(Originally written in 2009, this is interesting to read again today in 2022.) “I the LORD do not change.” (Malachi 3:6a NIV) “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart andContinue Reading
Once a friend asked me how I was. I replied that I’d been having a bit of trouble lately seeing the forest for the trees. I’m a person who, every now and again, has to get up above the trees to see the forest – to get above the individualContinue Reading
Be joyful at your Feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. (Deuteronomy 16:14 NIV) For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of yourContinue Reading
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God ofContinue Reading
Sometimes God answers “yes,” sometimes “no,” and sometimes “wait.” Anticipation. Waiting. Expecting. Hoping. Waiting some more. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV) Prophecies hundreds of years old telling of a coming Messiah. A couple eagerly awaiting the results of aContinue Reading
Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. (Genesis 2:6 NLT) I’ve called your name. You’re mine.When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’reContinue Reading
Once upon a time I did some research on emergency preparedness. I had a conversation with someone who made the comment that in certain situations, “Worst case scenario: you’re dead.” And, strangely enough, that was actually encouraging to me; for to me being dead is not my “worst case scenario.” No, to be deadContinue Reading
“This world has nothing for me…I will follow you…” God told Abram to pack up his household and go to the place “I will show you.” Jesus called to the disciples, “Come follow me.” And they left their nets and followed. Tonight I talked with friends who are preparing to move out ofContinue Reading
Have you thought recently about how interconnected our lives are — not just our lives as a family, community, or church body, but as citizens of the U.S. and the world? If a factory closes here and a comparable one opens in a different country, families are affected, for badContinue Reading
Sometimes God’s Word speaks for us – especially when we have “sighs too deep for words” and God’s Word puts substance to those sighs. From Psalm 5 NIV: In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. YouContinue Reading