Empathy Out of Trial

There are moments following a trial or traumatic situation that a sliver of revelation emerges, a small signal of some good that might come out of it. It’s hard to see any good in a trial, particularly when you’re in the middle of it year after year with no hope. Yet that moment appears that […]

Deaf to God’s Word

They were so discouraged, so beaten down that they could not comprehend that freedom from their trials was at hand. They held a deaf ear to God’s word and the hope it contained. They were so used to living without hope, that it was hard to receive encouragement. Can you relate to that or do […]

Unplanned, Planned Events

The blessing of living more than sixty years is that I’ve had the opportunity to witness God act in some very unexpected ways. So many times I have been astounded by how certain events unfolded. There were times I questioned God, but his wisdom proved right in the long run. When I read Esther 6, […]

Wellness for the Soul

During the heat of summer, when you’re thirsty, you seek a drink of water. When life heats up and makes you emotionally thirsty, do you seek God through prayer, worship and His Word? Trials in life have a way of shaking things up and pointing us toward God. In times of trouble He wants us […]

Small Faith and Big Trials

We tend to think of big jobs requiring big things. If I need to move a lot of dirt I’m going to get a big earth moving machine. Yet when it comes to faith in Jesus, how big does my faith need to be, particularly when I’m facing a mountain-sized trial? Jesus said if you […]

Heartbreak Etched in Sand

I was walking the beach last week and I came across a message etched in the sand that I’m still thinking about. It was one of those messages where at first you smile and say, “That’s nice.” A moment later your heart sinks as you feel the weight of the last half of the note. […]

No Retreat

When you make a commitment to follow Jesus your faith will be tested. You will feel the heat of those who seek to dissuade you from seeking Christ. Some days the heat will be so intense it will force you to make a choice whether to continue on the path with Jesus. This is part […]

How Fertile is the Soil of Your Relationships?

How we relate to one another may determine how fertile the soil is for the seeds of the gospel. Shallow relationships may not allow for the roots of the message of Jesus to run deep. As Jesus explained it in Matthew 13:5-6, because there was no “depth of soil,” there was “no root” and the […]

Crying Over the Removal of Tears

Every time I read Revelation 21:1-7, it brings tears to my eyes thinking about the removal of suffering. I know that’s ironic since this is the passage that talks about God “wiping away every tear (NASB).” But as long as I’m in this world, there will still be tears. Yet these verses are not just […]

Abandoned to Loneliness

Have you ever felt like Job in the Bible where your world is crumbling around you and it seems like everyone has abandoned you? Maybe like Job, your friends want to analyze why there is so much calamity in your life. Perhaps you can identify with Job when he told his friends, “Why do you […]