There are times when comfort is a blessing. The things that make us comfortable make us feel at ease, just like we are home. Just the word conjures images of the comfy chair, classic comfort foods, and the routines that bring peace to our lives. Yet, too much of such comfort leads to unhealthy situations. Often, we need discomfort to move us out of our […]
Life is annoying. Not all the time, but there are moments when your plans and expectations are replaced with more pressing needs or unexpected distractions. These times can quickly steal your joy and affect other areas of your life. We can not isolate ourselves from annoyances, and in the bigger picture, they are often quite insignificant. At any moment, we know that there are people […]
Boring is often only a matter of perspective. I remember taking my grandson shopping. My wife and daughter were trying on clothes, so he and I made our way to a sporting goods store. There was a play area for children outside, so we spent some time there before we went in the store to shop. I should say, before I went in the store […]
Snow and frigid temperatures make staying indoors very tempting right now. Navigating roads and sidewalks is difficult, if not dangerous, and the windchill makes your skin hurt. There is nothing inviting about these times. The stark cold and snow, along with overcast skies, can be discouraging and depressing. Curling up and waiting for it all to pass seems like a natural thing to do. Looking […]
Good things happened yesterday and more will happen today. In fact, good things happen every day. Sometimes, they happen in far away places where they go unnoticed due to our lack of knowledge. Other times, they happen right around us, but go unseen because of our lack of awareness. Just because we don’t recognize them doesn’t make them any less significant, we simply miss their […]
Saturday, our congregation had the privilege of serving almost 200 people as we provided support for the first Amish Country Running Festival. People came from our region and state, around the United States, and from Canada to participate in the event, which included runs from one mile to a full marathon, all through the scenic beauty of Amish country. Some of our people participated in […]
It’s been two months since we moved into our new home. While many things are in their proper place, plenty of boxes remain unpacked, and many of our belongings still need a space. Our home is functional, but we are still working around the clutter of boxes and displaced things. Every day brings improvement, however, we will be glad to be completely settled. Clutter is […]
“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make melody. Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the […]
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” – Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV God finds unexpected ways to get your attention, and if you are willing, your awareness Divine presence […]
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. – Psalm 130:1-4 We all fail. We fall short, mess up, and yes, even […]