“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (I Timothy 4:12, ESV) If you are a social media follower, you may have noticed the number of “influencers” trying to get your attention as they share recommendations on various products and services. What is an influencer, you ask? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an influencer is: “One who exerts influence : a person who inspires or guides the actions of others. Often, specifically : a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product)…
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) Psalm 23 is probably one of the most beloved passages in the Bible. Many of us memorized it as a child and have read it innumerable times since. It is a beautiful psalm. This week I began to ponder the first verse. What does it really mean when it says, “I shall not want”? Have you ever stopped to consider that one simple, yet profound, sentence? It didn’t take me long to decide the verse does not mean God will give me whatever I desire. While God has blessed me with many good things, a shiny red convertible was not one of them. (I couldn’t afford the taxes and insurance anyway.) This verse has little, if anything, to do with material goods and the riches of this earthly life. Other translations read, “I lack nothing” or “I have what I need.” The children of Israel lived in a wilderness for forty years. There were no grocery stores with multiple selections. God provided manna—the same thing every day. There were no fancy houses with swimming pools in the back yard. They lived in tents. There were no department stores for…
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (I Peter 5:8-9, NKJV) I had never really considered how a lion tracks its prey, so I did a little research online. I discovered that lions are calculating, stealthy, and patient. Most of their hunting is done at night, but they will also hunt during a storm as that makes it harder for their prey to hear and see them. As you might guess, their easiest targets are the older and weaker or the younger. But the lion is not afraid to attack bigger, faster, and closer animals as well. Perhaps it is because of these characteristics that I Peter 5:8-9 compares the devil to a roaring lion. He is on the prowl to attack anyone he can catch unaware—old and weary, young and uncertain, or strong and mature. The enemy does not care. He will seek out and try to devour anyone. How do we face off against such an intimidating adversary? The passage in I Peter 5 gives us steps…
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2, ESV) There are some people I just don’t want to sit near in church because laughter seems to bubble out of them at odd moments. Then I feel like laughing too. Laughter is so contagious! Just look at how a baby’s laugh of pure delight can make an entire roomful of people join in. Laughter is healthy too. It helps lower blood pressure and reduces stress. It can also trigger the…
“In heaven I have only you, and on this earth you are all I want. My body and mind may fail, but you are my strength and my choice forever.” Psalms 73:25-26 CEV We are faced with countless decisions every single day. What to eat for breakfast, what to wear, to have one or two coffees before breakfast (when in doubt, always go with two). Some choices are routine, but sometimes we are thrown a curveball and are forced to make some pretty big, difficult decisions. Life can set us on unknown paths, where the terrain has not been walked and the waters murky. Regardless of our situation and current struggle, our choice over and over again should always be Christ. He alone is our strength, provider, sustainer, and our firm foundation. My earthly body will fail me and my mind won’t always be sharp, but I can always choose Jesus. Much more of Him and less should be our daily desire. Choose Jesus today. He will never let you down and He is always for you.
“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.” Hebrews 6:18 CEV I know like many others, I am in a season of uncertainty, and confusion, and have been experiencing a little bit of anxiety. I felt overwhelmed today as the deafening noise from the world bombarded my thoughts, and caused me to doubt for a moment. I am so thankful that I can tell God my worries and fears. We can talk to Him when we are overwhelmed, a little frightened, and unsure of how to proceed. In these moments, we must be able to recognize that we need our Firm Foundation, our Solid Rock to ground us once again. The worries of life can easily distract us, and cause us to take our eyes off of Jesus. He is so willing to listen to every one of our cries. He sees every tear that falls and is never put off by our struggles. He is for us, He is with us, and…