Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Psalm 51:6, NIV 1984 I have a family member who’s quite fond of telling us she’s fine. It’s her standard answer when asked how she’s doing. In sickness, loss, or even celebration, her response to us remains the same. […]
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11:30 We don’t often like to admit our weaknesses. I spent years trying to hide mine. Let’s face it. We want others to see us as capable, confident and strong. Few of us like to admit our vulnerabilities to […]
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27, NIV Last Friday morning, my eyelids fluttered open to discover that it was still dark. Ordinarily I wouldn’t be thrilled by that observation, but I felt the Lord whispering to my heart, “Meet me for the sunrise.” Anticipation stirred my […]
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 Logic. It’s one of our worst enemies—at least it’s one of mine. I’ve always been a person who needs to understand things. It helped me in school and produced straight A’s on my report cards, […]
After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord . . . Judges 2:10-11 I grew up hearing Bible stories. My Sunday school teachers would thrill me […]
“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.” John 14:19 Do you see Jesus, beloved? According to Jesus’ own words, you ought to. That’s one of the rights and privileges of being His disciple. While the world cannot see Him, His followers can. Perhaps that statement has raised your […]
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” Isaiah 60:1-2 Have you ever had the joy of watching the sunrise? Of witnessing light splitting […]
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 On Sunday we celebrated Father’s Day at church. A guest speaker—a husband […]
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram . . . 2 Kings 5:1 Have you ever looked at someone’s life and felt that twinge of envy […]
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” Nehemiah 6:9 I used to believe that God’s favor meant ease. Then I felt the touch of God’s favor. Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t […]
