Did you know that bees sleep in flowers? They do. This sweet fact was shared with me recently by my friend, who discovered little bees taking naps in her sunflowers. Our great Creator was meticulous in creating this amazing world we live in. The attention to detail, the order in which Creation operates, and the fact that we get to witness His incredible design cannot help but lift our spirits and bring a smile to our faces. Psalms 104:12 tells us that God designed trees so that birds could live among the branches and sing. Our Creator is wonderful. When next…
“Good understanding giveth favour: But the way of transgressors is hard.” (Proverbs 13:15, KJV) This verse has had a strong impact on me throughout my life, having been raised in church. I never wanted to find myself away from God as an unfaithful one: a transgressor. Twenty-three years ago, our son, a licensed minister, decided he was done with how he was raised. Our world and family were suddenly and drastically changed, but not for the better. God’s mighty hand is always at work. We see it today, though we could not see it then. God Himself faithfully ministered to us for the next twelve years. All things were working for good. When God’s covenant children walk away from Him, He doesn’t walk away from them. The way of the transgressor is hard, yet we have the sure promises of God that He will never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 3:18, Hebrews 13:5). We were challenged at times to believe that God was with our son in his rebellion; however, God’s Word cannot lie. (Read Numbers 23:19, I Samuel 15:29, Hebrews 6:18.) We chose to trust and believe in God’s faithfulness that wherever he was, God was with him, loving…
A flock of sheep stood grazing in a green pasture as a gentle brook burbled nearby. One hundred sheep, to be exact. As the Good Shepherd inspected His herd, He noticed one was missing. He called its name time and again, but no sheep. He looked this way and that, but still no sheep. That sheep was precious to Him. It was worth the price of His own life. He left the ninety and nine in search of the lost sheep. Up mountains, through valleys, there was nowhere He would not go to return the lost sheep to the fold. The sheep had been drawn away by the “lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eye, and the pride of life” (I John 2:16). It had been deceived and enticed. It had possibly been hurt by another sheep in the fold. Whatever the reason for its wandering, the Good Shepherd wanted His sheep returned. He called the sheep by name and did all He could to draw it back. He did not care what condition the sheep was now in after its wandering. If the sheep was found, He would rejoice, He and all His friends. He would…
In the well-known story of the prodigal son in Luke 15, he took his inheritance and spent it on temporary pleasures. When he realized all his money was gone, he found a job feeding pigs. The pleasures and friends were gone. He was so hungry that the pig’s food began to look appetizing. Then the Bible reveals a key moment in Luke 15:17: “But when he came to himself.” All these events led him to this moment of awakening. This is the kind of moment we ask God to give every prodigal. We read about a severe famine in the…
“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name.” (Psalm 86:11) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” (Proverbs 16:3) These are all very familiar scriptures. Some key words we often notice are ‘unite,’ ‘trust,’ and ‘commit.’ These scriptures all refer to us doing a positive action. These are significant actions on this journey with Jesus. If we observe the contrast between the words united and untied, we see that just one placement of the letter “i” changes the word’s meaning. It all seems so wonderful and easy when we are on a high note in life. Our families are healthy. The children are safe and saved. We offer these scriptures to highlight the positive and to encourage others along the way. But when things are not running smoothly and rebellion, sickness, or tough times hit, it is essential to know our place in Jesus. When “I” am in the right spot with the Lord, “I” am united. If “I” get out of place, “I” can create a whole…
For most of my life, I have despised journaling. This may not be the best statement to make when writing an article to encourage you to consider the practice of prayer journaling. For me, there’s something so final and real about staring at your thoughts, vulnerabilities, and often unanswered requests on paper. However, I’ve learned to appreciate it and see its benefits. In this season of my life, it’s proven to be one of the most beneficial, healing, and revealing spiritual disciplines. Since I adopted the practice of using a prayer journal, I’ve encountered God and myself more intimately. I’ve learned so much about myself, my thought processes, and how I perceive things. I’ve also learned a great deal about the character and nature of God, and how my life experiences and perspectives have shaped my understanding of Him. Additionally, prayer journaling has allowed me to look back on what I’ve experienced and see God’s goodness and faithfulness. It’s also presented an opportunity to document the miracles that God has performed in my life. What is Prayer Journaling? Prayer journaling is the practice of keeping a record of one’s prayers, thoughts, requests, praises, and reflections while communicating with God. Essentially, a prayer journal is a…