Things are hard before they become easy. Moving on with life after a disappointment doesn’t mean healing has happened- it simply means enough time has passed that we have learned to mask the pain. We often go on with our lives as if nothing had ever happened- as if our…
The book of Daniel begins with a plundering of God’s temple and the captivity of Daniel and his comrades- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, especially Daniel, gain respect from the king. At the end of Daniel chapter 2, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were appointed to be in charge of…
There is a popular quote that has infiltrated social media and found its way on many graphic images- “Broken crayons still color.” Many people have found this quote encouraging, which has been proven by its repeated sharing and posting online. The fault I find in this quote is that it…
“When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me.” How He Loves by John Mark McMillan Who am I that God would look at me and have anything but loathing…
The heart of God loves a persevering worshiper who, though overwhelmed by many troubles, is overwhelmed even more by the beauty of God. -Matt Redman Praising God is something His people have done since the beginning of time. When we praise God, we are doing more than thanking Him for…
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. -Proverbs 11:25 Traditionally, the time between Halloween and New Year’s is considered a time of giving, helping those in need, and of being thankful for what we have. Over the past few years, this time frame has been…
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:7 In the midst of the storms of life, I have the peace of Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit. It surrounds me, it encourages me, it gives me hope, and it spurs…
The young boy screamed and writhed under the hold of his mom, trying to get away and begging her to stop. She simply tightened her hold on his arm and continued the process of cleaning his wound. Despite the pain she was causing, the mom knew that the process was…
In everyone’s life comes a time when they question their self worth. Do I really matter? Does anyone even notice me? Do I make a difference? Would anyone miss me if I weren’t here? One of the most powerful lies Satan would have us believe is that we are worthless.…
Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one…