Shame is a worldwide issue; it creeps into people’s minds at midnight, during a happy moment with family, or even when we sit in a pew at church. Shame is a device of the enemy that hinders us from running after God because it oftentimes causes us to run from Him. Today, you may feel encumbered by the shame of your past or missed opportunities due to uncontrollable circumstances. What is one thing that will combat shame? Forgiveness. The word forgive means to release. What do you need to release into God’s hands today? 1 John 1:9 states, If we…
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 Several months ago, my family went on a quick five-day getaway to Myrtle Beach. It was pure sunshine and smiles until one morning, we woke to rain. So, we loaded the kids in the car and drove them to an indoor play venue with endless stations to dress up, play dentist, go on rocket ships, and get wildly lost in our imaginations. Even my husband and I were having a blast. My daughter found the music station and immediately picked up a tambourine. At the top of her lungs, she began to sing, “Jesus loves me this I know…” My heart was so proud! And then, my heart sank… we are in public—she is singing Christian songs out loud—I should tell her to stop singing. In her world of worship, she had no idea that I was having a war of thoughts in my mind. She was loving Jesus, exactly how I’ve been teaching her, and expressing her devotion exactly how she should—without shame. I…
Difficult People “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Difficult people! Who hasn’t dealt with one at some point in life? It may have been a boss, a coworker, a fellow church member, or even someone within our family. The problem with such people is that they are— well—difficult. They can make our lives miserable. When such people come into our lives, we must choose how to react. Our response can either escalate the problem or lead to a more peaceful relationship. Dealing in a calm manner without lashing back is not easy, but it is biblical. It is also part of our Christian witness. The Lord outlines basic life principles within what we call the Sermon on the Mount. Careful reading of Matthew 5-7 reveals keys to building better relationships. His words may seem difficult to practice. After all, He advocates turning the other cheek, going the second mile, loving our enemies, blessing those who curse us, and praying for those who despitefully use us and persecute us. Our natural inclination is to do the opposite in each of these situations, but He has called us to a…
“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 the presumed heir to the throne of Israel. However, God instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint David as the next king. King Saul hated David and tried many times to kill him. Jonathan, however, felt no jealousy. The two were more like brothers and had formed a strong bond. In I Samuel 20 David pledged to keep a covenant of kindness toward Jonathan’s family forever. This was a promise David never forgot. Mephibosheth is hidden The life of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, was forever marked by the events of a single day. As a five-year-old child, he may not have understood…
“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 not found in the Bible, mentoring is a biblical concept. We find so many examples of men and women who invested their time and effort to help others reach their full potential. Moses invested in Joshua. Eli, the priest, invested in young Samuel. Naomi invested in her widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth. Mordecai invested in his orphaned cousin, Esther. Barnabas, the encourager, invested in Paul. Paul invested in the lives of several, including Timothy and Titus. Priscilla and Aquila invested in Apollos. Elizabeth invested in Mary, her young relative and an expectant mother. Mary came to visit Elizabeth at a very crucial…