Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV) Almost two years ago, we were driving into town on a blacktop road when we saw a raccoon lying dead inContinue Reading
I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness. (Psalm 26:3 NIV) What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV) Last weekend I heard several testimonials of how God had moved toContinue Reading
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2 NASB) The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16 NLT) I aim to write a variety of posts onContinue Reading
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15 NIV) Yesterday a friend asked me to pray for her son-in-law’s cousin and her husband who lost an eight-month old baby, evidently to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. I don’t even know the parents and other family members wouldContinue Reading
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since whatContinue Reading
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is theContinue Reading
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 NIV) One of the stories we’re studying in the American short stories class I’m teaching is Langston Hughes’ “Thank You, M’am,” which was written and published in 1958. Hughes was the first AfricanContinue Reading
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. (Psalm 34:8 MSG) Last week in the American short stories class I’m teaching, we studied O. Henry’s “The Cop and the Anthem.” It’s a story about a homeless man who plansContinue Reading
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV)“Beloved, I see how you have journeyed through the valley of the shadow of death. You started out strong in faith and believing that I was with andContinue Reading
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 NIV) My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 17:5-6 NIV) Tonight, we had ourContinue Reading