Words can hurt … deep within the soul.
In that moment of pain … I have a choice … revenge or forgiveness?
My response matters.
Return to Gilgal
Joshua and the Israelites were marching into the Promised Land and were, therefore, engaged in battle against the Canaanites. Repeatedly, they witnessed God’s power working on their behalf as they defeated their enemies in the south. Their enemies in the north were yet to be defeated. But instead of marching northward, Joshua led the Israelites back to Gilgal.
Choices
What if I had…? Have you ever said those words? Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had made a different choice or if your circumstances had been different?
Drawn to the Word
At a young age I was drawn to read the Bible. It wasn’t something I felt I had to do. Reading the Bible was my delight! I owned a translation I could easily understand, and at night I would read and highlight verses. Those verses lingered in my mind, and God gave me opportunities to share them with others. Looking back, I realize the Holy Spirit was drawing me to His Word.
Chapstick or Riches
When my daughter was four, she asked my husband, “Daddy, what is an inheritance?” He explained that everything that was Mommy’s and Daddy’s would be hers one day. She sat quietly for a minute and then responded, “Does that mean that one day I will get your chapstick?” Her daddy’s chapstick was the thing she cherished most. Now that she is older and wiser, I wonder if she would be satisfied with only his chapstick?
God’s Lavish Gifts
When I was young, my family rarely went to a restaurant to eat. But on one special occasion, my parents took us to a restaurant that was filled with various buffets. Salad and fruit buffets were in one area. Vegetable and meat buffets were nearby. And my favorite, of course, were the dessert buffets that I remember as taking up an entire room. Lavish quantities of food were everywhere! I wanted to try it all (well, most of it), but the abundance was too great. I couldn’t even sample it all.
Lessons from Dirty Dishes
Have you ever let dirty dishes sit for a day or so? Really, it doesn’t have to be that long. Maybe just a few hours.
Some of the worst culprits include oatmeal, tomato sauce, cheese, and even coffee.
Shoes Just Her Size
Eme had outgrown her dance shoes. But it was just two weeks before her recital and the end of the season.
One Glove for One Arm
As my friend got ready for her garage sale, she found one lonely ski glove.
Who needs one ski glove? She thought and almost threw it away. After all, it’s highly unlikely that someone with one arm would ski.
Broken and Beautiful
I love seashells.
And I love all kinds. Even broken ones.
Unlikely Lifelong Friends
Kimberly and I met when we were both about 23 years old. We both worked in corporate communication for a large bank.
The Love of God
God is love (1 John 4:8). God and love are synonymous, like God and good. God always loves because He is love. We can’t know true love apart from God since love comes from God (1 John 4:7). Whatever love we experience from others is a reflection of God’s love. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
We Are Better Together
The writer of Hebrews admonishes Christians to continue to meet together because it is good. God has designed his followers to need each other.
But honestly, who among us hasn’t hesitated to drag ourselves out of bed some Sunday mornings?
Eternal Jesus
What pictures come to mind when you think about Jesus? Maybe a newborn baby lying in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. Maybe a child in the temple confounding learned men with his knowledge. Maybe a man in his early thirties teaching and preaching. Maybe bruised and beaten, hanging on a cross.
God Comforts His People
Trouble and pain. We can’t escape it. Oh, but we try. We may lie or blame someone else to deflect trouble away from us. We may avoid dealing with conflict or stress by distracting ourselves. I can clean really well when I’m procrastinating. Sometimes shopping, social media or television are my diversions.
A Good Book
My daughter and I perused the books at a local resale shop. She showed me a book she was interested in buying. It was a volume containing the first two books in a series of four books. Excitedly, I brought her the second volume I had seen which contained the remaining two books in the series.
Girl! You Smell Good!
Think about the smell of a batch of chocolate chip cookies or a hot apple pie baking in the oven. The scent of a vase full of Stargazer Lilies is distinguishable among all other flowers and is one of my favorites. These aromas fill the air around us, are beautiful and pleasing, and they bring joy. Paul describes the knowledge of God as a pleasing aroma.
Take Hold of the Promise
Why is it sometimes scary to take hold of a promise? Especially if it is something God has told you about and prepared you for it? The Israelites faced this fear about a year after leaving Egypt.
Through the Wilderness
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live our whole life on earth in our “land of milk and honey”? Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case. When God finally led the Israelites out of Egypt (after 400 years in captivity), He didn’t lead them directly to their promised land. They spent the first year in the wilderness..
Between a Rock and Hard Place
Have you ever found life has you between a rock and a hard place? When Pharaoh finally released the Israelites, they quickly found themselves in this predicament. God led them to make camp between the Red Sea and the wilderness. When Pharaoh soon changed his mind and pursued them, they were caught with no way to escape.