February 7th, 2010
Genesis 29 tells an interesting story about the lives of Jacob and his two wives, Leah and Rachel. Leah lived in disappointment as a result of her father tricking Jacob and giving her to him as a wife when Jacob thought he was marrying his beloved Rachel. Poor Leah! While Jacob seems to have treated her well, he never really loved her as he loved Rachel; but God saw Leah’s plight and blessed her with children while her sister Rachel was barren.
When her first son was born, Leah rejoiced in God’s blessing and said, “Now therefore, my husband will love me.” Obviously that didn’t change things for Leah because when the second son was born she recognized this gift as another blessing from God to make her husband love her. When the third son arrived Leah declared, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Later a fourth son was born and Leah’s focus changed. This time, instead of focusing on the love she longed for, Leah announced, “Now I will praise the LORD.” And she named that son Judah which means “praise”.
January 31st, 2010
My heart was touched as I listened to the couple’s story. The problems they face are intense and anyone would find them heavy, but the real difficulty in this case is that they face so many problems all at once—loss of hopes and dreams, family stress, the ache of moving and leaving dear ones behind, extended family issues, job stress, and financial hardship. Why is it that such bad things happen to good people?
Adversity often comes as a result of natural causes such as physical problems, aging, storms, extreme temperatures, and other natural disasters affect people somewhere on earth every single day. It’s all a part of life.
January 24th, 2010
What a surprise when I greeted the receptionist at the chiropractor’s office with “Hi, how are you?” and instead of getting the usual “Fine” that we hear from folks, I heard, “I’m blessed—big time!” Then she continued, “You know how people always say, ‘It’s just one thing after another?’ Well, it really is. It’s just one blessing after another!”
You’d think this lady had a perfect life, that the economy was miraculously fixed, that natural disasters weren’t occurring around the world, and that life was totally care free. Obviously that’s not the case, but rather than focusing on the negatives and the hard things, she makes a conscious choice to remember that as a child of God, she is part of God’s “unshakable kingdom” and to praise Him for His bountiful blessings–big and small.
January 17th, 2010
Sometimes in the overall scheme of things it seems like we really don’t matter. It seems that our contributions are small, and the difference we may make in someone else’s life, or the world in general, is pretty insignificant.
Let’s face it – it is a big world – a VERY big world, and only a few very important people make a difference. That’s what Satan would like us to believe. But the truth is that each one of us has something we can contribute, and each one of us is special in the eyes of the God who created us. God has given to us a very special gift. It is a gift of love. A gift of making us like Himself and giving us His very own son, the Lord Jesus.
January 10th, 2010
The question of why man exits has been discussed throughout the ages. Philosophers debate it, poets write of it, musicians herald it, and theologians proclaim it. The true answer to this perplexing question is clearly and simply stated in the pages of Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments. We need only look to the Bible for the answer.
January 3rd, 2010
Just a few days ago we said good-bye to 2009 and opened the pages of 2010. It seems like only yesterday that we welcomed the year 2000, the opening of a new millennium, yet here we are a whole decade later. Time passes so quickly and I’m more convinced than ever that if we want to accomplish something, we have to prayerfully make it a priority and just do it. If not, our opportunity may be gone forever.
One of my goals for this year is to read through the entire Bible. I’ve done it before, but this time I’m reading it chronologically as the events happened. That’s something I’ve never done before. Knowing that Job lived sometime between creation and the birth of Abraham, it will be interesting to read Job’s story while reading through Genesis!
December 27th, 2009
It was cold and snowy as I drove through our small town last week. The weather was perfect for the Christmas season and the end of another year. I was thinking about the coming new year when I heard the voices on the CD sing, “Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart.” Over the years this has become one of my favorite songs so I cranked up the volume to enjoy the beauty of this stately old hymn more fully. Here is what I heard:
December 20th, 2009
THE CAROL OF THE ANGELS
Long ago in old Judea
Angels shining with God’s light,
Sang the song of hope and gladness,
“Christ the Lord is born this night.”
December 13th, 2009
It happened right here in York County, Pennsylvania, but the story is being told in news reports all over the country! On Friday, November 27, someone carefully and purposefully wrapped a South African gold Krugerrand coin worth nearly $1,200 in a one dollar bill and placed it in the Salvation Army collection kettle as a donation to help the needy. What an act of loving kindness, generosity and unselfishness! The local newspaper reports that even several days later, Major Lurlene Mudge of the York citadel said, “Everyone is still talking about it.”
December 6th, 2009
It’s December here in Pennsylvania and roses are not supposed to be blooming, but mine is. One bush continues to bud and bloom even on these cold, dreary days. What’s the secret? The bush is large and part of it has grown right up against the house. Pressed tightly against our home it finds warmth and is sheltered from the cold and protected from the wind.
What a beautiful reminder that my place of refuge is pressed tightly to the Lord Jesus, my rock and my fortress. In Him alone I find shelter and protection from all the cares of life–the ache of disappointment, the sting of betrayal, the dread of physical limitations, and the fear of the future. No matter what threat comes near me or what adversity I face, close to Him I find hope and strength. Close to Him I find rest and peace.
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