“I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 29:20, The Message) Shine a light away from you in a semi-dark room. You see a circle of light on anything solid, but do you see the beam in midair? Light beams will… Read More
Philippians 4:8-9 Putting into practice all I’ve learned
If my mind is full of these Godly thoughts–true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable thoughts–will my life reflect them? As I heard from Marty Schmidt Sunday morning, it was Paul (also an imperfect human) who said, “Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me… Read More
What’s my shape?
Do you know yourself—how you are put together? Your strengths and weaknesses? Or have you absorbed a script for your life written by others or by circumstances similar to the examples below? Financial success is an important measure of success in your family, but you have always wanted to find a small homestead and try… Read More
Philippians 4:8 Harmless entertainment–is it really harmless?
While I ate my lunch today I watched a television drama about murder and evil supernatural beings that are all around us. But there were two human protagonists who always conquered. Humans could overcome evil. There is not truth in that–a human heart which contains sin defeating evil–unless that human is not relying on him-… Read More
Philippians 4:8 What fills your mind?
“How can I control what thoughts fill my mind? I can’t spend my whole day meditating, and other thoughts creep in.” Of course, they do, but how much space and importance do we give them? At the end of the day do I list all the things that went wrong? Are my prayers a listing… Read More
The world is noisy!
The world is noisy. All day long we get it from every direction: “Look at me!” “Can you believe that nonsense?” “This is the best!” “He’s not one of us.” “Buy now, pay later.” “The sky is falling!” “You deserve the best today.” “Am I my brother’s keeper?” “Whatever makes you feel good …” Take… Read More
Philippians 4:6-7 Is worry your constant companion?
If I continuously knead and shape the clay of my worries and fear, they stay a part of me. If my prayers are a listing and re-listing of these fears without releasing them to God, entrusting them to his keeping, they stay a part of me. God can take them away, so why are they… Read More
