Listen first, and when you decide to speak, heed this advice
To follow the teaching of James, we start by listening before we speak. We sew the Word of God in our hearts and surrender our words to him before we utter a thought to another.
Again and again the scripture affirms: Christianity = actions
In spite of today’s prevailing tendency to make our position clear on every topic, the watching world will learn most about our faith and our God by what we do.
Advice from James on how the Word can make a difference in our world
Sometimes we fail to listen. Sometimes we only consume and fail to act. In a few sentences, James challenges us to correct both errors.
Here’s what we sometimes need most to remember: how it all began
Jesus, the Light of the World, who created light from the beginning, will be a presence and power in our lives today.
Trials, trouble, hope, and courage—possible for every believer
It is neither instant nor natural to think of facing trials joyfully. And joyfully doesn't mean some sort of denial or silliness. It is a deep awareness that our suffering aligns us deeply with Jesus who suffered for us.
How to keep ourselves from failure when we see an enemy stumble
I keep looking for the exempt clause for this instruction found in Proverbs 24: “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.”
Why the high wall of our imagination will never be high enough
Our imagination can create much for our future and help us understand our past. But It’s not enough to sustain or to save.
What I’m learning about the benefit of being the last to speak
I did OK in school, but I seldom spoke up. I’m learning later in life that may be a pretty good approach.
Now is the time to remember what’s ahead and what to do while we wait
Jesus told his disciples what to do with themselves after his ascension before he returned again. We, too, can obey what he taught.
How to respond to the cheers from Heaven coming our way today
Now is our time to throw off the distractions weighing us down and move forward in response to the encouragement we’re receiving from on high.
Breaking bread together—a strategy from Jesus for us to use today
They were simply offering the hospitality expected of them, but soon they realized they’d had an encounter like none other.
Sometimes Jesus walks beside me, too. But I wonder if I even see him
Sometimes we do not realize that we have in fact had an encounter with Jesus who is living inside of the person who helps us.
When you need a friend, here’s the One better than any other
I need my friends. I highly value my friends. But none of them can offer me what Jesus brings.
The new thing Jesus is doing is better than anything we can imagine
I love my routines. But Isaiah reminds us that God is doing a new thing, a new thing Jesus has ushered in for us to experience today.
The last breath of surrender comes after a lifetime of practice
The ultimate act of Jesus’ surrender is seen in his death on the cross. But he had been anticipating that moment since long before.
Tired? Fragile? Weak? Uncertain? Isaiah has help to encourage us
When the exiles finally heard hope that they one day could return home, maybe the news only overwhelmed them. Isaiah’s message to them can encourage us, too.
God has planned something better than the progress I’m enjoying today
God’s plans, in the words of the prophet, are “faithful and sure.” And they’re far better than any of the progress humans can manufacture.
Far better than social media: a daily diet of scripture reading
If giving thought to God’s Word leads us to good things and ultimately to God’s blessing, then reading scripture is an essential aspect of our lives.
Discovering power and light for overcoming the forces of darkness
Those arresting Jesus came under cover of darkness, just as those pursuing evil today often work in the shadows. But God has told us how to bring light to every situation.
‘To plan or not to plan,’ may not be the first question we should ask
I have a love/hate relationship with planning, it’s true. But I’ve learned quite a bit from what the scripture says about it.