MORE MATURE WISDOM

1 KINGS 12:1–7, 12–17; JOB 12:12 In 2010, a newspaper published a report featuring life lessons from eight senior citizens. It highlighted how ageing can bring emotional and social knowledge, referred to as wisdom. Wise older people offer valuable life lessons, but a newly crowned king in the Bible overlooked this. King Solomon had just died, and in … [Read more…]

A GOOD SEASON

ECCLESIASTES 3:1 Today marks the beginning of a new day and season in various parts of the world (depending on people’s location). New seasons matter to many people. Some eagerly await the changes a new season will bring. You might be counting down, hoping for a change in season, or looking forward to a break from … [Read more…]

AN “APP” IS AVAILABLE FOR THAT

EPHESIANS 5:1-7; PROVERBS 23:12 Remember when phones were for making phone calls? With the smartphone, talking to someone has turned into a storehouse of data. With cell phone applications, you can read sports reports, play games, plan trips, find an apartment, or do any of over 100,000 other tasks available with an “app.” The “apps” for phones … [Read more…]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! KEEP WAITING!!

MICAH 5:2–4 My children used to ask me all the time when they were younger, “How much longer until it is Christmas?” Even though we used a daily Advent calendar to count down the days until Christmas, they still thought the wait was unbearable. Waiting can be hard for everyone, not just children. Micah spoke about … [Read more…]

THE POWER OF DEMONSTRATION

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 My attempts at fixing things at home often result in hiring someone to fix my mistakes. Recently, I successfully repaired a home appliance by watching a step-by-step YouTube video. Paul was a strong role model for his young protégé Timothy, who accompanied him and saw his work. From prison in Rome, Paul wrote about … [Read more…]

LIKE A CHILD

MARK 10:13–16 The little girl danced happily to the music, spinning and waving her arms, while her mother smiled. My heart lifted as I watched and wanted to join her, but I did not. I had lost the joy and wonder of childhood. Though we grow and mature, we should not lose our joy and wonder, … [Read more…]

PRAYER ZONE

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16–24 Cell phones provide us with nearly endless access to communicate. However, this leads many to talk or text while driving, causing serious accidents. To prevent this, distracted driving is banned in many places. In the U.S., there are new highway signs indicating areas where drivers can stop safely to use their phones. Restricting mobile … [Read more…]

FOLLOWING HIS LEAD

1 KINGS 19:19–21 Joan enjoyed attending Sunday evening services at their church as a child, which often featured inspiring talks from missionaries and guest speakers who left everything behind to serve God in challenging and unfamiliar places. Elisha, like those missionaries, abandoned his life to follow God as a prophet after Elijah called him while he was … [Read more…]

THE ADVANCE TEAM

JOHN 14:1-14 A lady moved over 1,000 miles to a new city with her husband, dividing tasks to meet a tight schedule. Her husband found a new home while she packed. Despite not seeing the area beforehand, she trusted her husband due to his history of considering her preferences. Jesus spoke to His disciples in the … [Read more…]

THE BLESSING BOWL

ROMANS 1:1–10; PHILIPPIANS 1:3 While working on my computer, I heard the sound of a new email. Despite trying to avoid distractions, the subject line “You are a blessing” intrigued me. A faraway friend sent me a card and said she was praying for my family. She displays the card in her “Blessing Bowl” and prays for … [Read more…]