What is the secret to a successful Christian life? I frequently receive this question or some variation of it. People want to know what to do to strengthen their faith walk, to help them through difficult times and give them the power to live victorious lives. It is a good question when our desire is to know God’s will and plan for lives and when […]
Ash Wednesday is fast approaching and with it, the beginning of Lent. As the first signs of spring make their appearance, we give our attention to a season of reflection and repentance. But why do we give six-and-a-half weeks to such somber reflection, put ashes on our foreheads, and take on special Lenten disciplines? There are many things that we would enjoy more, and if […]
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face” – Victor Hugo Sometimes, it is hard to laugh; hard to find the joy in the moment or the day. Circumstances mixed with our emotional position can deeply affect our mood and our feelings, leaving us without the feeling of joy or a desire to laugh. This morning, I awoke with the gift of […]
I love snow. I look forward to it every year, and as I mentioned in a previous post, my family celebrates the first day of snow as a very special day. Not everyone shares our opinion. In fact, every time one of us expresses our love of snow, some of our friends make a point of reminding us of the dangers and challenges snow […]
Have you ever had a day that simply did not go in the direction you expected? We all have, and sometimes it can feel like the world is actually working against you. Typically, those feelings come from our disappointment and frustration, but occasionally, we really are on the receiving end of the world’s animosity, or experiencing the results of sin in the world. It is […]
Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) He shared this truth in the middle of a discussion on the challenges that lie ahead for the disciples and all who would be faithful to the Gospel, for there were persecutions, oppositions and obstacles yet to come. Jesus wanted His followers to understand that no […]
At 211 degrees, water is simply very hot. Add one more degree and it becomes powerful enough to drive engines and produce electricity. When it reaches its boiling point, a world of potential energy is released and the results of that energy can be quite impressive. Our Christian life can be viewed in a similar way. We can live our lives with Christ just below […]
“If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” – Proverbs 3:24 When I was a young teen, my family spent some time at a friends cabin in northern Pennsylvania. My father grew up spending a lot of time in the woods and even though I grew up closer to the city, he often made time […]
Lord, let me see the beautifulIn the midst of all that’s wrongWhen my fears would hold me captiveLet me sing faith’s triumph songIn the moment now before meMay I grasp eternal sightIn spite of all that’s threateningHelp me hold to what is rightAnd should the darkness cover meWith plans to bring crushing blowsI will put my faith in the OneWhose strength and love I now […]
I confess, I am one of those people who loves logic puzzles. I think it goes back to my childhood when my father would use them to get me to go to sleep, or to be quiet in the car. He would say, “Charlie, I will give you 50 cents if you can answer this,” and then there would be some mental puzzle about two […]