“A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (Proverbs 11:13). In the information age that we live in, it seems as if there are no secrets anymore—especially when it comes to the personal lives of those in the public eye. In the past, the magazines or other news media that exposed private (and often humiliating or embarrassing) details of people’s lives were considered tabloids and frowned upon by other respectable news outlets. But not anymore. The boundary lines of decency have been erased, and it is a race between all the news media…
James Hastings wrote, “According to recognized aero technical tests, the bumblebee cannot fly because of the shape and weight of its body in relation to the total wing area. The bumblebee doesn’t know this, so he goes ahead and flies anyway.” A person who walks by faith and the bumblebee have much in common. Neither should be able to function by rational standards, yet they are somehow able to soar above the facts and naysayers. If the bumblebee listened to the limitations posed on him by those who think they know it all, he would be no more than an insect, crawling on the ground. Eking out an existence amid the dirt, debris, and rocks, with earthworms as his companions. Instead, he defies science, flutters his wings, and buzzes from flower to flower. Butterflies, bright sunshine, and soft breezes are his domain. Oh, what a difference a little faith makes. Faith in God and hope for a better tomorrow lift us above the dreariness of today into a realm of light and laughter. Regardless of how your circumstances may appear or what the doctor says or your accountant or your employer, God is on the throne. “Now unto him that…
“I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” Psalms 31:7 Have you ever felt at any point in your life that no one cared? I know, it sounds like such a cliche, but I can say that I have felt so weighed down by the cares of life that it did seem like no one cared. This was obviously not the case, as I have always been surrounded by an amazing circle of family and friends; however, in those moments of anguish and confusion, you feel completely alone and isolated. In those seasons of life when we feel absolutely and utterly alone in our struggles, God is with us. All the nights you silently wept into your pillow, He was right there with you. He surrounds you always and cares so much for you. He cares about the anguish of your soul, and He wants to comfort you. When you are distressed, He cares. When you are broken and hurt, He cares. When life is just too overwhelming and you are struggling to cope, He cares. He wants to hide you under the…
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” Matthew 4:19-20 This has always been a fascinating portion of scripture to me. I am often drawn back to it, and my imagination runs wild with possibilities. If someone approached you and said, “Leave everything you know behind and follow me,” you probably would say no, and maybe even call the police. But that’s exactly what happened to Peter and Andrew. They didn’t know Jesus, and yet when He approached them and said, “Follow me and…
“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” 1 Samuel 3:1 ESV There are a few interesting facts about Samuel. First, he was a miracle baby. His mother, Hannah, was barren and wanted desperately to have children of her own. God heard all of her fervent prayers, and along came Samuel. She immediately dedicated him back to the Lord once he was weaned, and he began serving the chief priest in the tabernacle. During those days, the word of the Lord was scarce, and so Samuel had no real experience with God for himself yet. I imagine Samuel’s life could have gone one of two ways. One, he could have begrudgingly served and spent his days complaining. He could have allowed himself to become frustrated with what seemed to be mundane tasks. Or, as we see in the Bible, he could have faithfully and wholeheartedly served—which is what happened —and led to him hearing God’s voice for himself. Reading through the life of Samuel, we see that he was the one who anointed the first two kings of Israel, he is…
“So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.” I Samuel 30:9 David had gone with the Philistine army to fight against Israel, but the Lord had intervened, and King Achish sent him back home. What a tragic scene met their eyes. The city of Ziklag had been burned with fire, and their families had been taken captive. The people blamed David and were threatening to stone him. David was distressed, but his faith in God prevailed. “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” He called for the priest and enquired of the Lord as to how to proceed. The answer he received was to pursue them, and a promise was given that he would recover all. He and his men set out. Some of them were very tired, so David left them in the Valley of Besor to rest and recover. Rest is important to all of us. The Lord modeled this when He created the earth. He set apart the seventh day as a day of rest. Often, we can become so busy with our daily duties that we forget…