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I Don’t Want To
But, Lord, I don’t want to. Have you ever said that to your Lord? I have. Ask yourself: “Is He Lord over your decision?” “Is He Lord over your life?” Recently I talked about being on the shelf. (See On the Shelf) So, learning my new area of service should be—will be–wonderful. But what if I…
Read MoreGive Us Grateful Hearts
“Give us grateful hearts, our Father, for Your many blessings. Make us mindful of the needs of others. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This Thanksgiving, take stock. Are you a grateful person? What are you grateful for? The Lord has given you and me many blessings–spiritual and earthly, eternal and temporal. I once heard someone…
Read MoreDistractions: A Spiritual Problem Too
Employees are bombarded with distractions: email, messages, unscheduled visitors, phone calls. It is a huge productivity problem, with well-paid consultants and programs attempting to improve focus on the tasks at hand. Researchers have found that it takes some time, perhaps 25 minutes, to reengage after an interruption. Distractions can be a spiritual problem as well.…
Read MoreWhen Encouragement is Wrong
I love to give and receive encouragement. And encouragement is—can be—a spiritual gift. (See A Little Help FOR Our Friends.) But it is possible to encourage evil, and that is not good. “Because you disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his…
Read MoreYou’re in Christ’s Army Now
“You’re in the Army now. You’re in the Army now. You’re not behind a plow. You’re in the Army now.” I sang that ditty as a kid, never expecting I’d be in the Army. Ever. We’re in the Army Now But I am in the army now. And you, as a fellow Christian, are also…
Read MoreOn the Shelf
“The Lord has put me on the shelf.” That is “Christian-ese” for “I am not in service”; “I’ve been set aside.” Be careful. You may be in the Lord’s place of service, even though it isn’t how you want to be used. Watch how you interpret “on the shelf.” How about: “He is preparing me for something.”…
Read MoreHow long, Lord?
When will it happen? When will it be over? How long, Lord? Even Jesus asked this question: ““And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?”” (Matthew 17:17) Your reality may be tough. You may be agonizing about the…
Read MorePray About the “Little Stuff”
I shouldn’t bother God with that little thing… I’ll just pray about the big stuff. Huh?! “For the want of a nail the shoe was lost, For the want of a shoe the horse was lost, For the want of a horse the rider was lost, For the want of a rider the battle was…
Read MoreI Can
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) “Phil 4:13” is often written on athletes’ eye blacks, bodies, and uniforms. They claim the verse guarantees they can win. But the verse, in context, is about being content, with the Lord’s help, whether you are rich or poor, whether you are hungry…
Read MoreWho’s the Star?
Who’s the star? I just read an interesting article about pitchmen that has obvious implications for Christians giving their testimonies. When a celebrity pitches a product, the celebrity is the star. However, a successful pitchman makes the product the star. Some Christian testimonies seem to focus on their experiences, especially how lost they were, rather…
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