Someone you loved and trusted turned against you. I don’t know if there is anything that’s more painful. We share our hearts with those we love. They know many of our secrets and our greatest hopes and dreams. They also know how and where we are the most vulnerable. So, when they turn against us…
As I read the following words, it amazed me how applicable they are for today. Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His anointed one.“Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery…
I have terribly dry and itchy skin. It is always worse during the cold dry winter months. I feel like I spend half my waking hours rubbing and scratching my irritated exterior. The bottom line for this dry-skinned itchiness is that I am always on the lookout for the perfect salve to soothe and calm…
There’s an old Sweedish Proverb that goes like this… “Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” Joy is not the same as happiness. True Biblical joy is a gift of God, through faith in Jesus. It bubbles up inside of us and overflows to everyone around us. And that’s how…
It seems like people are finding plenty of things to complain about lately. What do you think? How often do you catch yourself complaining? But wait, it’s supposed to be that time of year when we encourage each other to talk more about those things for which we are thankful. And… Aren’t we told that…
I’m an emotional Sanguine. I feel everything. Everything! Once in a Bible Study class, Rev asked me if I remembered an event we’d gone to and my immediate answer was, “I don’t know. Did I cry?” Happy, unhappy, or simply emotional tears . . . I cry easily. Oh, I love to laugh, too. In…
Are you hopeful? Martin Luther wrote, “Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.” If everything is “done by hope”, maybe we need to take a closer look at what that means. Hope is defined as… Believing that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best….
You’ve heard the sayings… Don’t tell God how big your fear is, tell your fear how big your God is. F.E.A.R. – False Evidence Appearing Real Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death. Although there’s truth in these words, they can sound trite to… the parent who received a hard diagnosis about…
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…
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…
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…
