Tuesday, May 21, 2019
There are some things we need to forget, and other things we need to remember. Our problem is, we tend to forget the things we need to remember and remember the things we need to forget! Remembering the right things is especially important when going through tough times. Here are a few things to keep in mind when life is hard:
Monday, May 20, 2019
How stressed are you? Lots of things cause us stress. Stress is both a psychological and physiological response to adverse events or events negatively perceived. It could be a health issue, relationship problems or some other situation that feels challenging or threatening. When stressed out, we’re emotionally and spiritually vulnerable. If we’re not careful, we make bad decisions that create turmoil and trouble for us.
Friday, May 17, 2019
Often kids are taught a cute little song in Children’s Church that adults would do well to learn. “Be careful little hands what you do. For the Father up above is looking down in love. Be careful little hands what you do.” The song has multiple verses calling us to caution; “Be careful little feet where you go … eyes what you see … ears what you hear …”
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Have you ever felt “boxed in?” This phrase is used to describe the feeling of being limited by something or someone. It communicates the frustration someone experiences because of real or perceived restrictions. If anyone ever had the right to feel “boxed in” by life’s circumstances it was Paul, the apostle. His passion was preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. He loved encouraging Christian believers and helping churches grow.
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Life continually presents potential battlegrounds and battle opportunities to us. Around every corner, there’s another possible fight waiting. Unfortunately, some folks have never met a fight they didn’t like. They’re committed warriors, but often in battles not worth fighting or winning. How many times have you involved yourself in a conflict that eventually only wasted your time and energy, and left no one better?
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
“It’s not my fault!” How many times is this phrase spoken every day, if not in words, in thought? While there are lots of things that go wrong in life that are not our responsibility, or breakdowns we’re not the cause of, the “it’s not my fault” mentality frequently gets in the way of our learning and growing.
Monday, May 13, 2019
All of us get depleted at times. There are seasons when life takes all the energy out of you. Whether it’s a personal challenge, a time of sickness, job or financial pressures, or some other problem, we can find ourselves at the bottom of a very dry spiritual and emotional well. To move forward again, we need to be replenished. Merriam-Webster defines the verb “replenish” as “filling or building up again.”
Friday, May 10, 2019
Most folks look forward to weekends. It’s a time for a little extra sleep, some catch-up work at home, or perhaps some enjoyable activity. Even the most spontaneous people usually have some kind of weekend plan. One thing vital to our weekend is worship with God's people. It’s one of the wisest decisions we can make and habits we can develop.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
We often think of muttering as a bad thing. It usually refers to unintelligible speech. If you’re a parent, you have likely reminded your child to stop muttering! It’s interesting to note that God actually instructs us, as His children, to do the opposite.
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
You’ve heard the famous Vince Lombardi maxim, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” There is great power in perseverance, diligence, grit, old fashioned “gutting it out.” These things pay high dividends. The Bible teaches us the value of not giving up. One of the most well- known Bible passages reminding us of this truth is found in Galatians 6:9 (NIV) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
We sometimes use words like “driven” to describe a highly motivated, self- starting, achievement-oriented person. This individual usually has clear goals, strong discipline and a high commitment to the things that matter to them.
Monday, May 6, 2019
You’ve met them before. Perhaps you’ve even been that person. I am talking about the person who refuses to change their thinking, despite the facts. It’s the one knowingly stuck in their destructive ways, yet unwilling to do anything about it. We use an adjective for folks like this — stubborn! It’s a highly negative character flaw that guarantees bad decisions.
Friday, May 3, 2019
Desire is an essential element of life. It inspires and motivates us. It causes us to set goals and go after them. It moves us forward. As long as desires are holy and healthy, they are a good thing. Sometimes desires go haywire, however. A good thing can become a bad thing when it’s out of control. The desire for a piece of cake after dinner is likely fine occasionally, but eating an entire cake, and doing it every evening is over-the-top. It’s a desire gone haywire.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Making proper lane changes is a vital part of safe driving. Newer vehicles are often equipped with lane assistance technology. A warning activates when you begin drifting into another lane, or when you about to make an unwise lane change.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
“Even” is an interesting word. It means, “on the same level; equal in measure or quantity” (Dictionary.com). The concept of “even” is often applied to our relationships. When hurt or offended by something someone says, does or fails to do, we often want to get “even.” We want to equalize the pain. The thought is, “Whatever measure of problems or hurt you’ve caused me, the same should come back to you!” It’s called “getting even,” and we all have the tendency to desire and seek it.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Your heart condition is important. Heart checks help us become aware of potentially fatal issues hidden from our view — heart problems. Just as physical heart checks are essential, spiritual checks on your soul condition are vital. Many times, things are going on inside us robbing us of the fullness of life Jesus intended.