I thought a little poetic reflection was in order for the weekend. May you find peace in what truly matters. I once thought happiness came in packages with dollar signs attached. Quantity mattered more than quality, unless a name gave you status. I wanted more because peace had a shelf life. Some, new thing was always ready to be my source of joy and self-worth. […]
What does it take to be happy? Do we find happiness in our circumstances and the things we possess? Is happiness merely the result of our feelings, or is there something unwavering which produces happiness within us? Recently, I sat with another pastor who I just met. We were sharing ministry stories, especially discussing our favorite authors and resources. The conversation moved to our sources […]
Blessings arrive in the most amazing places. Sometimes, they are big gifts from God that meet significant needs in our lives, while other times, they are little acts of kindness that remind us that we are loved and appreciated. Last night, we picked up our son from his mission work to bring him home for the weekend. He is celebrating a significant birthday and wanted […]
“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 […]
Irving Berlin, who lived to the age of 101, was a Russian Jewish immigrant who wrote nearly 1,000 songs, including “God Bless America,” ”White Christmas,” and “Easter Parade.” Until the end, he never stopped making music. The aging composer once said, “The question is, ‘Are you going to be a crabby old man or are you going to write another song?’” We all know life […]
Yesterday, we were invited to watch football with friends. It was a special invitation because it was a Pittsburgh Steeler game and we were with a group of friends who recently moved here from Pittsburgh. It is the type of invitation you dream about when you are from the ‘Burgh and living somewhere else, and when the invitation comes from good friends it is all […]
Our church youth leader shared a quick devotional at our youth event yesterday reminding us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. He asked us to consider how the community we share with one another makes us strong and encouraged us to find joy in the event we were at. As I reflected on his comments, I realized that I had already been […]