I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear 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: I heard Dr. …
When King Uzziah Died, I Saw the Lord
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the hem of His robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1) Sometimes, God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) takes away good things to give us better things. Blessed After a Bad Thing Uzziah, also known as Azariah, was a strong and …
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 …
I’ll Hasten to His Throne
I love the Lord. He heard my cries, And pitied every groan. Long as I live, when troubles rise, I’ll hasten to His throne. (From a poem and hymn by Isaac Watts) Richard Smallwood Richard Smallwood is an American gospel composer, music director, and arranger. He has won many awards and his songs have been translated into Korean, German, Hebrew, …
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 …
Joy in Troubles
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance…so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything….Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has …
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 …