Sunday review: May 31—June 5
Living for God is a daily challenge, accompanied by blessings new every morning. How have our posts this week helped you day-by-day? Which of them means most to you as you begin a new week?
Simple standards, a life to celebrate, an example to remember
When we see even the basic attributes of Christianity lived out among us, we always notice. Love. Serve. Remembering a life that showed us how.
We can be grateful for the many who have made our success possible
If I were to acknowledge all who have made my leadership possible, it would be a very long list, indeed!
‘You’re all that’—a prescription for division, a prelude to failure
Paul dealt with the problem centuries ago as he wrote to the ancient church in Corinth. And, sadly, we’re still dealing with it today, even in the church we know.
The big difference between our rest from God and simply taking it easy
Rest was good for King David, and it’s good for us. But then he let his rest settle into self-indulgence, and his problems became worse than ever.
After 400 years of silence, some may still find it hard to repent
400 years of silence preceded John the Baptist’s call to repent. And now, after another 400 years of silence about racial injustice in our great country, we have some repenting to do, too.
He sought God with his whole heart, but that didn’t make him perfect
This is the third day I’ve been thinking about how we can please God even though we’re not perfect. The Bible hero David gives us much to consider on this score.
Sunday review: May 24-29
On a weekend for remembering, here are reminders of our posts this week. Which one will you share with a friend?
Memorial Day memories, and what we remember on the day before
It’s good to remember our national heroes. It’s important to remember that Jesus is so much more than a hero.
Waiting on God and obeying him, while important, are not a checklist
There’s much we can do while waiting to experience the depth of the richness of the wisdom and knowledge of God. But these strategies do not form a checklist that will produce or provide the results you want and on the schedule you have in mind.
God does not use formulas to meet our needs or solve our problems
God is faithful. He’ll always help. But often his answers to our prayers will come in ways we never would have expected.
All hope of being saved was finally abandoned. And then God spoke.
Shipwreck was inevitable. Death seemed certain. Hope was gone. And then God told Paul what would happen next.
How to cope when there’s so much you can’t control or influence
Even before the pandemic, each of us was faced with situations we just couldn’t control. In such moments, especially for the leader, focusing on mission is vital.
What to do in a tight spot or between a rock and a hard place
Everyone gets in a tight spot sooner or later. Two Bible examples give insight into how to cope.
Sunday review: May 17-22
What’s happening in your life because of the way you’ve been responding to God’s Word? Maybe thoughts in this week’s posts can keep you moving forward.
If the pandemic can teach us anything, it’s this: We CAN change!
Let’s think about more than the fact of change. Let’s allow the pandemic to help us think about the idea of change.
The prayer of Jabez is interesting, but not the model for me
I’ll take the prayer of Jesus over the prayer of Jabez. I’ve learned some things about prayer from Paul, too.
Everyone has the same decision: What will be your next steps?
We all have a decision to make about our present circumstances and our next steps. It’s all about our focus and our faith.
Don’t underestimate the power of your words. Solomon didn’t!
This is not a devotional about dental hygiene. It’s all about the words we speak. I’m also not writing to discuss proper grammar or the importance of a good vocabulary. This is about how your words can literally change the direction of a community.
How to keep from giving up and giving in when you face hard times
Very seldom will someone just give up at the first indication of struggle or pain. It’s when it persists for very long that discouragement creeps in. Before you realize it, the negative self-talk begins. But it doesn’t need to continue.