“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:25, ESV) I’ve quit rushing. Well, at least some of the time. I still look for the shorter line at the grocery store, but I just as frequently will motion someone with only a few items ahead of me. No, I’m not an angel in disguise; I just try not to worry about delays. Some days I succeed better than others. We live in an impatient world. Someone has called this the “microwave generation” because we have come to expect instant gratification. When…
“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) by posting about it on social media.” The influencer’s goal is to create trends and to encourage their followers to buy the products they promote. The amount of money top influencers may pull in by their endorsements can reach into the millions. I have known some powerful influencers in my life, but theirs was a different kind of influence. In fact, many never realized they were an influencer. They were just humble people living a life of integrity and commitment to the Lord day by day. Their lives inspired and challenged me, and others, to follow their example. Such people…
“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…
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 release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Laughter improves our mood and gives us a general sense of wellbeing. Many of us have one or two special friends we laugh with whenever we are together. Crazy situations—those happen a lot—will bring on tear-streaming, side-splitting, belly-hurting, snorting laughter. Everyone needs friends they can laugh with as well as cry with. It makes life better. Proverbs 17:22 tells us that “A merry heart does good, like medicine” (NKJV). I’m positive God enjoys seeing us holding our sides as laughter rolls out. There must have been laughter in Eden as God walked and talked…
“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.