Is Pain In Vain – Part Four
For twelve years I had stood at a pulpit on Sunday mornings and proclaimed that our significance and value comes primarily from the Lord, and not from what we do. Yes, we can feel good about our performance, but God…
Category handling trials
Is Pain In Vain? – Part Three
I have a belief that might make some cringe. Here it is: There were benefits to my battle with cancer. Now before you conclude I’m losing my grip, let’s first remember God’s superior intellect. “My thoughts are not your thoughts,…
Long May You Run
Many trials are marathons, not sprints. Fighting cancer can be lengthy and extremely draining; it was for me. During the marathon journeys of Elijah the prophet, you might say he was “all over the map,” both physically and emotionally (1…
Is Pain In Vain? – Part Two
We’ve seen them in grocery stores and restaurants. Chaos is their partner, and tantrums their tool of choice. After observing their interactions for a moment, you suspect they aren’t simply having a bad day. They’re kids caught in a pattern…
Is Pain In Vain?
God wasn’t joking when He said in Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” These differences are dramatically illustrated in His instruction…
He’s In Your Corner
One of the huge benefits of receiving Christ as our personal Savior* is that we have the perfect Advocate before God the Father. We have the absolute best representation. The Bible says in the book of Hebrews that Jesus Christ…
Hedged In To The Giver
Until recently, some of you may have not experienced much trouble. Troubles were… for others. Then suddenly and without notice, trouble showed up at your door; but this was inevitable. Someone has rightly said, we are either in trouble, coming…
Always Good News
When you are being flooded with bad news, how does one focus on good things? Let’s be honest, sometimes in our lives, the “good news” of Christmas is totally overshadowed by personal news feeds. Perhaps an employer gave you a…
Heard It From The Grape Vine
It may seem foolish to cut back vine branches to produce more and better grapes. Yet pruning is a centuries old practice of vinedressers. Sometimes after pruning, grapes don’t return in force for two full years. In the same…
If God Punished All Sin with Sickness, Wouldn’t You Live in a Hospital? (I Would)
I’ve had some blogger’s block recently. I think I’ve been resisting writing on a topic I’m “supposed” to discuss, but I’d rather avoid. I am not afraid of controversy. I’ll mix it up when necessary, but just mentioning this issue…