Spurgeon told the following story in order to illustrate the mysterious working of the Lord in the lives of His children: “I think it was Mrs. Hannah More who says that she went into a place where they were manufacturing a carpet. She said, ‘There is no beauty there.’ The man said, ‘It is one of the most beautiful carpets you ever saw.’ She replied, ‘Why, here is a piece...
“As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God…so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11) The fact that “each one” has a gift reminds me of one of my family’s favorite days of the year: Christmas Eve. In my husband’s family,...
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) It is one thing to see His faithfulness (and to praise Him and give thanks accordingly) after the “big” moments of our lives - the breakthroughs, the answered prayers, the miraculous provision, etc., but what about in the...
“Little Things” He was only a lad from Jerusalem,Not specially bad - or good.But straight to the Master he went and said,“Here’s my little parcel of food.It isn’t much, but it’s all I have: My mother gave it to me:The loaves are few, the fishes but two:I gladly give them to Thee.”It was only a parcel of food for one,But that day it was multipliedGod has chosen the things that are...
What the world may see as a waste ~ what we, too, may be tempted to see as a waste ~ He may see as beautiful. Something that is a waste is simply something that lacks purpose, is leftover, or is no longer useful. How easy it can be to mislabel something as a “waste” whether a season, a situation, or even an act of service. How quickly we can conclude that something is a waste of...
“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NLT) Endurance: the ability to withstand hardship and to continue on, despite fatigue, stress, or other adversities. It is a quality we may not often consider and one we may not desire to develop, but it is one that is...
A reminder that it’s not about the speed. It’s about the direction. For all who are tired, discouraged, and feel beaten up, for those who are considering giving up, please remember: it’s not the speed that matters. It’s the direction. As I sat in my doctor’s office discussing the lingering affects of covid, she said, “As long as there is improvement, however slow it may be, it’s ok.” ...
Leading up to his birthday, my son asked, “Can I have a $57 Amazon gift card for my birthday?” “Sure,” I replied, “what do you want to buy?” He explained it was not for anything that HE wanted. Instead, what his brother wanted for Christmas cost $57; the only way he would be able to buy it is if he received a gift card. He knew that in order to give, he first needed to receive. How true...
“Priceless” - The word David used to describe the love of God. Priceless = “so precious that its value cannot be determined” Whatever is precious to us - whatever we consider valuable - pales in comparison to the love of God. This may be stating the obvious, but just one look at our thoughts, our delights, our lives - may prove there’s room for an adjustment in what we esteem as...
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. (Psalm 18:28 NIV) Yes, He can illuminate my darkness, bring light to my understanding, and guide my path when I otherwise cannot see. Truly, He can turn my darkness into light. He can also turn - … my mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11) …my weakness into His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9)…my sorrow into comfort for others (2...