Monday, June 7, 2010
There are times in life when we come face to face with our weakness. There are moments and seasons when weariness can wear us down to the point of deep exhaustion. In times like these, we need strength: Strength to keep going when we are spiritually, emotionally and physically tired. Strength to keep a good […]
Friday, June 4, 2010
How flexible are you? To be “flexible” is to be capable of stretching, bending and changing without breaking. According to the dictionary, it is “the ability to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances or conditions; ready and able to change; willing or disposed to yield.” The opposite of being flexible is to be […]
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Do you have any idols in your life? Throughout the Bible one of the things God consistently warned His people about, and one of the things that most quickly incited His judgment, was idolatry. The idolatry of God’s people in the Old Testament resulted in great pain and heartache for them, and eventually led to […]
Monday, May 31, 2010
A number of important character traits seem to be falling by the wayside in our current culture. Two of such qualities are respect and honor. In many ways our world is becoming more disrespectful and dishonoring of those deserving of our esteem, valuing and appreciation. Throughout the Bible we are taught and commanded to respect […]
Friday, May 28, 2010
What is your first reaction to the problems and pain of other people? When we see or hear about difficulties in people’s lives we normally feel a bit of pity for them. For a moment or two, our hearts are touched with their trouble and pain. But sadly, all too often this is where our […]
Thursday, May 27, 2010
When God created us He gave us an incredible gift –– a free will –– the power of choice. While God has provided us His Word to inform, guide and direct our decisions, He gives us the freedom to obey or disobey; to pay attention or ignore His instructions and commands. We get to choose […]
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Something or someone today will challenge a key part of your character. At some point during the day your patience will be tested! It might happen on the road, in the grocery store, with a co-worker, your spouse or your children, but be sure, it will be tested! As with any test, we get a […]
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
How stubborn are you? Sadly there are some folks who don’t understand the downside of stubbornness. They wear their willfulness like a badge of honor; preening with pride about being their “own person.” They live life “their way” no matter the consequences, and irregardless of the pain their choices create for others. A quick look […]
Friday, May 21, 2010
When you’re going through a tough time, one of the most encouraging things that can happen is to hear these words from a loyal, trusted friend; “Everything is going to be fine. You’re going to make it through. God’s going to help you!” In Jeremiah 39 we find a similar promise given to a man by […]
Thursday, May 20, 2010
In the 70’s someone created a piece of jewelry that, for awhile was quite a fad. It was called a “mood ring.” This ring contained a stone that changed colors as you wore it, supposedly based on the particular emotional state you were in at any given time. It came with a color code so […]
Monday, May 17, 2010
Our lives are made up of individual days. How we live each day cumulatively determines the quality of our lives. Improve your days and you will improve your life. As you go into each day, here are a few suggestions that will help you add value to your days, and ultimately to your life. Each […]
Friday, May 14, 2010
Just as there is a physical world that we see with our natural eyes, the Bible teaches us that there is an unseen spiritual world surrounding us. This world is populated with spiritual forces. There are angels that serve God’s purposes in people’s lives. There are also evil beings that oppose God’s purposes. And there […]
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
It’s been said that pride is a disease that makes others sick! How true this is. There really is something sickening about a boastful, arrogant, pride-filled person. Being around someone like this can be emotionally nauseating. But there’s something even more troubling about the presence of pride. While it’s easily detected in others, we’re usually […]
Monday, May 10, 2010
As the Apostle Paul wrapped up his second letter to the Christian believers living in the Greek city of Corinth, he wrote these words: “Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and […]
Friday, May 7, 2010
What makes you angry? Everyday anger wrecks friendships, destroys marriages, greatly reduces personal and corporate productivity, and ravages human emotions. When we fail to deal with it properly, anger is a corrosive agent that eats a hole in our hearts. And it inevitably spills over from us to others. The end result is ugly and […]
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Have you ever forgotten something you desperately needed to remember? So many times we create problems and heartache for ourselves and others because we forget certain things we should have remembered. Paul the apostle, often reminded believers of key life principles and practices. Realizing the human tendency to forget, in his Holy Spirit-inspired writings he […]