:14 – “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” I made you for such a time as this. When you thought you couldn’t, or even when you wouldn’t, I was there. I was there in every haggard breath, in every […]
I’ve been thinking and studying about learning to trust God in all kinds of situations. In my reading, I happened to read from one of my favorite authors (I have more than one), Max Lucado. In his book, Next Door Savior, Max recalls an interesting story I thought fitting for us here. A man and his […]
Scripture & Thought Luke 22:61 “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’” Simon Peter, definitely one of the most colorful individuals in the entire Bible, is perhaps my favorite. It’s […]
I found a verse of Scripture that is an old “standby” for sure, but it definitely bears repeating these days. It is James 4:8 = “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Does it ever feel like the heartbreak in your life is trying to break you? I understand. I really, really do. […]
Scripture & Thought Hebrews 12:6 – “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” Have you ever wondered what the phrase “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” means? Let’s remember what David said a few verses earlier: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 NKJV). David, a shepherd himself, would […]
I was reading some from Stormie Omartian’s book, Praying God’s Will for Your Life, this week. She said this: “Faith is obedience. Faith is a gift from God because He enables us to believe.” Then she went on to say, What if this Jesus thing is all a hoax? I thought to myself in horror one day […]
Scripture & Thought Jonah 2:1 – “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.” After the crew tossed Jonah overboard in the middle of a storm, God sent a custom-designed watercraft Jonah’s way. In other words, He brought in a very large fish to swallow the prodigal prophet. Now, did God do […]
I was reading this week, from Michele Cushatt, in her writings of “I Am Safe” and I wanted to share some of that with you all. I thought it was very fitting for our world today. She takes it from the scriptures of Ezekiel 34:28 – “They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.” […]
Scripture & Thought Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Easter is not about eggs and wearing pastel colors. That’s all fine, but that isn’t what Easter is about. It’s about Jesus wanting a relationship with you! Jesus was born to die—and to […]
Are you still hanging in there? Hold on just a little while longer…we’re gonna’ make it through this, with God’s grace and help, I just know it! In fact, it reminded me of the old song by Andre Crouch – “Through It All” “Through it all, through it all. I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve […]
Scripture & Thought Hebrews 13:5 – “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I remember a time that I didn’t feel God’s presence. I woke up one morning and just didn’t have the great feeling I had before. And I thought, “I think God left me last night. What […]
It’s important that we try to reach out to each other during these days of worry, concern and uncertainty. Staying connected has never been more valuable, or important, than these days! So, let me encourage you that when someone comes to your mind, first of all to pray for them, then give them a call […]
It is important that we always be disciplined when times of choosing comes into play. So many times we are tempted to take a shortcut, to compromise our integrity, to cheat just a little to get ahead, but what we don’t always realize in these moments of decision is that our choices will dictate our […]
Scripture & Thought Proverbs 24:16 “For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by a calamity.” Dr. David Jeremiah, in his book “Life Wide Open,” writes this: “Passionate people hang in there when the going gets tough. They persist, they persevere, they never lose heart, and they […]
Scripture & Thought 2 Corinthians 4:7, 16 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us…Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” The Apostle Paul knew something about human frailty. […]
We started our Lenten journey yesterday, capped off with our Ash Wednesday service last night. What a beautiful time we had together in the presence of God’s Holy Spirit guiding and ministering to us as we learned more of what it is to seek after God’s fullness for our lives. As you know, Ash Wednesday […]
Scripture & Thought 1 Samuel 7:12 “Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” A line from Robert Robinson’s hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I’ve come, And I […]