The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.  –Proverbs 12:15 Ever have one of those I-hope-no-one-actually-saw-me-do-that kind of moments?  Let’s say, for example, you are trying to leave a store and no matter how hard you push, the door won’t open. You push and push with all your might and just when you think you must be locked in, you realize you’re pushing on the entrance–only door.  You know, the one with the big red sign on it that says “Do Not E

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth–he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.   –Psalm 33:13,14 www.intellicast.com One of my favorite apps on my smartphone is my radar app. Why I feel the need to compulsively check it every time I see a couple dark clouds in the sky, I don’t know; but it makes me feel a little better knowing what kind of weather may be headed my way. Sometimes

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  –1 John 4:4 Remember the old Looney Toons episode where the two dogs, Spike and Chester, spend the whole episode trying to catch Sylvester the cat?  Initially Spike, the bulldog, is the hero and Chester, the hyper terrier, is the sidekick.  Chester idolizes Spike, but by the end of the episode Chester becomes the hero because he succeeds in taki

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s th

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  –Ephesians 2:10 I was recently invited to speak at a local church on finding your purpose. My schedule prevented me from being able to accept the invitation; however, it did get me thinking about this topic, so in lieu of presenting in person, here are some of my thoughts: We may be called to more than one purpose. Our human minds sometimes think in such black o

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed…But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will posses

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. –1 Peter 1:6,7 This week’s blog comes complete with a visual aid. Before you read on, take a minute to check out this video: http://tv.yahoo.com/video/search-r

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  –Psalm 91:1,2 If you’re from farming country like I am, the summer heat can be as brutal as the winter cold.  Driving on county highways and country roads takes you past many a pasture with herds of cattle, crammed under any available shade tree in an effort to get some relief from the oppressive temperat

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  —Nehemiah 8:10 Why is it so important that we put ourselves in a position to receive joy from God? Because it is His joy that gives us strength! Keep in mind, joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is an emotion that comes and goes. True joy is a spiritual experience that occu

Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain.  –Isaiah 40:4 During the deep-freeze much of the United States experienced recently, many people (who aren’t normally used to such low temps) experimented with the phenomenon of watching boiling water turn into snow in the frigid temperatures (click the link provided to check out one example). How

Remember the episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy finds out she’s pregnant (which you weren’t allowed to say on 1950’s TV, by the way; you had to say you were “having a baby”), and she keeps trying to tell Ricky but every time she tries, something goes wrong? Eventually she surprises him at his night club and he sings “We’re Having a Baby, My Baby and Me”, and Lucy cries the entire time. No matter how many times I see that episode, it still makes me cry. It’s a very touching epi

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  —Romans 12:2 If you’ve ever done any gardening, you know the success of your labors has a lot to do with the kind of soil you use, how often you water it, and whether or not you use fertilizer or plant food. The more you feed your plants these things, the healthier, bigger and stronger

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. –James 1:2–4 I love to bake. Mostly because I love sweets. So really, it’s about the eating more than the baking…but I digress. Sometimes around the holidays I make my mom’s recipe for pecan cinnamon rolls. It’s quite a process

But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them. –Psalm 106:13-15 One of my favorite actresses is Meryl Streep. The movie that won me over was Bridges of Madison County (yes, I know, I know. She had an affair and it was wrong, but that’s a discussion for another time, mkay?). Wha

Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. –Psalm 20:6,7 In the course of my career thus far, I have read and heard some incredibly tragic personal stories. It never ceases to boggle my mind how some have endured and survived so much. It’s also amazing to watch people that have overcome

He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!  This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.'”  –Ezekiel 37:3-5 Being spiritually dry can feel a lot like the dry bones referenced in these verses.  Our belief in God has not changed and our faith in Him remains strong,