Is being angry a sin? Paul wrote: When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day. Do not give the devil a way to defeat you. Ephesians 4:26–27 (NCV) Anger itself is not a sin or Paul would not have told people to avoid sinning…
Who is the wisest person you know? Before you answer, we should probably start by defining wisdom. The Dictionary defines wisdom as – The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting. A commonly used and easy-to-remember definition is – The ability to know the right thing to do and do it….
Every day we are faced with difficult decisions . . . some because of problems and some opportunities. Where should we live? How can we best help our child? What is the best path forward with this health problem? What career/job is the best choice for me? Where should I go to school? Where? What?…
I don’t believe there are enough hours in a lifetime to read all of the books, articles, and blog posts that have been written on the subject of prayer. They’re filled with suggestions of how to pray, what to pray, when to pray, and where to pray. The Bible tells us to never stop praying…
How much time do you spend thinking about what-if questions? You know… What if I had done this? What if I hadn’t done that? What if I’d reacted sooner? What if I hadn’t posted this or reacted to that? It’s called “second guessing” and it’s defined as . . . criticizing or questioning someone or…
A family counselor once shared the following with me… I met with the (Smith) family because four-year-old (Brittany) was having trouble getting along with the other children at her pre-school. As mom and dad took their seats, Brittany wandered the room picking up puppets and books. After a few moments of chit-chat, I asked, ”…
The Commandments as given in Exodus 20 begin by telling us 1) to worship God and put nothing else ahead of Him and 2) to not make an idol of any kind. God inspired Moses to write: Do not put your trust in idols or make metal images of gods for yourselves. I am the Lord…
Both David and his son, Solomon wrote: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10 Solomon also wrote that the “fear of the Lord” led to: True Knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) Understanding (Proverbs 2) Life (Proverbs 19:23) And Luke wrote in the Book of Acts: The church had peace . . . and it became stronger as…
Do you ever feel like we’re living at a time when people are talking past each other rather than with each other? I like to think that I’m the kind of person with whom people want to discuss life for hours . . . that I’m an excellent listener who’s emotionally supportive offering just the…
So let me ask . . . how are you? If you had to pick a word or two to describe your week, what would it be? Would you describe your days as… Challenging? Blessed? Frustrating? Overwhelming? Ideal? Exhausting? However you answered, the Lord invites you and me to bring our highs and lows to…
It happened many years ago, but I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I was in an intense discussion about God’s characteristics and qualities. As a long-time student of the Bible, I was passionate about the information and faith that inspired my side of the conversation, and that passion led to me proclaim,…
“I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.” ~ Charles Swindoll I totally agree. God created us to be in relationships with Him and with the people…
Rev and I are making it a goal to celebrate every day as a precious gift from God. It’s easy to forget the truth that each day is a blessing, isn’t it? We can get distracted by life’s challenges. We can feel overwhelmed by illness, grief, broken relationships, financial problems, and a whole host of…
Is your soul satisfied? Let me ask another way, “Is it well with your soul?” If we want to know if our souls are satisfied, we should probably begin by identifying what a soul is. Simply stated, the soul is—a person’s mind, will, and emotions. John Ortberg put it this way… “Your soul is what…
“You can learn many things from children.How much patience you have, for instance.” ~Franklin P. Jones Don’t you wish each individual child came with a personalized instruction manual? Parenting is both a wonderful rewarding blessing and a humbling challenging responsibility. Some days you feel like an expert and others you’re quite sure you’re a total…
Paul wrote: Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 Jesus told us to: Love each other. Just as I have loved you. John 14:34 And Evangelist Henry Drummond combined the two, saying… “Kindness is love in action.” But being kind consistently is hard, isn’t it?…
“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin I love that! When you and I live with joy we show people that God is with and within us. Don’t you love being with joy-filled people? I believe joy is one of the reasons crowds flocked to be with Jesus…
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast!And when I run I feel His pleasure.” ~Eric Liddell I’m not fast. I was the kid who was picked last for every team, but… Like Eric Liddell and like you . . . God made me one of a kind for…
The Bible is full of wonderful truths about God! But before we take a look at some of them . . . how do you define the word – wonderful? I like this basic definition – something or someone that awakens feelings of wonder. But I think my favorite is – someone or something that…
Where do you go when you need help? Not help with the kids, errands, your job, or chores around the house. But help with your emotions. Where do you turn when your heart hurts? When you’re worried? Afraid? Overwhelmed? Sad? Angry? Stuck? Where do you run when you need strength and you’re overwhelmed by feelings…
I can still picture where I was standing, hear the words, and feel the way they hit my heart. I’d finally gotten the courage to share my sadness and longings with an older woman in our congregation. But before the words were fully out of my mouth, she looked at me and said, “Shame on…
