Sometimes we’re embarrassed. Maybe we did something silly, thinking that no one was watching; then we found out somebody saw us, and we were embarrassed. Or we did something we thought was brilliant, and it backfired–and we were mortified. Hopefully we look back on these and laugh. There’s a time when embarrassment is necessary, however, […]

Consider a friendship sometimes overlooked in Luke 1, one which is a great example to us, the friendship between Elizabeth and Mary the mother of Jesus. Common women but possessing important qualities, they played a huge part in the history of mankind and purpose of God. Their friendship existed because of these qualities. One quality

If we’re supposed to get along and keep everyone happy, going with the flow may seem the right thing to do. For some choices, following majority opinion is advisable; but in some situations it certainly isn’t. Remember that Daniel and his three Hebrew friends in Babylon did the right thing by not following the crowd. The crowd

Several varieties of American Southwest desert plants spring up in summer and dry out in autumn, breaking off at ground level. Wind carries these flimsy, rootless tumbleweeds across the desert. They are a fitting picture of people who lack roots so tumble through life at the mercy of whatever influence strikes them.  The Apostle Paul

A lady purchased a book at a garage sale because it was inexpensive, had a quaint look, and would fit well on her vintage shelf. While dusting a few weeks later she noticed it again and decided to research the author. She also checked a selling site to see if her book had value. Someone

“Work.” Something comes to mind when you hear this word, maybe a groan. Many aspects of life are considered work: cleaning, studying, your job, a project, washing clothes, teaching Sunday school.  In Colossians 3:23-24 Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you

What goes through your mind as you walk toward the break room, join a lunch table, enter your apartment or dorm room, or pick up the phone to call someone? Some think about that person they’re going to talk to: what he may be doing at that time of day, what’s going on in her

Psalm 118:24 is often cited as an encouragement to be thankful for each day: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” The verse carries more meaning than simply an encouragement to see each day as a gift from God, however, because the day referred to in verse

Ephesians 1:3-4 reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” Your church’s doctrinal statement may have something to say about that word predestined in verses 5

You may be proud of yourself today. The world would tell you to be, even encouraging you to improve your self-esteem. You’re instructed to grow in your Christian walk, so should you be proud of progress you’ve made? In Isaiah 10, we read the boasts of Assyria’s king: “By the strength of my hand I have