Daily encouragement for Christians
I believe someone needs to see this today: Have you been affected by suicide? Over a decade ago the World Health Organization reported about 3,000 people take their own lives and another 60,000 may attempt–per day, and those numbers just keep climbing. The highest risk age group is fifteen to twenty-five, but my brother was […]
From the archives: I have an old dog who is losing his hearing and vision. A screen door, which has not yet been rehung, leans against my house a few feet from the entrance. My dog has been confused lately. He stands at the screen door and barks to be let in. I stand at […]
Years ago a friend said to me, “If you love your kids too much, God will take them away from you.” I became instantly angry! What kind of a god would take my kids from me because I love them too much? For many years I fumed about that thought. I was a prodigal daughter. […]
In 1970 Edwin Starr recorded a song titled “War.” He asks the question, “What is it good for?” His answer is, “Nothing, absolutely nothing.” To many of us, war seems to be a senseless waste of human lives. After all, we are civilized people who should be able to work things out without fighting. When […]
Do you play with fire on a regular basis? Do you jump in unprotected and unprepared? That’s a good way to get burned. I should know, I play with fire every day at this time of the year, literally. It is my job, during my awake hours, to keep the home fire burning. That requires […]
Have you ever ignored someone’s warning about a situation choosing instead to follow the crowd, finding yourself in a storm that caused you to lose all hope? Sailing to Rome in stormy weather, Paul was given a warning that he shared: “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be a catastrophe.” (Acts […]
Have you ever felt like you were the only one God refused to rescue? “Against me alone he turns his hand.” “Even when I cry out, pleading for help, he shuts out my prayer.” “He has bent his bow and used me as a target for his arrows.”(Lamentations 3) I’ve heard similar words come from […]
Where on earth is the holy ark of God? Many have searched for it while many more have run from it. The Philistines, after seven months of holding the ark captive, sent it away to Gath. But, “after it arrived there, ADONAI [the Lord] oppressed that city, causing terrible panic.” (1 Samuel 5:9) The people […]
A blast from the past… Have you ever heard someone describe themself as a non-practicing Christian? I remember a conversation with a pastor about that, years ago. He said, “I have a real problem with that.” I wondered to myself, “Exactly what does a ‘non-practicing Christian’ look like? Is it even possible?” So I googled […]
Are you familiar with Job’s story? He was the most blameless and upright man on earth when God stepped back and allowed Satan to attack him. Satan believed that if God were to remove His hand of protection and generosity from Job surely Job would turn his back to God. Father knew Job’s heart. He […]
