The first church spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching. And they continued to share, to break bread, and to pray together (Acts 2:42 ICB).
All in Encouragement
Life's Curveballs
My grandson plays high school baseball. He can throw a wicked pitch called a curveball. It’s especially hard for batters to hit because it dives downward as it nears the plate.
Shadows in the Valley
Suffering. No one wants it. In fact, we work hard to prevent suffering from finding its way into our lives. No matter how you slice it, life is full of challenges and times when the shadow of suffering lingers. Death, job loss and financial stress, difficult relationships, unmet expectations, chronic pain, or living through a natural disaster can all bring great suffering into people’s lives. Each hardship represents loss which is why these experiences can be so painful.
Yea, I'm an Octogenarian!
When I turned eighty, my younger friends were concerned that this would bother me. On the contrary, I wear the term octogenarian with honor.
The Gift of Grace
I’m not surprised that the Apostle John closed his Revelation with a blessing. John’s words of blessing are not only directed to seven churches in Asia Minor but to each one of us—if we’ve accepted Jesus as our Lord.
New Testament Blessings
The Apostle Paul offers a prolific collection of grace-filled words in his letters. Reading them along with John’s and Peter’s blessings touched my heart and reminded me of the power of words, especially words of kindness among believers.
Peace as a Blessing
After Jesus Christ inhabited the hearts of believers through the Holy Spirit, we begin to encounter an abundance of kindnesses and blessings sprinkled throughout the New Testament. Jesus described what we should expect when God’s presence is with us. He explained to his disciples just before His crucifixion, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
A Generational Blessing
What exactly is a blessing? It must be more than good wishes or hope for good luck. To me, blessings feel more like a prayer asking God to walk with, abide with or accompany someone on a journey. Discovering the variety of blessings in Scripture warmed my soul and gave me a hunger to know more about them.
Kindness: A Respite for our Souls
he smallest gesture of kindness can refresh someone’s soul.
While waiting for assistance recently, a young adult with a developmental disability suddenly announced to me, “My daddy just died from COVID.”
My Good Shepherd
“What does your Good Shepherd look like?” our Bible study leader asked. Even though I had never thought about that question before my grandmother popped into my head immediately.
Guilty or Not Guilty?
For years I felt guilty for not having a family devotional time with our girls as they grew up. We provided plenty of other spiritual growth opportunities, but not that dedicated sit down time as a family. I stewed and fretted about it a lot.
The Power of Words
Last week I turned over my calendar to a new month. At the top of the new page was this quote:
Kind words are jewels that live in the heart and remain as blessed memories years after they have been spoken. M. Johnson
Seasons: Day 4
During a recent lunch conversation, a friend and I got on the topic of “significant” birthdays. The particular number under discussion was one looming on her horizon, but solidly in my rearview mirror, making me the expert on the subject.
Seasons: Day 3
If you ask young children to name the seasons, some might answer, “Christmas, Easter, July 4th and Halloween.” Following that train of thought, the sign of each new season would be the bursting forth of appropriate merchandise on the shelves of local retailers. Ah, sad, but true…
Seasons: Day 2
On day 4 of Creation, God placed two great lights in the heavens. Lights we recognize as the sun and our moon; one direct and one reflective.
The earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours.
The moon’s rotation around the earth every 27.5 days..
The earth makes a complete rotation around the sun every 365.265 days.
Seasons: Day 1
As I write this, it is August and it is hot. The recent rains were only a temporary respite from temperatures that promised 90’s and threatened 100’s. But, I know this: the heat of August won’t last forever and better days—days of dappled sun and fall breezes—are ahead. I know that because I have experienced many years and many seasons.
Don’t Listen to Ugly
Rejection. Most people have experienced rejection in their lifetime. Some say that rejection is a regular visitor. Whether it is your teenaged friends leaving you out of the group, rejection from your mother, father, or a stepparent, an unfaithful spouse or friends that leave you behind when you experience a divorce.
Singing the Wrong Words on the Back Row
I don’t have a singing voice. In fact, I am somewhat tone deaf. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
While that sometimes stops me from singing now, it did not stop the 5-year-old me.
What Makes You Feel Special?
As a child, I felt special every time I took a bath at my Granny’s house.
At that time, Granny only had one bathroom. The tub, sink and toilet were probably 30 years old. The water pressure wasn’t that great, but I didn’t care about any of those things.
The Light of the World
Our mature live oak trees suffered terribly during the severe winter last year. Barren and stunned by the record cold, the branches, which appeared to be dead, eventually began to sprout foliage in late spring and early summer. Green life appeared!