I will make an everlasting covenant with them. I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear and respect Me, so that they will never turn away from Me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all My heart and soul. (Jeremiah 32:40-41) Note: This …
Better Than Optimism
I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.” In my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” What shall I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. (Psalm 116:10-13) Do Optimists Live Longer? Faith in God (Father, …
Rest in the Lord
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 116:7-9) A Sweeter Song Ancient Greek sailors faced many perils at sea and this was reflected …
Love for God Should Drive Us
I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:1-2) Success in Running and Life Jess Movold is a runner and coach in New York City. In a 2020 interview, she discussed principles for successful running …
Precious in the Lord’s Sight
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants (His saints, Jesus’ followers, His loved ones). (Psalm 116:15) The Pain of Death and Loss Liz Shepherd is a Boston artist and one of her works, “The Wait,” was done near the time her father was dying. Liz spent long days at her father’s bedside, feeling …
Don’t Be Afraid!
After calming the storm and rescuing His disciples, Christ said “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) This post builds on Jesus Calms the Storm Christians are Made for Faith, Not Fear Eli Stanley Jones (1884-1973) was an American Methodist missionary. He conducted evangelistic lectures held across the Indian subcontinent and said: God has …
Jesus Calms the Storm
Christ got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:39) Reagan’s Perfect Pitch Many things in Scripture and life are deeper than they seem at first. In April 1984, President Ronald Reagan threw out the first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles game and then …
Compassionate Service
Isaiah prophesied about Jesus the Messiah: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, till He has brought justice through to victory. In His name the nations will put their hope.” (Matthew 12:20-21, quoting Isaiah 42:1-4) Compassionate Christians Point to our Compassionate Lord Jim Petersen of The Navigators had a friend from …
Humble Servants of Jesus
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven….In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made …
Depending on Jesus
Christ said: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) Luther’s Advice on Service Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German pastor, author, and composer, best known as one of God’s …