PSALM 63 During Dan’s younger years, business trips often took his father away from home. Despite his frequent calls, they did not provide enough comfort. To soothe him, his mother would pull out their photo albums and recall memories of their time together. This helped Dan feel he had a good father. I can appreciate that … [Read more…]
PSALM 34:1-14 We often hear that doing things our own way leads to happiness. But that is not the case. That way of thinking may only result in heartache, anxiety, and emptiness. David tells us that we can address our fears and unhappiness by seeking the Lord and receiving answers. Happiness is achieved by doing things … [Read more…]
JOHN 12:20–26 I caught a glimpse of a brass plate with the words, “Sir, we would see Jesus,” from John 12:21 as I glanced down at the pulpit where I was leading prayers at a funeral. Yes, I thought it was appropriate to reflect on how we saw Jesus in the woman we were smiling … [Read more…]
DANIEL 6:10–22 An educational psychologist, Benjamin Bloom, did research on 120 elite performers—athletes, artists, and scholars—which showed that they all practiced intensively for long periods. This suggests that discipline is essential for personal growth, and cultivating spiritual discipline, such as regularly spending time with God, can help us grow in our trust in Him. Daniel, a disciplined follower … [Read more…]
MATTHEW 6:25–34; JAMES 1:17 When her mother tried to urge her to develop faith when she was a teenager, she occasionally resisted. “Have faith. She would assure her, “God will look after you.” “It is not that easy, Mom!” she would yell in response. “Heaven helps those who help themselves!” However, Scripture makes no mention of the … [Read more…]
3 JOHN A disappearing art in the modern era is what the apostle John did for his friend Gaius in the first century. John wrote a letter to him. Writing letters is one of our oldest forms of art, according to Catherine Field, a writer for the New York Times. For instance, when you think of … [Read more…]
MALACHI 1:1–5 A good number of teenagers go through the typical season of rebellion against their parents’ authority. The Israelites’ captivity in Babylon caused them to wonder how much God loved them. However, God punished them for their persistent disobedience by putting them in captivity. God then sent them the prophet Malachi. “I have loved you,” … [Read more…]
LUKE 6:46–49 My friends noticed that their living room was sinking after a few years of living there; a window would not open, and cracks emerged on the walls. This room, they discovered, had been added without a foundation. It took months of labour to fix the poor job as builders erected a new foundation. … [Read more…]
PSALM 107:1–16, 35–36 As a child, I enjoyed thunderstorms with thunder and heavy rain, stomping around our house, soaking up when it was time to return inside. In Psalm 107, God’s restoration is compared to a barren wilderness transformed into pools of water, a downpour that floods every crack with new life. And is that not the kind … [Read more…]
ACTS 2:14-21 Following fifty-one injuries and five deaths from elevator incidents in 2016, New York City started an advertising campaign to teach people how to be safe and remain composed. When things went wrong, the worst instances were those who attempted to save themselves. According to professionals, the best course of action is to “ring, … [Read more…]
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