The person who is insensitive dominates your thinking. Your ungrateful kids or spouse provides hours of self-pity. The so-called friend who is constantly irritating you keeps you awake at night. The political figure who is against everything you stand for makes you see red. When you reject the Spirit’s control you give all these people control of your life. Is this what you really want? I didn’t think so. All of the above examples mean you are being controlled by your flesh and not the Spirit of God. In Galatians 5 Paul tells you to walk by the Spirit, so that you will not gratify the desires of your flesh. If you desire the control of the Holy Spirit then […]
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On any given Sunday morning, you may sit next to a friend who is silently, urgently, pleading for help. She desperately wants help, but she is terrified that someone might actually notice her fears. So, each Sunday she tries to look normal and happy, while on the inside she agonizes with a mixture of guilt, desperation, fear and resignation. You see, your friend, who always appears slightly edgy but always eager to please, who quickly offers a nervous smile, is living in an abusive relationship. This scenario is all too real. The ugly reality is that weak men find their security in having women fear them. Your friend thought she had found just the right man. Exploitative, abusive men will […]
The book of Judges tells the story of a very dark time in the history of Israel. Yet even in the darkness, God was at work. As He often does, He brought light and hope from the most unexpected place. Naomi accompanied her faithless husband, Elimelech, to Moab; he doubted that God could provide for him in the land of promise. So he turned his back on the provision of God for Israel. Years later, Naomi returned to Bethlehem from Moab. Her husband and her two sons had died. All she had to bring back with her was her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Yet, even in Naomi’s bitterness and sadness, she still retained her faith in the Lord of Hosts. This faith […]
Fifteen years ago September 11th became a date that will be etched in history. Planes striking the twin towers, the courage of first responders rushing towards the smoking buildings, the dramatic collapse of each tower — terror on American soil became a fearful and lasting remembrance. But is there something to be feared more than these haunting images? The answer is yes. 2,000 years ago Jesus warned his disciples that they had more to fear than those who would persecute them and kill them. There was an even greater enemy that they would face. It was the enemy of their souls: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can […]
Once I was shopping at the grocery store. An eager four-year-old started to wander off from her mother. The mother spoke to her child in a calm but icy voice. She said something like this, “I knew it was a mistake to bring you shopping. If you don’t come here right now, I’ll never take you shopping again.” The little girl sadly turned back to her mother with her head down. She was being treated as her mother thought she deserved. Mom seemed pleased that her power play worked. Often this tactic does not work, but for this little girl, earning her mom’s approval was all that mattered. For her part, Mom had no idea of the devastating impact of […]
Large storms and earthquakes tend to get our attention. But little winged insects are just an annoyance, but nothing to take seriously, like a hurricane. But of course that depends on where you live. If you live some place where malaria and yellow fever are prevalent then the winged insects are also attention-getters. In the U.S. mainland until recently mosquitoes have been mostly in the annoyance category. Then last May, a mosquito-born virus, Zika, known mainly in Africa and Asia unexpectedly arrived in Brazil. Since then, mosquitoes have been making headline news right along with hurricanes and earthquakes. So what do mosquitoes, tropical cyclones and earthquakes have in common? They all serve at the pleasure of the Lord of heaven […]
A man was walking in a field and came across something that was buried in the ground. In a moment his life changed forever. What he found caused him to immediately sell all of his personal possessions and then buy this field with its great treasure. He sold out to gain the treasure. People sell out for treasure all time. The question is, how valuable is that treasure? We have just witnessed the Olympic spectacle. There are countless stories of people selling out to win the gold. What about you? What are you sold out for? What do your children think is your greatest treasure? Would they say it is knowing Christ, based on the way that you talk and the […]
Today is moving day; moved into this house twenty-seven years ago. Five kids under the age of nine. New state, new church, new opportunities, new people. Our lives were all in front of us. I tried to remember what I thought life would be like looking ahead into the future. It is not surprising that what God unfolded was nothing like I had imagined. Now twenty-seven years later I’m moving again. Only this time instead of moving with my wife and five children, it is only me. The Lord took Ruth home three years ago after a 3-½ year chapter entitled brain cancer. The kids are all grown and have their own homes and families. Twenty months ago I was […]
Toddlers are people. This means they make decisions about what is important to them, just like you do. And just like you, their interpretation of their circumstances determines how they respond to problems they face. Let’s put this in perspective. You can’t find your debit card. Was it lost or stolen? Is your bank balance secure? Getting that card back is now your highest priority. But, suppose your helpful neighbor is visiting and says to you, “don’t worry, the card is just piece of plastic. Don’t get stressed. It will probably turn up in a day or two. It’s nothing to worry about.” You might look at that individual and wonder what planet she is living on. Your three year […]
Deborah was a Judge in Israel over 3,000 years ago. She has the distinction of being the only Judge of whom nothing negative is said by the Holy Spirit. Here are three character qualities that all of us can learn from her. Trust in God’s Word Deborah trusted God’s word for what it was. Her faith was strong, even when the men of Israel wavered. Barak failed to trust the word of the Lord and demanded Deborah go with him into battle. Deborah was not afraid to challenge Barak with his lack of faith. This showed Deborah’s courage and trust in God. She was not intimidated by male leadership that dishonored God. This a quality that our daughters must learn […]