Favor
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8 NIV) Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned…the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes ofContinue Reading
The New Norm
(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
Trees or forest?
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
Joy!
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
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
Anticipation
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
All Balled Up
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
Worst Case Scenario
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
Go
“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
Interconnected
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