A Moment of Hope

Name change. It happens after a significant event has occurred in a person's life. A woman's name changes after  she becomes a wife. A child's name changes  after being adopted by new parents. Did you know name change is a constant theme in the Bible as well? Abram to Abraham. Sarai to Sarah. Jacob (trickster) to Israel (strength of the Lord). Simon (wishy-washy) to Peter (the Rock). Saul to Paul....

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no  "root of bitterness"  springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled"  ( Hebrews 12:15 ). Bitterness destroys. It corrodes our heart. And hurts those around us. When you get hurt, don't get bitter, get better . You do have a choice. Choose to get better. To learn from the pain. How? Consider if you contributed to a hur...

"Your Jesus is just a crutch." It's an often-spoken phrase of ridicule toward followers of Jesus. Has it ever been said to you? If so, how should you respond to someone who views Jesus this way Here is what I say: "Yep, you're right. I am weak. Broken. Walk through life with a limp. And Jesus holds and supports me. Every moment of every day. He gives me the strength to take the next step. And the...

Alliteration produces soothing sounds, and is a common feature in poetry. Alliterative words are linked together thematically, spotlighting the subject they're describing; it's why they serve as great ways to remember something. Writers love alliterations. Maybe God does too? Memorize these alliterations describing God and recite them to yourself as you go about your day. The Mercy of the Master T...

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"  ( Matthew 6:13 ). When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, temptation was something he specifically prayed against : "Lead us  not into temptation." Jesus knew every human being would face temptation. So if temptation is a certainty, what are we to do when tempted? Flee! Immediately run in the opposite direction. And here's the key: Don'...

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:44-45). This is not a suggestion from Jesus. It's a command. It's not optional. Why does Jesus want his followers to live this way? The reason is simple. When you're on your knees praying for people, it's impossible to simultaneously hold hatred in your hea...

Jesus. What a beautiful name it is. Jesus is easy  to love! He was perfect in every way. The One who first loved us ( 1 John 4:10 ). Who died on the cross to forgive our sins. And give us an unimaginable gift – eternal life. Knowing this truth makes it easy to love Jesus. But Christ followers are also called to love sinners. Which we all  are. It's why the true test of Christianity is not just lov...

Don't protect what God is trying to direct. We all have something we finally possess after a long time of waiting. A special something from God. But sometimes God asks us to let go of the exact thing we are holding on to. In our white knuckled, tightly gripped fists. Why would God do that? So that he can direct us to a new future. Hope. Something even better that he wants us to have. Think about A...

"Abraham did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised"  ( Romans 4:19-21 ). Too often we d...

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm"  ( Proverbs 13:20 ). "Social capital" is a term used today to describe the value of social networks. It's becoming increasingly important as people realize that when you surround yourself with wise people, they point you in the direction of success. It's why the saying is true: Show me your friends and I'll sho...

Some people believe they don't do a good job communicating with others. So, they don't even try to do so. But actually, we are communicating - intentionally or not - all the time. With our eyes. Glances. Posture. Body language. My college basketball coach would regularly chide players for slumping their shoulders. Holding their heads low in defeat. With forlorn expressions. Coach would tell us we...

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you"  ( Exodus 20:12 ). The fifth commandment calls children to honor their father and mother. Interestingly, it's the only one of the 10 commandments that has a promise to children: that all will go well with them in the land. But the fifth commandment has implications for parents as well....

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you"  ( James 4:10 ). Humility is elusive; once you think you have it, you don't. Consider this illustration: A man was awarded a pin by his coworkers for his humility. He was so honored by this recognition that he decided to wear it on his jacket. First for a few days, that eventually turned into weeks. Guess what? He was no longer humble! Aut...

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens"  ( Ecclesiastes 3:1 ). The Creator of the universe designed a seedtime and harvest ( Genesis 8:22 ). Both are necessary for plants; first to be given life, and then to grow. God designed different seasons for our lives as well. "A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to ki...

Without a vision, God's people perish ( Proverbs 29:18 ). It's why vision is foundational to any church, company, or family. But here's the caveat: Culture always trumps vision. Consider the influence of an organization's culture on the people within it. A culture of unity is formed when people love one another and are connected in one spirit and purpose ( Philippians 2:2 ). And when  this  cultur...

"I'm spiritual, but not religious." It's a mantra spoken regularly in today's culture. Whenever someone says it, I always wonder, "What does that really mean?" I think it means this: We want God's hand until he demands. There are people who want God's spiritual benefits in their lives: his presence, answered prayer, and eternal hope, to name a few. But they don't want God to ask anything of them ....

As human beings living in a fallen world, one thing is for sure. We will be hurt by others. Experiencing hurt is an inevitable part of the human experience. When we are hurt by another, we often ask ourselves, "Why would that person do this to me?" The answer is generally found in some hurt in their own hearts that remains unresolved. A hurt that has lingered within them for years. Wounded, fester...

"Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God"  ( Colossians 3:1 ). It's God's wisdom from above that can move us forward in life. Said another way: Greater elevation  equals greater  revelation . When going through a difficult time, climb higher on God's mountain. Try to breathe the rarified air of heaven's grace. Gaze on the eternal rather than the temporal. G...

"Freedom is an illusion as long as you don't have to pay your bills." It's a reminder my wife Marilynn and I would say to our children when they told us they felt like our rules were too restrictive. Typically, parents work to pay the bills while their kids grow up, learn about life, and attend school. But this paradigm can often lead children to take for granted the roof over their heads. Clothes...

Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken. While it's not in the Bible, it's a message that could be! Because ultimately, it's about our faith.  Trusting God more than ourselves. Surrendering  all  parts of our lives to him. Leaning not on our own understanding ( Proverbs 3:5-6 ). Our fallen flesh has tendencies, one of which is to hold on too tightly to the things of this world. Such...

"A  good name  is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold"  ( Proverbs 22:1 ). What happens in our lives when our success or notoriety moves beyond our character? Most often, a fall from grace. Destructive downfall. Monumental backslide. The inevitable devastation begins when you start to believe your own press clippings. When those around you feed your ego....

"Let the game come to you!" My college basketball coach, Dean Smith, would often remind his players of this wise and proven adage, but I've heard it said by a number of other great leaders and coaches as well. As human beings, our natural inclination is to try to force plays to occur in our lives. To make something happen the way we want it to happen. And the result is often failure. But when we j...

When hard places occur in our lives, we often wonder where God is. We may feel forgotten. Overlooked. Alone. Yet Romans 5:3-5 says that we are to rejoice in our tough times. In our trials and tribulations. Because God is using them to produce perseverance. And perseverance produces proven character. And proven character produces hope that doesn't disappoint. A person's character can't be proven an...

Use the 5-year marriage plan. It's advice I've given to couples who are going through a rough patch. Experiencing a period in their marriage when they are considering ending it. In my 40+ years of ministry, and in my own marriage, I've learned that every marriage has its ups and downs. It's a reality of married life! What exactly is the 5-year marriage plan? It's this. If you are going through a r...

What exactly is the 5-year parenting plan? It's what Marilynn and I committed to follow with all three of our children. We've never regretted our decision. Not once. Here's the plan: When you are struggling, and must choose between attending a work event or your kid's event, ask yourself two questions. Five years from now, will your coworkers remember if you were at a particular meeting? Five year...