For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalms 30:5, ESV) Problems seem insurmountable when you’re tired beyond your limits or when they wake you in the middle of the night. Because when the crisis is … Continue reading Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
I have always wanted to be a novelist. The only problem with that is that you have to be good at writing.
Perhaps the hardest part of any project is the halfway point. When a new ministry is started there’s a lot of enthusiasm. People are attracted by the “new project smell.” There’s the excitement, the novelty, the belief that this is going to break new ground. Then you get to the halfway point. The novelty has … Continue reading Advancing the Kingdom by being faithful in the mundane
For several years I had the privilege of serving in a faith-based addiction recovery program. We helped people not by getting them to exchange their addiction for our program, but by introducing them to Christ and helping them to build a relationship with Him. For many, having any kind of meaningful relationship was a new … Continue reading No VIP Access
Samson lived during a time in Israel’s history known as “the judges.” Judges in Israel were not like the court room judges of today. They were defenders of Israel against its enemies. In Samson’s day that enemy was a people known as the Philistines, and Samson made a point of being a thorn in the … Continue reading A Bad Example of God’s Grace
I remember reading or hearing somewhere that if a person is in an urgent situation where they have to evacuate quickly and they have time to rescue one thing (other than loved ones), they typically go for the thing they value most. I remember seeing this played out once. Jane and I were enjoying a … Continue reading Moving on means leaving some things behind.
Really? Just being honest here. If I had control of the “trials knob” in my life, I’d turn it all the way down to zero, turn off the breaker and rip the knob out of the wall. I wouldn’t even spackle the hole. I’d leave it there just for spite. Then there’s guys like Peter, … Continue reading Really?
When I read John’s encounter with the Lord in Revelation, it reminds me of Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple in Isaiah chapter 6. There are parallels but there are significant differences as well, and those differences are important for us as believers. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as … Continue reading What a difference Christ makes!
Let’s be honest: some things are easier said than done. In our heads we know we’re supposed to rejoice in the Lord, but sometimes it’s really hard to get our hearts to come along. Paul wrote Philippians from prison and the key word in that entire letter is “rejoice.” I don’t know about you, but … Continue reading No matter what else happens, I will always have God.
What if we could go back in time and visit Joseph in prison, and let’s say we could ask him one question: “Joseph, don’t you think what’s happened to you is unfair?” I think if we were to ask him that, he’d be puzzled by the question, not because he didn’t understand it, but because … Continue reading Life’s Unfair! How to Deal with It. Part3: We worship the same God Joseph does
Grace in Waves 