We tend to think that kindness is easy. Soft. Nice. It’s something you learn in kindergarten — how to say “please” and “thank you” and share your Goldfish crackers. Kindness has gotten a rep of being like Glinda the Good Witch, all gentleness and smiles. Someone with a “No, please, after you, I insist”…
God Is With Us In Our Worry
Footprints One night I dreamed a dream. I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord. When the last scene of my life shot…
Hurt People, Hurt People
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. — Hebrews 12:1-2 In recovery we hear that “hurt people, hurt people.” We’ve all experienced this, and sometimes, we see it happen to others. It’s heartbreaking. School shootings, for example, are…
The True Purpose of Prayer
This is to my Father’s glory… — John 15:8 When I was growing up, my family spent two weeks every summer at a Christian camp that catered to families and singles of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It didn’t matter what denomination you came from, or whether you liked traditional or contemporary worship;…
Pain Is Not the Enemy
One of the blessings of decision-making on a sacred pace is that there’s a definite end in sight — an answer awaits you somewhere down the road. Plus, you receive the gifts that your Father in heaven wants to bless you with. Yet I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t also speak to…
A Pillar of Cloud and Fire
A GOD WHO IS WITH YOU WHEN YOU WANDER Earth’s crammed with Heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes. ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Aurora Leigh” The trouble is that relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing has yet…
It is Well
You may relate, but there are times that I struggle to keep the faith. Faith like that of the Shunammite woman. Have you heard her story? Let’s look. “One day Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there…
Grateful That God Is Patient
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. — Psalm 145:8 Have you ever witnessed road rage? Once, a burly man in a truck started angrily gesturing and screaming at me. I’m not even sure what I did to rouse his fury. Perhaps I cut him off. Or perhaps…
God Can Fix a Crazy Life
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He…
On to Victory!
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. — Romans 8:37 No matter what kind of trouble or challenge you face right now, overwhelming victory is yours through Christ. Not just enough victory to survive or get by. No! A super-strong victory, through Jesus, who loves and lives…