Are we guilty of believing everything that we think? Do we think that we are useless, ugly, boring? The list could go on and on. It could even go the other way - it's all about me - my way, my life - me, me.
My Name
He and his wife had thousands of children.
Let me clarify: They never raised biological children, but during his over 50 years of serving in the student ministry at my home church, he fathered a multitude, including myself. Today hundreds will gather to celebrate his life.
My Glory?
A closer inspection turns to introspection, making me wonder if somehow I am exchanging my Glory, my precious Savior, for idols of my own making or my own imagination. Do I rely on people in my life to do for me what only God can do?
In My Way
I looked down at my text and laughed, “ About to be in my way.” What I meant to say was, “ About to be ON my way.” I had intended to let a friend know of my plan, but had inadvertently led myself to ponder my mistake.
My Hiding Place
Ah, Spring time! Birds building nests and butterflies dipping and dancing over the landscapes of garden flowers.
Oh, Spring time! Storm clouds building, thunder rolling with lightening and tornados dipping and dancing across the landscape.
Silenced
Have you been at a restaurant and the noise level is so loud that you cannot hear the person seated right next to you? You can see their mouth moving, but you have no idea what they are saying. Frustrating, right?
Joyful
I enjoy hiking a new scenic trail in the mountains. There is a fun sense of adventure with the challenge of something new and the beautiful views that await me, including the unknowns ahead. There are often choices in the trail of two different ways to go. Will I pick the right one? Will it be marked well so I choose wisely?
It is Worth It!
Have you tried to take a toy from a toddler, and she doesn’t want to give it up? It may be naptime or perhaps you need to leave from playing with a friend, but no matter what you try, you cannot pry those little fingers off of that toy without many tears and protests.
The Sandwich Generation
I am in the sandwich generation. Do you know what that means? If you have lived it, you do. I am in the season of life where I have aging parents on one side of me and on the other side of me, I have young adult children with small children. As a result, I am sandwiched by the two generations. It is a privilege to serve both sides! But sometimes, it can get a little busy, with so many ways to help and serve others.
Wandering
Wandering in a little European town often begins with excitement and a sense of adventure! Aimlessly, you can explore cute shops filled with interesting things or charming cafes that invite enjoying a cappuccino and a croissant.
A Return to Eden
In 95 A.D. the apostle John, exiled on the isle of Patmos, was given a peek into the forever Heaven—after the return of Christ, after the “lake of fire” (20:14), when God will make His dwelling place with the redeemed (20:3).
How Should We Then Live?
Once the certainty of the resurrection of Christ is established in your mind and you have called on the name of the Lord: if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9,13)—how then do you live?
Prayer Plus Worship
While viewing a program featuring marine life that inhabits coral reefs, I recalled my sister’s tabletop aquarium. Names of her tropical fish flooded my mind—Guppies, Mollies, Swordtails, Tetras and the ever-graceful Angelfish. I instantly moved closer to the television screen mesmerized by their beauty as they swam in their natural habitats.
Prayer as Spiritual Work
During a season of leadership responsibilities, I learned a life altering lesson. An intercessor for the group resigned from her long-term commitment. I failed to quickly locate someone to fill that void, and within weeks, chaos set in. After collapsing in frustration one day, I remembered the intercessor’s resignation. I immediately phoned to ask for a temporary recommitment while I actively sought someone else to assume that responsibility.
Helplessness in Prayer
My ancestors braved the Atlantic Ocean as some of the earliest settlers of what later developed into the United States of America. Their children navigated rivers, mountains, and extreme weather in their covered wagons before eventually settling in the southern states. Once there, they cleared the trees and tilled the ground. They planted, harvested, and hauled the produce to market by mule-drawn wagons. In short, I come from hearty stock!
A Picture of Prayer
A visit from my brother and sister-in-law provided multiple opportunities to visit during meals. Some conversations focused on health needs. Another time we discussed the content of our best-loved books. My favorite meal, though, included hilarious stories of my brother’s adolescent escapades!
Reflections from a Well-Worn Classic
I treasure my collection of vintage books. One of these tattered treasures holds an honored spot on my bookshelf—the thirtieth edition of Prayer by Ole Hallesby, a Norwegian theologian.