Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. – 1 John 4:18a I was about six when my dad and I took an overnight train to Chicago. It was high adventure for me. We were in a sleeping car, with fold-out-from-the-wall bunk beds. I was in the upper, and dad in the lower. In the middle …
[NOTE: The weekly schedule of Monday Meditations returns tomorrow.] Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires… – Hebrews 11:33 I admire, and greatly appreciate, first responders. There’s nothing more inspiring than people who literally put their lives on the line for the sake of …
[NOTE: We’ll return to our Mondays-only format next week.] I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? – Psalm 121 If you need an infusion of hope, re-read Psalm 121. It recalls us from narrowly focusing on whatever it is we need an infusion for. Looking at the big picture—“toward …
[NOTE: Our Mondays-only meditation schedule returns next week.] God said, “Take your son, your only son whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him up as an entirely burned offering there on one of the mountains that I will show you.”… On the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the …
[NOTE: We’ll return to a Mondays-only format next week.] I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. — Romans 8:18 If a baby bird doesn’t look up, it doesn’t get fed. Something in the grand design of evolution put the natural instinct …
[NOTE: We’ll return to a Mondays-only format beginning next week.] Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. — Acts 16:25 One of the most counter-intuitive scenes in the Bible is that of imprisoned Paul and Silas, beaten and bloodied, singing a “robust” …
[NOTE: This week my meditations run daily, and will return to a Mondays-only format next week.] I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen …
As we all live through the uncertain times related to COVID-19, I thought it might be helpful to offer a daily devotional this week, focusing on biblical themes of hope and perseverance. Feel free to share the links with any you feel may benefit from them. We’ll return to a Mondays-only schedule next week. I …
[Moses said,] “The LORD will fight for you. You just keep still.” – Exodus 14:14 I’m writing this in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The United States is basically on lockdown. Fear is rattling everybody. But if you think we have it bad, consider the Hebrews, who’ve just followed Moses out of slavery in …
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. – Acts 16:25 The psychologist William James once said, “We do not sing because we are happy. We are happy because we sing.” There is something healing, something that connects us with God, when we …