“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Regret! We’ve all experienced it. Sometimes it’s for things we’ve done. At other times, it’s for things we haven’t done but should have. Questions of “what if” plague our thoughts. And of course, our adversary, Satan, delights in reminding us of these past mistakes and failures. Whatever the cause, when we don’t deal with our past, we rob the present of joy. We can find many examples of those who regretted their actions, but let’s look…
“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.” (II Samuel 9:13, NKJV) This is the story of an unlikely friendship, a promise made, a promise kept, and unexpected kindness. You can read the entire story in I and II Samuel, but this is a short version of what happened between the king of Israel, his son, grandson, and a shepherd boy. Jonathan and David This is the backstory of the unlikely friendship between Jonathan, King Saul’s son, and David, a shepherd. As the oldest son, Jonathan was…
“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14, ESV) When we talk about investments, we often mean money. But one of the best investments we can ever make is the time we spend investing in the lives of others. Schools and corporations have both discovered that personal involvement and teaching help students or employees develop their full potential. A mentor is an ordinary person who is willing to share her time and experience to help another grow. Although the word is…
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV) Have you ever struggled in making a decision? At one time or another, everyone faces a “do I or don’t I” situation. Just this week I needed to decide about a certain matter. It was nothing major, or at least I don’t believe so, but I still wanted to be sure I was making the right choice. I learned long ago that seemingly insignificant things may have a much greater impact than we expect. Let…
“And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6:46, ESV) I was visiting an older friend recently when she explained that she didn’t know what to do. She could no longer get on her knees to pray, and this really bothered her. I reassured her as best I could and offered her encouragement on ways to adapt to praying in a chair. I am sure she knows as well as I do that God hears our prayers whether we are kneeling, sitting, standing, or walking. But this had been her way…
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6, ESV) It’s January, the beginning of a fresh new year. For many, it’s a time to reflect and reset. Some make resolutions while others set spiritual goals. Many start a new Bible reading chart, ready to check off the passages read each day. While some do carry through in their determination to “read more, pray more, and do more,” others grow overwhelmed by the fast pace of everyday life and falter in their goals. I think all of us desire to draw closer to…