Trust in him at all times. —Psalm 62:8 Martha loves her son and is always there for him—but she admits to being a bit vexed that she only hears from him when he needs something. Never allow your relationship with God to become seasonal. Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! […]
In Sickness and in Health Read More »
Have mercy on me, O God. —Psalm 51:1 David confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.” God’s prophet responded, “The Lord has taken away your sin” (2 Sm 12:13). God fast tracks forgiveness of the penitent. The Lord honors your faith, notwithstanding your failings. Never forget that. If you need a
A Prayer Starter after a Mess Up Read More »
I press on toward the goal to win the prize. —Philippians 3:14 What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of David? Is it his head-scratching character collapse; the blunder with Bathsheba? End of story? No! There are 150 psalms in
Flubs Aren’t Final Read More »
We all stumble in many ways. —James 3:2 My song leader and I were perched on the front pew, ready to lead the congregation in song and sermon following communion, which was now being served from the platform seven steps up. Our server, beginning his descent with trays of
You Stumbled . . . Now What? Read More »
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. —James 4:14 At the time of this writing, average life expectancy in the United States is 78.4 years. Visualizing those years on a
Scene I — AD 33 (John 18:17, 25, 26) “For the third time,” said Peter, “I do not know this man, Jesus! How many times do I have to tell you?” Scene II — Two Months Later (Acts 4:17–20) “This court has reached a decision. We order you not to speak of this man, Jesus,
My Lord and My God Read More »
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us. —2 Corinthians 5:21 Jesus’ agonizing shriek on the Cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” was answered with silence. Our Savior’s severance from our God can be comprehended only by awareness of the nature of sin—sin separates the sinner from
[B]e transformed by the renewing of your mind. —Romans 12:2 You are living well . . . When you scrap pessimism, realizing that negative thoughts never produce positive results. When you refuse to allow an event—“I failed”—to become an identity—“I’m a
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:13 You are living well . . . When you live optimistically, certain that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all [you] ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20). When you accept that God has made you good at something, and live
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. —1 Peter 4:10 You are living well . . . When you “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:4). When you nourish your faith, confident that when you feed faith,
