Do we realize how privileged we are to be called to something ETERNAL?\\ Everything we know or have ever known has an end. Right now it is the end of summer. Day after day it was so hot—but we knew it was temporary, that summer would end. Now we SEE it, and FEEL it, and … [Read more…]
When it is garden harvest time, I find myself constantly sorting what I harvest and tossing the rejects into a nearby bucket. As I sort the unacceptable from the acceptable, I can’t help but think, all those fruits or veggies had the same start, yet one is saved and one is discarded. Why? What made … [Read more…]
Yes, we’ve cut back our expectations for this world. Especially now. And we are looking at our lives with the ETERNAL perspective. The result: Every part of life looks different, and we trust God to see us through whatever He allows. Meanwhile we are blessed, abundantly blessed. Blessed beyond measure. As Sister Barbara would say, … [Read more…]
Sometimes Jesus surprises us with a bigger duty than we expected. Consider this scenario: Someone spoke out of turn. Someone misunderstood you. Or resented what you said. Or criticized your criticism. Result: There was a hurt. An injury. A disconnect. It’s easy to say, “That’s their problem, not mine. I didn’t mean it that way.” … [Read more…]
People everywhere are talking about stress. Heat stress. Financial stress. Work stress. Home stress. Covid-19 stress. One young lady told her mother, “I find it stressful just to go to the grocery store!” It is true, because you are always wondering, Am I keeping safe among these people? Are the store managers working carefully enough … [Read more…]
Many people today are finding themselves alone. We never thought about how much this changes everything about life, did we? When you aren’t meeting people, priorities change. You don’t have to dress as carefully. Schedules change. Responsibilities change. Policies change. So many things are different—if no one sees. But is this true? The question is, … [Read more…]
How many times we say when we come to an unideal situation, something we may not like but cannot change, “It’s life.” We say it with a tone of resignation, almost acceptance. It isn’t just as we would like it, but—“it’s life.” And thank God for life! When Scripture talks about life, often it is … [Read more…]
It’s the response our cell phone often asks for when it gives us some new information, or adds a feature, or installs an update. The purpose is to save us time and effort by showing HOW it works. Then comes the pop-up box that asks, “GOT IT?” When we touch “GOT IT!” we are saying1) … [Read more…]
Have you ever puzzled over this verse in the book of James? I have. Stranger still, it follows James’ statement about faith needing works. Let us read it from the New English Bible. James makes a practical illustration. James 2:14–17 (NEB) 14My brothers, what use is it for a man to say he has faith … [Read more…]
To many people, God is a 911 call. Emergencies only. Last resort when all else fails. God does promise protection in a time of storm, but turning to God only in dire distress is both ignoble and unsafe. We saw it at the time of 9-11. There was an immediate call on God, a glimmer … [Read more…]