A Moment of Hope

It's an often-quoted precept, but eternally true: Holding on to bitterness is like drinking arsenic and expecting the other person to die. Hebrews 12:15 speaks of a "root of bitterness." One that goes deep into your soul and is so very difficult to root out. When there, it will most often defile others who live around your bitterness. It's like an infectious disease. Spreading as quickly as a cont...

Sometimes Jesus calms the storm. Sometimes he calms you amidst the storm. Jesus, the Lord of the universe, is quite able to calm any storm surrounding us with one word: "Peace!"  ( Matthew 8:23-27 ). And the storms cease. Many of us can attest to a time when Jesus spoke a word and a miracle occurred. A child was conceived. A job was provided. A need met. Amazingly. Supernaturally. Sometimes God do...

God, I've got a few questions for you! How often we all say this, if only to ourselves. There are mysteries in this life. Secret things. Hidden things. Happenings in our lives that we can't begin to understand. And never will - until eternity ( Deuteronomy 29:29 ). Suffering is real and often causes people to say at times, "When I get to heaven, God, I've got a few questions for you!" When I hear...

It was the night before I was going to marry Marilynn, now over 40 years ago. My dad was going to perform the wedding service the next day. Dad was a great dad. Present and involved in my life. A role model in so many ways. I admired and loved him very much. I look forward to seeing him in heaven again one day. I had hoped that Marilynn and I would one day have children. So, on the eve of my weddi...

"Instead of your shame there shall be a  double portion ;  instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a  double portion ; they shall have everlasting joy"  ( Isaiah 61:7 ). The prophet Isaiah revealed God's promise – to double the Israelites' portion of what they'd previously lost – to them while they were still in Babylonian captivity. God repe...

What is hidden from you is not hidden from God. We live in a temporal, visible world. God lives in an eternal, invisible world. If the life of Job teaches us anything, it proves that God oversees the eternal, invisible world. And what happens there - in heaven - influences what happens here - on earth. As Job went through much pain and suffering, the one thing he did not  know was what was occurri...

Think of the last time you found yourself in a situation where you didn't know how to proceed. Couldn't decide what to do. Arrived at a stalemate. Not sure of the next step. What does God expect us to do when we find ourselves in predicaments such as this? The answer is nothing . It's quite simple, really. If you don't know what to do, don't ! Wait on the Lord. As fallen people we are prone to tak...

God gives the best to those who leave the choice to him. Consider the story of Abraham and Lot. Their herdsmen were in constant strife with one another ( Genesis 13 ). The land wasn't big enough for both of their herds. So wise Abraham goes to Lot and allows him to decide which land he wants. Abraham probably knew that where there is strife, there is every evil thing ( James 3:16 ). What does Lot...

We all have hurting people around us. This world is broken. Not operating as God originally intended. We have broken bodies. We are in broken relationships. We live and work with broken people. So then, how are Jesus's followers to live in this broken world? First, we are all called to serve others ( Mark 10:45 ). We are to raise up our spiritual antennae to sense the hurting people around us. To...

" The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit " ( Psalm 34:18 ). Only God fully knows the extent of our pain. Grief. Sorrow. Failure. It's why we should never say to a hurting person, "I know how you feel." Why? Because you don't. You have not been through exactly  what this person has been through. You have not walked through every step of life in  their shoes. Yes, you...

Walk softly around a broken heart. Consider this lesson from the book of Job. During a time in Job's life when he was immensely suffering, three of Job's friends attempted to comfort him. At first, they were quiet. Listened. Wept with him ( Job 2:11-13 ). But shortly thereafter, their attitudes changed. They began pontificating on why Job was suffering. They suggested that his suffering was becaus...

Every experienced mountain climber will share this reality: The steepest part of the mountain is right before the pinnacle. It's a life lesson for us all. When we are moving forward in life with a dream, hope, or vision, it's often the very last push for success that's the hardest part. The most difficult to navigate. Seemingly and suddenly unable to achieve. That's why we should never give up! Ke...

