Wednesday, April 23, 2014
We’ve all experienced it: Someone failed to keep an important promise to us. Someone we were relying on didn’t come through. Something we hoped for or dreamed about didn’t happen. An expectation we had was unfulfilled or under-fulfilled. I’ve felt it. You’ve felt it. We’ve all experienced the frustration and pain of disappointment. If we’re […]
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
This coming weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday. We’re reminded of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on the Sunday before His crucifixion. That day He rode a donkey from the Mount of Olives into the city hearing the shouts of the crowd — “Hosanna!” Sadly, by that Friday, the people’s praise of Him turned to vicious attacks […]
Monday, March 31, 2014
“Have a good day!” It’s a cliche we regularly use with little thought. It’s a nice thing to hear and say. Obviously wishing someone a “good day” is better than the alternative — wishing them a “bad day!” But what is a “good day,” and how do we know if we’re having one? Most often […]
Friday, March 28, 2014
Hope is one of the most powerful and positive resources we can possess. Hope is one of three enduring, eternal qualities that desperately need to be a part of our lives: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT) There are three things that will endure —faith, hope, and love— … The Bible is big on hope. Hope involves […]
Sunday, March 9, 2014
When was the last time you were around a sour, negative, bitter, naysayer? What effect did it have on you? Most likely you started looking for an escape. There’s something about being around someone with a negative spirit that repels rather than attracts. If we hang around this poisonous atmosphere long enough it contaminates us. […]
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
If you’ve ever been with kids on a road trip you know that, at some point on the journey you’ll hear the question, “Are we there yet?” When the answer is “no,” the common follow-up question is, “How much longer until we get there?” Adults aren’t much different. We want to “get there” — wherever […]
Thursday, February 27, 2014
How healthy is your thinking? After coming to know Jesus as our Savior, we can still miss many of the wonderful things God has for us because of a messed up mind. Our lives can be severely limited by sinful, faulty, misguided, dysfunctional and debilitating thinking. The quality of your life is determinded by the […]
Monday, December 30, 2013
New years are great. They’re an opportunity to start fresh. They’re moments in time when you get to say good-bye to the old and hello to the new. They’re the potential beginning of a whole new future, if you respond the right way to them. To experience the best of the new possibilities and potential […]
Monday, December 23, 2013
I regularly talk to and pray with people who find holidays challenging. For a variety of reasons, special times of the year can feel more like a burden than blessing to some folks. While there's usually some positive anticipation associated with the arrival of a holiday, there can also be apprehension. Holidays can put people […]
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
There’s a familiar phrase — a Bible verse that lots of people recognize. It’s a quote from Jesus that gives us a great life principle: … remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35 (NIV) This life principle has been researched and proven […]
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Have you ever been in a confined place with someone who was coughing or sneezing without concern about others around them? This happens frequently in elevators, waiting rooms, lobbies, offices, on airplanes, and in a variety of other environments. What do you feel when this happens? What is your instinctive reaction? If you're like me, […]
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Friends are wonderful. It's great to have people in your life that share some common connection and positive chemistry with you. Being together with a friend is something you look forward to and enjoy. You add to each other's life. Friends are a blessing and a gift. Sadly, however, sometimes friendships face challenges. Something happens […]
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
From time to time we all face dead ends, defeats or disappointments. When something ends suddenly and tragically or slowly and painfully we can hit a horrible wall. We’re often left with a heart shattered in a thousand pieces. Hopes are smashed and dreams crash against the hard rocks of life. Our future appears to […]
Friday, October 18, 2013
“One day I'll …. ” You've said this before haven't you? It's called a “good intention.” A “good intention” is what we say we want to be or do, but aren't ready to commit effort and energy to now. It projects into the future a kind of “miracle moment” when we'll finally get down to […]
Friday, September 27, 2013
What are your goals? Goals are good things. They point us to a positive future. And as long as your goals are consistent with God's goals for your life, they're worth working toward. But note a key phrase — working toward. Achieving goals requires work. That's why most people never achieve many of their goals. […]
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013 — a day when bad things happened. Twelve people lost their lives and eight others were wounded when Aaron Alexis opened gunfire at the Washington, D.C. Navy Yard. As the news unfolded throughout the day hearts were stricken with heaviness for the families suffering loss and pain. Questions, speculations and fear […]