Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord… (Hab. 3:17-18) Every year …
Continue reading Through the Lens of Gratitude or Ingratitude
So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart. (Mt. 18:35) The man was a respected leader in town. The man also had a secret life. During business trips he indulged in risky behavior. In time, he contracted a …
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11) She was a world-class athlete, who had competed at the Iron Man championship in Hawaii—which is 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking, and 26.2 miles running. I had met her at the gym. If you sweat in close …
So, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. (Jn. 13:13) At the service when we would remember Jesus’ last night alive on this earth, we followed His command to wash each other’s feet. I would always set-up the washing-party with words like these: “We …
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ (Mt. 25:41) I’m aware I often write about my experiences at the jail. I go to the jail for several reasons. …
“From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” (Mt. 4:17) I had taken off a few months from visiting the vets at the jail. When I walked into the cell, a guy greeted me by giving me a hug and saying he had been praying for me. …
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. (1 Cor. 15:10) She got up to read the assigned reading for Sunday’s worship. When she got to the line above, she faltered. She struggled to breathe. Tears began to roll down her …
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappointment us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts… (Rom. 5:3-5) There are different kinds of suffering. There’s suffering that’s senseless, brutal, devoid of hope. …
O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock! (Ps. 137:8-9) I find these words to be very encouraging. I don’t find these words encouraging because I want God …
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pt. 4:8) He was a difficult man. Everywhere he went he was disruptive and disrespectful. People tried to avoid him. One day he burst into my office and said, “Today I’m going to tell you my story.” I didn’t …