“When I am afraid I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God do I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” – Psalm 56:3-4 Right away I notice the psalmist writes “when I am afraid,” not if I am afraid. Fear comes naturally to us at times. It can actually be either good or bad. Fear is an emotion, an emotion that need not control us, but … Continue reading →
“Dear children don’t let anyone deceive you about this. When people do what is right it shows that they are righteous just as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning it shows that they belong to the devil who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning because God’s life is in … Continue reading →
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds.” – Psalm 77:11-12 NLT. Memories, yes we all have them. Good and bad we have them. One interesting thing about the human mind. We can choose what memories we focus on. When I read words like today’s verse I am reminded of all the amazing events in my life, events only God … Continue reading →
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1 “A very present help in trouble,” let that sink in. When trouble comes our Heavenly Father is not absent. I bet you have had that experience before, where one who said, “Just call if you need anything,” doesn’t answer their phone when you need them. See that person is not present in time of trouble. Mere words do not pull us through when trouble strikes. … Continue reading →
“Don’t be afraid, Samuel reassured them. You have certainly done wrong, but make sure that you worship the Lord your God now and don’t turn your back on him.” – 1Samuel 12:20 Samuel’s words to the people of Israel could well be good words for us when we do wrong and then confess and return to God. You can’t fix the past, but you can move ahead doing what you should. Worship the one true God and do not turn … Continue reading →
“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need, but shows no compassion, how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children let us not merely say that we love each other. Let us show love by our actions.” – 1John 3:17-18 I remember a time when I was a sister in need. At that time I belonged to a certain church and Christmas was on the way. My children at that … Continue reading →
“The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine.” – 1Samuel 17:37 David gives us one tool to use in exercising our faith. What has God done for you in the past that can embolden you to do this new thing? David found courage from previous experience. So can you. And so I ask this morning what is your giant? Perhaps it may be an illness, a disability, or … Continue reading →
“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great for you to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” – Ephesians 3:19 Experience teaches us much more than just book learning. I see this as I participate in the ham radio community. Yes I am a ham radio operator and I am gaining experience as I take part in the many activities offered to … Continue reading →
“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” – Proverbs 17:9 Friendship can not survive without real forgiveness. No matter how close you and a friend are you will at some point fail. That friend will fail too? Forgiveness is a must in relationship. “I remember that time when you said you would, but you didn’t,” says one friend to the other. And thus we see a fault that has not been forgiven. Just … Continue reading →
“The godly care about the rights of the poor, but the wicked don’t care at all.” – Proverbs 29:7 Money in our society equals power. Don’t have money? Then you often lack the power to protect or defend yourself. Poverty traps its victims in a sense of hopelessness. And yet we read stories of those who overcame poverty. Many a popular store came to be as a result of a poor man with an idea or dream. Not every person … Continue reading →
“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.” – Proverbs 28:1 Do you remember this from your childhood? “Whose afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf?” I bet we all remember that, but it does make a point. We tend to be afraid of certain people or things. And because of fear we may do things we know to be wrong. Have you … Continue reading →
“Never abandon a friend, neither yours nor your father’s. When disaster strikes you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It is better to go to a neighbor who is near than to a brother who is far away.” – Proverbs 27:10 A wise counselor once said these words to me. “Don’t burn your bridges. You never know when you might need them.” Life and connections walk hand in hand. At some point in life you will face trouble. … Continue reading →
“And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end. For the appointed time is yet to come.” Daniel 11:35 Strange verse for a meditation you may say, but let us consider. Daniel is hearing these words as he learns about the end times. Yes persecution happens, even if you live right and do good. Some would have you believe that God … Continue reading →
“I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed. O Lord, you are a great and awesome God. You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises to those who love you and obey your commands.” Daniel 9:4 Recognition of the one being spoken to is important. Maybe you have never thought about it, but we tend to do this in other human situations as well. You introduce a guest speaker by sharing some amazing thing he has done. In … Continue reading →
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sin nature had not yet been cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” Col. 2:13-14 An old old hymn comes to mind. “At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It … Continue reading →
