Have you noticed how easily we get offended? Taking offense and harboring bitterness in your heart will keep you from experiencing the grace of forgiveness in your own life. When we trust God to keep His Word and surrender our bitterness, a beautiful thing happens.
In this fallen world we live in, love ends. Friendships divide. Marriages splinter. But Biblical love isn’t a feeling. It’s action. Jesus commands us to love even our enemies and when we do, love heals. It redeems. It transforms.
In the beginning, all of creation moved in agreement with God’s words. No created thing denied Him obedience. Until sin. Now, the only created thing on earth that hesitates to respond to the Word of God is the deceived human heart. Do you know your King?
There’s no getting around it. Scripture calls us to work—giving it all we’ve got. But, God’s far less interested in the work itself than the motivation behind it.
Any time we try to satisfy our needs and desires apart from our heavenly Father, we’ll come up lacking. Empty. Starving. Yet, like the prodigal son, we keep trying. And we’re missing out—big time.
Three times in John 21, Jesus connected loving Him with caring for His sheep—particularly with feeding them. And God’s Word says what results when sheep aren’t properly fed. We become weak. Sick. Injured. Strayed. Lost. Scattered. Devoured. I don’t want that famine—I would much rather have the feast of following Jesus. Wouldn’t you?
1 Samuel 3:19 says that God let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. Wow! Most of us are careless with our words. We let accusations fly without thought. We put others down and call it humor. We’re often quick to say things we don’t mean. But that’s the difference between most of us and Samuel, dear one. His words weren’t careless. Samuel’s words echoed those flowing from the mouth of God Himself, and that brought about some amazing results.
Righteousness will go before Him and make His footsteps a way. Psalm 85:13 (ESV) It’s that time again. January rolls around each year with an invitation to take stock of our lives. And the same question raises a hopeful challenge: What can I do differently this year that will make my life better? We have […]
What’s your favorite part of the Christmas story, dear one? Is it Mary’s response to a visiting angel? Or perhaps the terrified shepherds tending their flock who found themselves engulfed in glory? I love the image of Magi from the east bowing to present costly gifts to a toddler King. If you let them, the details surrounding Jesus’ birth inspire awe and wonder.
I love Christmas. It’s always been my very favorite time of year. Don’t get me wrong. If we’re talking about weather, summer wins. No question. Warm breezes, cookouts, and sunshine beat the gray winter doldrums any day. But Christmas to me was never about the weather. It was about the feeling.
