One of the great teachings of Christianity is that we can rest in God. So many verses in the Bible give this assurance, and for us in this troubled, sin-filled world…some would even call it chaotic…this assurance is a blessing.
The familiar Psalm 23 says “He leads me beside the still waters. He refreshes my soul.” What a blessing that is when we face financial, physical, psychological, or spiritual challenges. In Matthew 29:6 we read: “Take my yoke upon you,…..
Two of the Bible studies I am doing this year converge on the topic of repentance. Exodus reminds me in chapter 20 and other places that God is sovereign and will have no other gods before Him. Nothing is to be more important in our lives than serving Him, and anything that gets in the way causes scripture to say: “I the Lord your…..
Birthdays are times of reflection, aren’t they? Times to review good stories, times to think about heritage, times to long for the “good old days” that weren’t any better than our todays, just different. Today is my sister’s birthday. We are just under two years apart, soon to be followed by another sister and brother. Ours was a busy household with parents who did their best to guide us and teach us and to bring us to Christ. I am…..
Proverbs 3:5 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” We can count on this piece of wisdom because God said it, and if He says it, it is always truth. Its corollary, in Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray…..
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Yes, death is part of life. Since creation’s fall, the verdict is: guilty. Now you will face death. It is punishment for original sin. Everything that has life faces its end. Except for God. God is infinite, omnipresent, omniscient, and, according to Psalm 139, knows us even before conception, and chooses, from…..
Today is a special day for us. Our son, Paul, was born forty-three years ago this morning. It can be counted as one of the richest memories of my life. He has blessed me in so many ways, and unlike many of my friends, I have retired close to both our son, and now his lovely family, and our daughter. We attend their events, celebrate holidays, and watch with joy the growth of our two granddaughters.
Likewise, yesterday was an…..
I weekly look forward to the Lord’s Day–the Sabbath, the day God set aside for worship and rest. I don’t know about the rest thing, although God ordained it as a day of rest from His creative efforts. Today’s service at Covenant Church in Palm Bay was bittersweet: we had our final worship time in the building where our congregation has worshipped…..
The pain of sorrow is unlike any other. It brings us to our knees. It clouds our vision. It fractures our emotions. It captures every thought, every moment, every sinew, every ounce of strength, and holds our very soul prisoner. Nothing else in this world matters.
We can try to look at the big picture at distant sorrow like the devastating earthquakes of…..
We all face discouragement from time to time, whether we measure by finances, achievements, relationships, or quality of life. For example, several musical groups I heard yesterday at the Music Performance Assessments for our school district may have expected superior ratings, and received excellences. Or, the financial markets this morning may have appreciated better numbers in the inflation reports. Or, some lady…..
Tragedy is humbling. It brings us to our knees. It is an attack against all we hold dear, and we wonder, how can I deal with this? It requires introspection, deep into our souls, as we consider the ramifications of loss. In a way, grief is soul-wrenching selfishness. We think no one can understand. We focus on our own feelings and ignore…..