On my way through the country o ne day I came across a gorgeous sunset which caused the silhouette of an old church i n front of it to stand out . The steeple pointed upward toward the sky. I just had to stop and snap a picture.
All in God's Character
To Him Be the Glory Forever!
When I was a little child—well not really, but a teenager eager to know the Lord better—I memorized all 107 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism* precepts. To this day I remember two of them: #1, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” And indeed, “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” is the entire thrust of Scripture, you could even say of life.
God’s Invisible Hand
The challenge of integrating God’s sovereignty and my free will resolved once I acknowledged that God’s ways are beyond my understanding. Rather than frustrating me, it propels me into the wonderous depths of God’s unlimited grace for my life and for all who seek Him.
Look and See
The roar of a snarling chainsaw distracted me as the neighboring landowner cleared his
property. I cringed at the sound of mature Pine trees crashing to the ground. That
evening I walked to the fence to investigate the enormous debris pile left behind.
Truths from Difficulty
The past eight months have been difficult as we walked through my daughter’s stage
three cancer diagnosis. This month she was declared cancer-free! During this journey,
certain truths about God have been reinforced in my heart and mind. Certain aspects of His character have become more deeply embedded in my beliefs.
God, why won’t You just zap them?!
What he didn’t know at the time was that he asked one of the toughest questions in Christian circles today: Why does God allow evil to exist?
Stones of Remembrance
Stones of remembrance are mentioned in Joshua 3. The Israelites were ready to cross into the promised land. The Jordan River, which was at flood stage, stood in their way. It was impossible for them to cross. But God miraculously parted the Jordan, and the Israelites crossed on dry ground into the promised land. One man from each of the twelve tribes of Israel gathered a stone from the middle of the Jordan. The twelve stones were made into a memorial so future generations would know God’s power. Nothing is impossible with God!
Hay for Sale
Our need for spiritual sustenance. he totally can provide. His promises are trustworthy. How many in this world make big promises but fail to live up to their hype? We have no fear of that happening when we open ourselves up to God. He has the capacity to hear us all, answer us all, and follow through with us all.
Rise Up and Walk
I could not believe it. That verse went perfectly with jump ropes. The kids could all decorate a cut-out of themselves and I could place them on the jump ropes on the board along with that verse.
Do You Know My God?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
Do you detect the urgency and excitement in these questions? If someone said that to me, I would want to know more. What information might the person have that I did not? I would definitely listen to what was said next.
Trusting God
God asks me to trust Him in both big and small situations, just as He asked the Israelites to trust Him for crossing the river. God’s previous faithfulness in my life plus biblical examples like the crossing of the Jordan fuel my trust in Him for facing new personal challenges. I have learned to trust that He holds me safely in His grip of love—just as He does for everyone who belongs to Him.
Sought by God
Jenny, an elderly donkey, failed to show up for her daily serving of grain. After several days I decided to search for her. I walked acres of pasture with the hood of my jacket pulled tight under my chin. I repeatedly called her name then paused to listen for her distinctive brae. I thought of Jesus as I trudged along, when he told the parable of the shepherd who leaves the flock of sheep to search for the missing lamb—an illustration of God searching for the lost.
Mercy and Me
In Micah 6:8, God says we are to “love mercy.” Showing mercy when I’ve been slightly wronged isn’t very difficult. But extending forgiveness to someone who has deeply and grievously wronged me is profoundly challenging. Can you relate?
Traveling through Valleys
And so, Lord, if there are aspects of your character that can only be revealed in the valleys, then lead me to the valleys. Use those valleys to refine me and make me more like you. Use those valleys to strengthen my knowledge of you, my faith in you, and my dependence upon you.
Psalm 119 -- Blameless vs Perfect
Fallible human, infallible God -- while we may not achieve perfection, Psalm 119:1-7 assures us we can live blameless lives by “walking according to the law of the Lord, seeking him with all of our heart, praising him, and learning from his righteousness.”
When You Can’t Sleep
3am, 3:30, 3:45—what to do in the middle of the night? Oh how I do not like those wee small hours of no sleep. Up to the bathroom—no, I’ve done that already; toss and turn—maybe it’ll be better on my right side. Perhaps some hot tea. The clock ticks on before my very eyes.
Knowing God’s Love
A young mother raised in a culture hostile to Christianity shared a joyful experience with me. After discovering the love of God through Jesus Christ, she immediately noticed how the sky glistened with a deep blue and the leaves on trees reflected various shades of green!
Comprehending God’s Love
Accompanying a friend to a conference on domestic violence introduced me to the impact of traumatic experiences on children. A child’s brain rapidly forms during those earliest years and the unprocessed emotions of the trauma become hard-wired into their brains and creates a template for viewing life as adults.