Mother Theresa once said, "You'll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you've got." This truth is illustrated through the life of the apostle Paul. When you think you're having a bad day, read about the suffering Paul endured time and time again. He was rejected. Beaten. Shipwrecked. Persecuted. And much more ( 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 ). Despite Paul's intense hardships, he remained...

We are blessed to be a blessing. How has God blessed you? Make a list. Write out all your blessings. God told Abraham that he was going to bless him. Make his name great. Make him a great nation. Through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed ( Genesis 12:1-3 ). But here was the catch: God said he would bless Abraham so that  he would be a blessing ( Genesis 12:3 ). Now go back to your...

Your holiness or your happiness? Which is more important to you? To God, our eternal holiness is far more significant than our momentary happiness. Of course Jesus wants us to be happy. That's the essence of the Beatitudes where the word " blessed " can also be translated as " happy " ( Matthew 5:1-11 ). In these verses, Jesus gives us a roadmap for happiness. But God is much more concerned with o...

"God can't steer a parked car." It's a hackneyed phrase you've likely heard before. The reason behind its staying power? It's  true . Have you ever tried to steer a parked car? It's impossible. Without a moving car, the power steering cannot work. The wheel won't turn to the left or the right. You're stuck. Exactly where you are. With no ability to change course or move forward. Do you want to see...

Did you know that  delayed  obedience is the same thing as  disobedience ? It is. The Bible says, " Without delay I hurry to obey your commands " ( Psalm 119:60 GNT ). Consider what would happen if a parent told a child to do something. But instead of obeying, the child hesitates. Waits. And then delays obedience some more. Then finally says, "Well, let me think about it for a while." Parents don'...

" My sheep  hear my voice , and I know them, and  they follow me " ( John 10:27 ). When we follow Jesus, he does speak to his people. He will lead us to exactly where we need to be. That's a promise he has given to all his followers. If you haven't heard Jesus's voice recently, here's a question to ask yourself: When did he last speak to me? And here's the follow-up question: Have I obeyed  what J...

Have a L-I-T-T-L-E faith. What? According to Jesus, I thought we were supposed to have an enormous, vast, gigantic faith? One that can move mountains ( Mark 11:22-24 ). We are. But also think about your faith this way: Every minute of every day, have a faith that says: L: Leave I: It T: To T: The L: Lord E: EVERYTHING Every day, give everything to the Lord. In faith. Surrendering it. Letting go of...

Make sure God's Spirit and Word - both  together - are in your daily life. Sadly, Christians too often emphasize one over the other. But both are very important for the mature Christian life to occur. God places his Spirit inside us when we are born again ( John 3:3 ). When our old life dies, Jesus puts  his new life in us. Then the way the Holy Spirit can grow in us is through the study of God's...

What is Jesus's divine order for his followers' faith to work? You  do  and I  will. Note the order. Commit it to memory. First, we do . Then, Jesus  will . Do. Will. Our human brains are inclined to embrace this backwards mentality: "Jesus, if you first do (fill in the blank), then I will (fill in the blank)." We've all done it at some time or another. As did Jesus' disciples ( Matthew 14:22-33 )...

Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden won more NCAA basketball trophies than anyone in history: 10. His coaching acumen has informed thousands of coaches and players through the years. There's one thing Coach Wooden would do at the beginning of every season before the first practice ever began. He'd lecture and show his players how to smooth out their socks before they put on their shoes. Ru...

" From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand '" ( Matthew 4:17 ). Repent! It's the MIA word in the Christian vocabulary. Bring to mind the words most commonly associated with Christianity: grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, peace, etc. Yes, they are all important aspects of the Christian faith. But the one word that seems to have been forgotten am...

What do vastly successful people do that sets them apart from others? They dream dreams. Big dreams. Dreams so huge only God could make them come true.  And they work hard and diligently to achieve them. Most successful people are able to see things others don't see. Can't see. They are visionaries. Brimming with inventiveness and creativity. God willingly pours out his Spirit to enable his childr...

" A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another " ( John 13:34 ). Followers of Jesus are expected to lead with love. This means assuming the best in others until proven otherwise. If you are skeptical, wary and distrustful of others - ex...