Inspirations

they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  Acts 17:11 … They examined the scriptures...  As I think about this verse,  I am challenged.   Challenged to do more than passively listen to a chapter of the Bible on audio,  or quickly skim a section.   Don’t misunderstand me,  I often do these things as well,  but if I really want to know what God says about a subject  it requires more than just a few minutes in the morning or at night.    It requires study, searching, and examining the scriptures regularly.    It requires time.   It is active.   But when we genuinely want our father’s heart on a matter, it will be worth it to us.    We will want to spend that time studying God’s word.    Can we honestly e...

I love talking to people.   Sometimes when I’m in the middle of an intimate conversation, I will hear things like:   I was in a bad place.   I know what they mean.   They mean they were hurting, usually emotionally.   When I hear this, my heart aches for them.   Most of us can relate to the dark, lonely, sad places.   Every one of us at one time or another, has stumbled into a dark spot in our lives.   We feel alone and hopeless.   Remember and remind yourself as I do that I am not alone.   Jonah was in a whale.   How much worse can your life get than being in the belly of a whale?   Friends, that is a  bad place.   Daniel was in a lion’s den facing a pack of hungry lions.   That is a dangerous place.   Elijah was on a mountain hiding in a cave.   Guys, he was ...

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.   Romans 8:28    When I was young and learning to cook,  I found that In cooking, some recipes will call for an egg.   Other processes like a meringue will need only the white of the egg.   Still, others want you to use the yolk.   When the directions need the whole egg,  it doesn’t pose too much of a problem.   Just crack it and drop the entire egg in.   The problem started when I needed only the white or the yolk.   To get one or the other, I had to learn to separate the egg.    It was not an easy thing for someone ten or eleven.   Now, it comes with ease.    Sometimes in life, we need to use this technique as well.   We often need to separate the good from the bad....

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  Isaiah 43:19 It’s January 1st the beginning of a new year.    For most of us, we see it as a chance to begin again, start over, make changes.   Everyone loves the whole idea of a new beginning,  having a clean slate wiped free of yesterday’s failures.    Sadly, by tomorrow or at least next week we will be in the same place we are now.   Our plans for changes financially, emotionally, spiritually will lie in ruins.   Failure will rear its ugly head again.    What happened?   Who knows?  Sometimes we want significant changes that aren’t realistic.   And sometimes, let’s face it, we can’t change no matter how bad we want the change.   We need God to make the changes.   As I was thinking about some changes I wanted to make in my life,...

It’s New Year’s Eve.   The house is quiet, and my mind is slowly reviewing the year.    Was it good?  Or bad?   I have to say I guess I don’t know.   Perhaps it was neither good or bad.   Or maybe it was both.   I suspect it was neither.   There were some high points and some low points.    Would I want to skip this year?    No, a thousand times no!   For from the hard times, I have learned.   I have learned what doesn’t work.  In sadness, I have learned to appreciate the people in my life.   In my failures,  I have learned to keep trying.   Perhaps my most significant achievement is that on the terrible days I s survived.   But mostly I have learned to trust God even when I have no Idea what the outcome will be.   So, I find the things I nee...

The hope of Christmas was meant to bring peace.  Yet, “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Matt. 2:3     Imagine that!   Herod realizes the prince of peace has been born, and he is troubled.   It’s simple for us to look back and wonder what Herod was concerned about.   It’s easy because we know Jesus’ kingdom was not earthly and most, if not all, of us, have never been the king.   When you’re the king, you worry about who wants your throne.   This little bundle resting in a manger stole his peace.   In fact, he was so bothered by the news that he stole peace from his subjects.   Unrest gushes down from Herod to those under him, and now they are troubled too.    In Bethlehem, however, a baby slept peacefully.   He was the fulfillment of peace the promise that brought pea...

We are now full swing into the Christmas preparations.   Some are searching for the perfect gift for Aunt Sally.   They trudge through many department stores  and browse the internet for hours  and still, choose a gift card because who knows  what Aunt Sally wants.  So, they lose hope.  Others are decking the halls, the yard,  the house with a gazillion lights.   Their yard can be seen from outer space.   They hope it's enough,  but they still feel the need to add one more string if brightly colored lights.   Others are hosting their nineteenth party this year, they hope it impresses the right people.   There is baking to be done and plans for a Christmas feast to be made.  We hope our family appreciates the effort we made, the time we spent. All these things can leave us frazzled, tired and even hopel...