Finding Hope
Who’s Behind the Curtain?
In the story of “The Wizard of Oz,” everyone feared the great and powerful Oz who appeared as a giant disembodied head with a thundering voice, encased in flame and smoke. Because of his superior knowledge and wizardry, a city was built around him, even though its citizens avoided his…
Read MoreWhen Bad Things Happen
Bad things happen to all of us, but some seem to get more than their share. If we stop to contemplate it at all, we likely look first for something the person did to contribute to their condition. What about them keeps them from receiving God’s blessing, favor, and/or protection?…
Read MoreTrapped in the Storm
On his journey to Rome, the Apostle Paul did not have the advantage of air travel, so he went by sea, switching ships at various ports. Without modern storm detection equipment, Paul’s ship became swamped by an unexpected northeaster that rendered them helpless to navigate. The storm was so violent…
Read MoreFollowing Your Nose
In his later years, my father had a little dog who was a mouser. My dad trusted Pepper’s nose and would patiently dismantle wood-piles or move junk collectibles in the barn for hours to assist Pepper’s efforts to search, locate and destroy mice. When this process dragged on, I invariably…
Read MoreGot Concealed-Carry?
One of the most amazing, astounding, perplexing and comforting scriptures is found in 1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them [evil spirits], because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” The “them” John is referencing…
Read MoreBe Still and Know
Those four words in scripture are some of the most recognized, taken for granted, and difficult words to put into practice. Even if we contemplate them long enough to allow a sense of peace and well-being to come over us, does it last? The author of Psalm 46:10 is actually…
Read MoreThe Pain of Being Alone
From Genesis through Revelation, we see that God has created man for relationship with Him and with each other. Because of that built-in need for connectivity, the loss or denial of relationship through death, rejection, or isolation produces some of the greatest pain an individual can experience. At the core…
Read MoreAppropriating Selfless Love
Throughout Jesus’ life on Earth, He was doing and saying only what He saw the Father doing and saying (John 5:19, 8:28), and thereby giving us a picture of the Father: “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) As Christ-followers, our desire and goal should be…
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