For two weeks the raging wind ceaselessly roared across the Mediterranean Sea, transforming the ocean waves into mountainous waves. The wind and waves violently beat against the ship which carried 270 crew and passengers. Every effort to save the ship from certain destruction failed and the weakened craft sank lower and lower into the water. “We finally gave up all hope of being saved,” Acts 27:20. …
Jesus commanded the apostles to feed the huge multitude of 5,000 men plus women and children. “We can’t,” the apostles insisted. Jesus asked, “What do you have?” The twelve responded, “A few fish and some bread.” “Bring them to me,” Jesus demanded. Our Lord multiplied the meager provisions the apostles possessed and provided more than enough food for everyone present. …
Using What You HaveRead More »
Using What You Have Read More »
All Christians desire faith. We often quote Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Entire books are written about faith. True faith in God always entails the element of risk. People who insist upon logically understanding the results of all their actions never enjoy the fruits of faith. Faith always involves risks. …
Can there be Faith without Risk?Read More »
Can there be Faith without Risk? Read More »
Have you ever met anyone who constantly dwelt upon past mistakes? Those people never move on with life because they continue reliving past events. …
Overcoming life’s difficulties is fun. Everyone enjoys winning.
But the act of overcoming sometimes wears us out. Fighting one battler after another horribly fatigues us. After awhile, we begin wondering about the purpose of all this overcoming bit.
Overcoming is fun, if it isn’t too hard. …
What’s All this Overcoming Getting Me?Read More »
What’s All this Overcoming Getting Me? Read More »
Nebuchadnezzar never qualified as Mr. Nice Guy. Mr. Mean Guy, yes, but certainly not Nice Guy. About 600 years before Jesus, Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian army cruelly oppressed all Middle Eastern Countries. In fact, his meanness motivated him to roast Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
But listen to this! …
Why God Took Care of NebuchadnezzarRead More »
Why God Took Care of Nebuchadnezzar Read More »
“Think about such things,” Philippians 4:8.
What things?
Things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.
…
Benefiting From Your Mind TimeRead More »
Benefiting From Your Mind Time Read More »
There is plenty of unpleasantness in our world. Well, there is also plenty of pleasantness.
On a cloudy Monday morning, Delores and I sat down to breakfast in a bayside hotel restaurant. While sipping coffee and waiting for our meals to arrive, we excitedly chattered about the beautiful morning. Although a blanket of clouds hid the blue sky, small gaps in the cloud cover permitted shafts of brilliant sunlight to shine upon the bay’s rough surface. Seagulls soared overhead, fishing pelicans crashed into the water and shrimp boats puttered about. What marvelous displays of Father’s splendor! …
Submitting Our Thoughts to the Lord of PleasantnessRead More »
Submitting Our Thoughts to the Lord of Pleasantness Read More »
Potiphar worshipped the crocodile god, prayed to the sun god and trusted in all the gods of his Egyptian forefathers. He knew nothing about the one true God, who created the universe.
Potiphar had one thing going for him: he attached himself to a young Hebrew slave named Joseph. Joseph trusted in the one true God, the God of his forefathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The true God loaded Joseph down with divine blessings which spilled over into Potiphar’s life. “From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph,” Genesis 39:5. …
Attached to the Blessed OneRead More »
Attached to the Blessed One Read More »
“My uncle Charlie took his black poodle to the veterinarian the other day.”
“No, Hon, uncle Charlie’s poodle is brown not black.”
“He’s my uncle; I know his poodle is black!”
“I distinctly recall its color!”
Pettiness. That’s right. This couple is involved in pure pettiness. Who cares if the poodle is black, brown or purple? We still don’t know why uncle Charlie took his poodle to the vet. But we do know that these two people are very small. Self-interest occupies their attention; selflessness never enters their mind.
Friends, God put us on earth so we could contribute to one another’s welfare. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others,” Philippians 2:3-4. “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others, 1 Corinthians 10:24.
Arguments over petty issues reveal that we remain self-centered. God plainly wants us to be others-centered. Why is it so easy to be self-centered? Because we aren’t God-centered.
You see, God-centered people trust God to meet their needs. This trust frees us from depending only upon humans. When people fail us, we remain confident in God. We don’t use petty arguments to force others to meet our needs. God is going to take care of us even when humans fail us. We give ourselves to blessing those who fail us. God-centeredness always keeps us selfless.
Incidentally, I still don’t know why uncle Charlie took his poodle to the vet, LOL.
Uncle Charlie’s Purple Poodle Read More »