“Where is this God of yours?” —Why am I so discouraged? Why so sad?—I hate my life. I do not want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for these few remaining days. I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again–my Saviour and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but […]
John the Baptist had fulfilled his calling–to prepare hearts for Jesus’ coming by urging them to repent. It landed him in jail. Herod’s mistress didn’t appreciate his calling. (See the story in Mark 6:12-29) From the dungeon he heard about the miracles Jesus and his disciples were doing…but still he found himself in prison. Wasn’t […]
Some days all the different passages in a day’s reading* point to the same theme: Today’s was “Courage!” Paul to the ship’s crew: So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island. Acts 27:25 David: Yet I am confident that I will see the […]
Encouragement, whether you’re extending it or receiving it, requires faith. Ability to encourage is contingent on believing that what will be is more than what is now. It takes vision, hope in what is yet unseen. For faith is the stuff of things hoped for, things not visible, things yet to be… If I have […]
I have stones all about the house—stones that remind me of other places and times. Some are pretty and glinting with fool’s gold or the sparkle of quartz. Others have names and dates penciled on their bases. But must are smooth and plain and their origins have been long forgotten. But I do like to […]