I have a very smart friend who has great spiritual insight. I look to him for good counsel. He’s a fully trained and licensed Pastor and counselor, and he has a PH.D.! He’s also a college professor. Like I said, he’s smart and wise. But even he said while speaking to his fellow Christian college professors on spiritual growth — “Most days, I feel like a kindergartener.” I’m in good company, then, because I, too, have a lot to learn in all things God. Here’s my list on PRAYER to remind myself of and grow in: 1) Remember when to …
Seriously – has God planted me here?!…
Many times, we want to be used by God, we just don’t see how He can use us in our difficult circumstances. We can solve other people’s problems, but not so much our own. How can we possibly shine forth and be used by God in our current painful problems? Yet, we’re exactly where God can do His wonderfully unique and great work on our behalf as we call on Him. In fact, that problem wall that you’ve been hitting your head against? That might be God. It’s often the way He shows us something He wants us to see. …
“Thy Kingdom come” means shaking the bad to bring in the good…
I often pray the Lord’s prayer. This morning as I prayed, “thy Kingdom come,” it came to my mind that when a new kingdom comes in and takes over there will be shaking and upheaval – as the old is overthrown and removed. May I see that even in the shaking of this world – God is good. God is in the process of overthrowing the kingdom that brought in pain & suffering, fear & doubt, selfishness & sin, death & destruction. My kingdom-job is to place my trust and allegiance in the One who saves & redeems, rewards & …
“Thy Kingdom come” means shaking the bad to bring in the good…Read More
Working Away
Hey friends! Tomorrow morning I leave for Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference with my friend, Patricia! We are pitching our “No Matter What, It’s a Good Day When” gift book and some of our other projects. I look forward to sharing with you a lot of good news, about all of it, when I get back. May God bless your endeavors for Him this week.
Life is… by Mother Teresa
Pastor Betzer (1st Assembly of God, Fort Myers) recently shared this gem of a poem from Mother Teresa. Life is… Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is costly, care for it. Life is wealth, keep it. Life is love, enjoy it. Life is mystery, know it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life …
How Good Are You at Receiving?
Sure. We like to think of ourselves as wonderful, generous givers! But the question is – how good are we at receiving? Giving is only half of the story. Are we able to receive gifts and help from others? Do we receive with enjoyment and thanks? Do we receive graciously? I have a loved one who through the years has given much to me and been a great help. She has babysat our boys, brought meals, and cleaned my kitchen. She would not just feed and love our dog while we were on vacation, she would nap at our house …
How Are Your Assignments Coming Along?
We see much throughout Scripture about the tasks and assignments individuals are given. In 1 Chronicles 23 alone here are a few of the jobs that had to be filled and the workers needed. supervisors for temple workers, workers to build the temple, craftsmen and artisans, officials and judges, gatekeepers, those who praised the Lord with musical instruments, and finally one man Aaron, was set apart to minister before the Lord and to pronounce blessings in His name. As I read about the tasks and jobs it always makes me think about our assignments. First, each of us has our …
Praying for Guidance
My book, “Building Faith with Bible Pathway,” which I brought back to print is an enjoyable devotional/guide that helps us read the Bible daily. (It’s available through Amazon, plus my website www.ToughTimesandPeace.com.) Dr. John Hash, in the April 8th entry, reminds us that: Though the way may seem more uncertain each day, we must be like David, who as the days got more difficult and as his enemies pursued him, continued to pray for guidance on which way to turn. How applicable this is for us on many levels. It is what I’m trying to do these days. I’m praying …
The King – Royalty and Responsiblity
I love, love, love the movie The King’s Speech. I’ve seen it twice. In the movie, the Duke of York was destined to be King of Britain and to speak for the people and to the people, but he painfully stuttered with every conversation. With the patient, persistent help of Lionel – a speech therapist, friend, and coach, King George VI slowly overcomes the things that impede his ability to speak. His progress sometimes seemed imperceptible and sometimes back to square-one. Yet through hard work, love, and acceptance, as well as learning to share honestly about all that he had …
Pray. Do Right. Rejoice. Wait. Repeat.
There is a right time for everything.There is a time to be silly and a time to be serious. There is a time to work and a time to wait. There is a time to plant and a time to enjoy the harvest. Ecclesiastes 3 (NKJV), (or The Message) shares more on this beautifully and poetically. Our job is to know what our needs are at any given time and to, accordingly, do what is right for those circumstances. In God’s Word we are given some basic premises. Always in righteousness (right-thinking and right-living) – we are to practice. In …