Once my daughter and a friend of hers got into a little disagreement. As I asked the girls what the problem was, each girl began telling her side of the story . . . simultaneously. When they realized that neither was backing down, each girl spoke louder and louder. My son was standing right beside me, and his observation was, "That's too many words!" I laughed and had to agree.
Are these new verses to you? Not likely. Many of us have these verses memorized, and we even classify these as all-time favorites. These words are truth, but it is difficult for us to really live them out.
One of my favorite things to do is watch my two kids compete in the sports they love. Over the years, I have watched MANY seasons of various sports. I very rarely missed a game or meet of any kind. Of course, I’m their biggest fan!
I have to admit, I don’t really like a quiet house. If I am alone, I’ll turn on the TV for some background noise. When fixing dinner or cleaning up, I like to watch or listen to something. I immediately sense the urge to turn on a little HGTV, etc. Even in the car, I am listening to something. Not that this is wrong, but I have allowed this to become a habit for me.
When I was a child, there was a “Mr. Men” and “Little Miss” book series written by Roger Hargreaves. The characters in the stories had dominant personality traits that either caused them problems or showed another character how to engage in the positive quality. Everyone learned something through the moral lessons of these stories. I have noticed that they have made a reappearance in the form of memes.
Are you ready for something new? Do you need a fresh start, a new direction, a renewed spirit? Do you feel like you have a slow leak in the abundant life to which you were called?
I am so glad that God did not call me to be an Old Testament prophet. But I am grateful that the Lord gives us glimpses into the vulnerability and human-ness of these great men and women of faith. I’ve recently been intrigued by the prophet Habakkuk. His name means “One who wrestles or embraces”, and we see him wresting with God in the first chapter of the book named after him, asking questions that are familiar to us: “How long, Lord?” and “Why?”.
My little city in Texas is in the midst of a drought. Not only have we lacked adequate rainfall, but our daily temperatures have soared over 100 degrees on many days. The early heat and the rarity of rainfall have taken a toll on grass, trees, shrubs and gardens. As a new retiree, I have become so aware of the consequences of weather and our dependence on God’s provision in this area.
I am a beginning gardener, and though my goal this spring was to start a cutting garden, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a few homegrown tomatoes. Yum! I did my part: I prepared good soil; I planted a healthy plant; I watered it and provided fertilizer; I even put in stakes for support. And I watched and waited. As the plant grew, I was fascinated with the tiny blooms and subsequent fruit growing. I was disheartened when one of the branches grew so heavy with new fruit that it broke from the vine. Did those tomatoes continue to mature and ripen? No! Did the vine continue to produce new blooms and fruit? No. Disconnected from the source of all its needs, the vine and its fruit withered and wasted away. I tossed it into a pile of yard rubbish destined to be burned.
I have sweet memories of walking through the back door of my parents’ home and finding them at the breakfast table, dishes pushed aside, Bible in front of them, and hearing their prayers for me and my family. Their boldness and fervor challenged me. Their tenderness humbled me. Their trust in the Lord gave me courage! What a precious legacy they left me! There is true comfort in knowing that someone is lifting you up in prayer to the throne of God!
When my grandchildren were little, we vacationed one summer at the beach. During that week I rediscovered the simple joy of building sandcastles.
One summer our family toured Luray Cavern. Our guided tour took us deeper and deeper into the earth. As we walked the well-lit path, our leader pointed out the natural wonders on all sides.
Several years ago my cousin and his wife bought a fifty-year-old ranch style home. In spite of its dated interior, they loved the house and envisioned what it could become.
I sat down to read and turned on the table lamp beside me. As light spread across the table, I saw a fine white powder coated its surface and even the books resting there.
As a young wife and mother, I thought I had the perfect blueprint for our family. My intention was to have two children. No more. Within a few years we had two wonderful little boys. When I learned that I was expecting baby number three, I was extremely upset.
Trials are hard. They’re messy. They’re down right painful. Do you feel blessed when you experience them?
Praise the Lord! He rescues us from the pit! I don’t know about you, but I have been in the pit many times throughout my life. Sometimes it’s sin that throws us into the pit, however, sometimes it is circumstances out of our control that throw us head-long into it.
Do you know how precious metals are refined? Smelting is the process in which gold is separated from ore and other metals. The ore is first pulverized with extreme pressure to create tiny particles, which are then melted at almost 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. As the gold becomes molten, most of the impurities are burned up.
No matter how you slice it, life is full of challenges. Each hardship represents some sort of loss; loss of a person, home, safety, stability, or purpose. This is why these experiences can be so painful.
I sat in Bible study one evening, during a time in my life I was struggling with obedience to the Lord in a particular area. Experiencing the cycle of sin, regret, asking forgiveness, and then continuing to regret over and over made me weary.
