“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it . . . So I do not run aimlessly.” (I Corinthians 9:24 and 26, ESV) I am not a morning person, but occasionally I find myself out in the pre-dawn hours as I drive a friend to the airport for an early flight. It amazes me when I see a lone figure up ahead determinedly jogging. I wonder at the passion that compels someone to be out at such an early hour just to run.…
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10, ESV) Do you ever have trouble deciding what to wear some mornings? I have a few favorite outfits that I tend to choose frequently. More and more my style has evolved into something called comfortable, not elegant or trendy. I have no need to “dress to impress.” An old proverb says that “clothes make the man.” But is that really true? It’s easy to measure others by the way they are dressed and by the cost of what they are wearing. However, when we do this, we judge the worth of a person by the wrong standards. Character is more important than the clothing label. esther’s story Esther was in her teens when she and other young ladies were taken into the palace of King Ahasuerus. The king needed to select a new queen after banishing Vashti from that position. The young women, who…
“A time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away.” (Ecclesiastes 3:6, NKJV) It’s often said that “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” I always assumed it referred to thrift shopping like garage sales and second-hand stores. However, variations of this saying go back hundreds of years. Because I am of a certain age, I have too many “treasures.” I don’t have space for them. Most have little dollar value, but I find it difficult to let go. Decluttering is difficult because memories are attached to so many items. These things that fill my space may be trash or they may be treasure, but someday I will need to clear the clutter. Toss or keep? Ecclesiastes 3:6 tells us that there is a time to keep things and a time to throw them away. That’s true in a physical sense and also true in our spiritual lives. When our lives get cluttered with busyness and distractions, we may not realize how our clutter is crowding God out of our lives. Physical clutter is easy to recognize—stacks of papers, messy closets, covered tabletops and dressers, or stacks of books toppling over.…
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV) It’s January, the start of a new year. Many consider it an opportunity for a fresh start. We can put last year’s disappointments and failures behind us and begin with a clean slate. We make resolutions, choose a focus word for the year, set goals, and begin our journey toward self-improvement. Also during this month, many churches set times of prayer and fasting to help us focus on the spiritual. checking my priorities…
Weariness is a universal truth—it reminds us that we are human, and even the strongest among us have limits. No matter how steadfast our faith, there are moments when life, ministry, and responsibility press heavily upon our shoulders. Weariness can manifest physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is a deep fatigue that cannot always be solved by rest or sleep alone, because sometimes the source of our tiredness goes beyond the body—it resides in the spirit. The Word of God acknowledges this reality. Isaiah 40:29-31 says: “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Even when we feel completely spent, God promises that strength is available. The Bible doesn’t shame our weariness—it transforms it. Weariness is not a sign of failure but an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power and bring revival into our lives. Second Thessalonians 3:13 reminds us, “But ye, brethren, be…
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (John 12:1–3). “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). Meekness in a Proud World We live in a world that celebrates power, position, and pride. Yet in the kingdom of God, greatness looks very different. Jesus elevated meekness as a mark of spiritual strength, not weakness. When Mary knelt to anoint Jesus’s feet, she demonstrated one of the most powerful yet overlooked virtues in Scripture: meekness. Mary’s act of worship in John 12 revealed a heart fully surrendered. The perfume she poured out was worth a year’s wages, yet she did not hesitate. What made her action remarkable was not only its cost, but its spirit. With humility and reverence, she wiped Jesus’…