When my husband and I decided to move our family from Oregon to Utah, it was quite a change. I didn’t expect the long winters or the hot summers, but Utah was—and still is—a beautiful place. After living there for three years, I began working as a substitute teacher in several school districts. One of the things I was often complimented on was how peaceful I seemed, even while dealing with challenging students. Don’t get me wrong—I love teaching kids—but this job was not always easy. Teachers and faculty would say, “You have such a calming spirit.” What they didn’t…
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. (Exodus 15:2, NLT) Miriam picked up her hem as she sprinted ahead. Her heartbeat quickened; her breath came in short gasps as she forged forward. Fear taunted as her hair whipped around her face. She had to keep focused on moving forward. She clutched at her heart. It was beating so fast she thought it might come out of her chest! She stole a cloaked glance behind her and gasped to catch her breath, realizing what was happening! A twitch pulled her lips into a small smile. Realization was born. It spread like a wave from one side of her face to the other. Then she glowed with boundless joy! Catching her breath in one great gulp at last, she sang…and sang…and sang! She sang with unconstrained praise along with Moses. They sang of Jehovah’s great power and incredible strength. He sent a strong wind to blow throughout the night. It parted the waters of the Red Sea and dried out the ground beneath their feet. They moved hastily across to the other side. They were finally delivered from the slavery of Egypt, and now they were…
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) We have all been wronged at some point and felt the desire to get even. But what is forgiveness? In the Bible, forgiveness means releasing charges against someone—letting go and canceling a debt. It is not an easy thing to do. A person may feel ready to forgive, but true forgiveness involves certain important elements. First, forgiveness must be a choice. It must be voluntary, not forced. It must be intentional—a decision to let go of pain. And it is often a process that takes time. What we want to avoid is allowing unforgiveness to grow into anger, bitterness, hatred, or a desire for revenge. Bitterness, in particular, can become a poison to our souls. It can lead us into sin and cause us to fall out of alignment with God and His blessings. God calls us to forgive others just as He has forgiven us. However, forgiveness does not mean we condone the wrongdoing, pretend it never happened, or allow others to continue hurting us. Instead, forgiveness frees us. It releases us from anger and bitterness, allowing God…
I’m okay, we often tell ourselves, but are we? We tend to put on a fake facade when we come to church because we don’t want people to see who we really are. After all, we have a reputation to uphold. We want others to see us as being all put together, a perfectly wrapped package with a beautifully tied bow. Inside, however, we are lying to ourselves and to others. Nor are we being truthful with God about our struggles. We’re not telling God that we’re hurting, struggling, and that the battle we’re fighting is becoming too much for…
Second Timothy 3:16 tells us all scripture is “God-breathed.” The Greek word in this passage is theopneustos. It is the living, breathing, active Word of God that brings life and truth to all those who read it. When you open your Bible, you’re not reading words meant only for an ancient civilization. You are actively becoming part of a never-ending story that God began long before you came into existence. There is incredible power when you take those words, spoken and inspired by God over thousands of years, and repeat them back to Him in prayer. You pray not your own thoughts, priorities, and desires, but you become an active participant in bringing God’s plan and kingdom to earth. So many times, we look at prayer as something separate from reading the Bible. It’s something we do before or after we read His Word. But what if instead, we look at them together and consider prayer as an extension of our Bible reading? As we study the Word of God, it reveals His heart to us. The things that He cares about, the things that move Him, should also be what move us when we know His heart. Often, our…
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you,” John 14:15-18 Sometimes I find myself trying to figure out how the Lord can be everywhere at once. With the millions of people in this world, it is hard to understand how I can feel Him here with me. But I have the promise of Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Have you ever awakened in the night feeling cold? You reach for the blanket or comforter at the foot of your bed and wrap it tightly around you. Soon, you feel warm and cozy and can go back to sleep. For the past few years, I have lived alone. Yet I do not feel lonely. It is hard to explain, but I sense the presence of the Lord with me. As I go about my work…