This morning I read an article by an atheist writer. I like to read his thoughts because he makes me think. Of course I have to sort through the anger, harsh words and bitterness that comes from his past, but he has a lot to say. This morning his topic was public prayer. His arguments …
It’s clear, as you read the bible, that Godly leadership evokes a following. If a man, one man, will pursue God then others will gather and follow a man hungry after God. As I read further into the life of Hezekiah it’s obvious that after many years of poor leadership his walk with God was …
“Even when I walk through the shadow lands, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” -David, Psalm 23 I had coffee with a good friend this morning who is struggling with depression. It grieved me to see him in the midst of the shadow lands. It’s …
Yesterday we had our first snow of the winter in Texas. The flakes were huge, wet and sticky. Of course, here in Texas that means car wrecks, schools closed and other problems, but the snow itself was beautiful. Science has looked at snow one flake at a time and found that each flake is different, …
I woke early this morning thinking about a passage of scripture that I thought I understood. As I thought about my own life and the verse I will share with you in a moment it suddenly struck me that the way I had viewed the verse was all wrong. I had missed the main point! …
It’s often hard for me to see God’s work in my life. I’m living moment by moment and I can’t see what he is doing in my moments. The light that shows me what God is doing sometimes comes much later. Most of the time I only get a glimpse, a stream of light through …
Christmas is less than two weeks away! It’s come so quickly this year that it has caught us unprepared. We don’t have a tree up yet. Few decorations are on the walls. It feels a little like a humbug Christmas because it’s not all about the trees, the lights and the decor…it’s about Christ. I …
As a pastor this contrast of worshiper or consumer is often a topic of discussion and thought. We are in such a consumer driven culture that even church has become a consumer product. We change churches because we like the music better over there or the preacher is “really good” at this church, but we …
He is able…. . What a great introduction to so much more. He is able. When we know that the God who made the universe is able to AND willing to work in our lives it changes how we view everything. The big question for our faith is this, “Is God big enough to take …
May I take the Thanksgiving theme a little further? One day is simply not enough for me to say thanks for God’s love, goodness and faithfulness to us. I can’t help myself, but must talk about it a little more. Will you indulge me for a moment longer? I’m thankful to God for who …
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 “It takes a lifetime to just begin to understand the truth. It’s a long journey, and one that is filled with adventure. To not go is to become mostly bored, and resigned to finding entertainment as stimulus to ease the soul ache.” — D.J. Chuang Tuesday, November 23, 2010 They …
This morning I got to attend a men’s study I have dearly missed. They are studying the book of James. Today they are in chapter two and as we read we came to these words, 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For …
Vapor Man! Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. James 4:14 Vapor Man describes us all. Here for a moment in time and then gone. Today I turn 60! Like all of us I …
Made to worship We were made to worship. It’s part of us. It’s part of who we are. We look for someone to worship, some thing to worship. If we don’t worship a god of some kind we will worship things, ourselves, others. We were made to worship. Worship is what we give worth to…what’s …
I was leading a Tworship Service (Twitter Worship Service) along with my friend Richard Mayhan and one of the tweets I sent out from the song sparked a conversation. The song was I will Rise from Chris Tomlin and the tweet is below: After the thank you’s were done, I went back through my feed …
You’re gonna have to serve somebody. These lyrics from Bob Dylan’s song resonate with the words of Paul in Romans 6. Paul’s focus in the second half of this chapter is this- we are all designed by God to have a master. We are built that way. That sounds strange, doesn’t it, but when I …
There is a story in Chile that has been unfolding for months. It’s the story of more than 30 miners who have been trapped underground. It’s a story I have been thinking about as I watch the efforts to rescue them. This story has amazing similarities to the dilemma the human race is in regarding …
You’ve met them, haven’t you? Stupid people. They are everywhere! As I think about these people I realize that they get this title because they don’t agree with me! It’s our way to deal with the dissonance in our lives when we run into someone who is different, believes different things, lives a different …
This post is from @spreadingJOY – lover of the little things that make life big! Marie knows that every once in a while, you need to be strengthened, encouraged and inspired. For extra encouragement, a few smiles and lots of {HUGS} follow her on twitter. Psalm 46 One Sunday morning not long ago, I was …
I’ve been thinking about the love of God lately and how He chooses to use me, a shy backwards little girl that grew up wanting a Christian family of her very own. Our finite minds could never grasp just how much God truly loves us, but if you think with me for a moment, maybe …
We are ALL Sinners… “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” Romans3:23 As much as we hate to admit it, there are no exceptions. I am a sinner, and so are you. Even though we do our best, we fall short. We aim to reach a certain standard, if we …
Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore …
For today help us to know you are there, holding and comforting us, walking beside us each step of the way, even though our hearts are fearful, worried and unsure.
When I think about the power of our everyday lives, I think about the book of Esther. The book of Esther is unique in that the name of God is not mentioned. And yet it is undeniable that God was at work through the lives of the beautiful orphan Esther and her uncle Mordecai.
Marie is @spreadingJOY on twitter and through her Non Profit Spreading Joy, she is encouraging everyone to do what they can, where they are – with what they have. Making a difference has never been easier. May the JOY of the Lord be your strength and your heart be encouraged as you consider this passage of scripture today. …
