REJOICE IN THE LORD
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! Philippians 3:1a
We’ve been learning personal lessons from prison from Pastor Okuk Ojulu in Ethiopia as he shared them with Jim Cunningham.
He says, “The fourth lesson is to Rejoice in the Lord always in the prison.
“Prison means cutting off almost all your freedoms from the previous life. The devil is more pressing in the prison than anywhere in life, preaching negatives things to us. The most powerful tool for victory in our Christian lives in the midst of negatives is to preach positives to defeat the devil of negatives. In other words, it is to develop a positive attitude in a hostile situation like in the prison.
“In Philippians 3:1, it says, Rejoice in the Lord! Rejoicing in the Lord always enables us to approach the burning bush for a release from the prison. Let our prayer contain: “Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
“I hope this kind of prayer can discipline us, and help make us approach the Lord very closely in the burning bush—the very place where we can hear a distilled voice from Him for the deliverance of many in their misery. The burning bush does not burn us up, but it makes us remove our sandals when we approach it.”
Pastor Okok was released after three and a half years and God has rewarded his ministry, even his family. One of his daughters was chosen as Miss Ethiopia which paid for her education.
He continues to minister in freedom but with new perspectives based on his prison life.
Prison experiences are very personal and very impacting. I think that must be why I enjoy reading memoirs of Christians who have been in prison. They are so positive and uplifting compared to those of non-Christians.
I especially remember the prayer of a Christian brother who was in prison for years in Romania during the difficult years of the cold war. He prayed:
“Lord, I look forward to the great day I see you and your family in heaven. I look forward to seeing the great evangelists standing before you. I look forward to the day I see all the missionaries coming home rejoicing with their sheaves. I look forward to hearing all the great singers of the world praising you. I look forward to seeing the great preachers of the ages standing before you.
“But Lord, I have one special request. When that day comes, allow me to be there in the clothing of a prisoner. I want to praise you throughout eternity in my prisoner’s clothes to always remind me that I was a prisoner for you.”
RESPONSE: Today I will rejoice in the Lord in the face of all the negatives that Satan tries to throw at me.
PRAYER: Lord, You are worthy of my praise and joyfulness no matter what circumstances I am in.
Salt Shakers
By Tia McCollors
“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another. “ – Mark 9:49-50
Imagine a delectable dish set before you. Others have raved about how it tastes and you couldn’t wait to try it for yourself. But at first bite you lose your interest and appetite for the dish. You couldn’t enjoy the pureness and true taste of the meal you’d longed for because it had been prepared with too much salt. You decide not to try it again, but move on to something else that might better suit your taste. Imagine the same dish bland with no seasoning or flavor. Again, nothing about the offering inspires you to want more. Christians are the salt of the earth. We sprinkle our flavor among non-believers with just enough spice to that they can taste and be drawn to God’s goodness (Psalm 34:8). Indeed, it is good!
Practical Application: Salt is used to flavor and preserve, but it’s detrimental to have both too much salt and not enough salt. Our actions are often more powerful than our words when drawing non-believers to Christ. If we are the salt of the earth, we don’t want our actions to leave an unpleasant taste in the mouths of those who don’t know our Savior.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me words that are like sweet honey to my mouth (Psalm 119:103). Season my words with grace so others will be drawn to your goodness when I tell them about You.
Tia McCollors is a wife and mother who loves to encourage women to wear their faith like a designer label. Information about her inspirational novels and devotions can be found at www.tiamccollors.com.
Elizabeth
Her name means: “God is my oath”
Her character: A descendant of Aaron, Elizabeth was a woman the Bible calls “upright in the sight of God.” Like few others, male or female, she is praised for observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations without blame. She is the first to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
Her sorrow: To be barren for most of her life.
Her joy: To give birth to John, later known as John the Baptist, the Messiah’s forerunner. His name, divinely assigned, means, “The Lord Is Gracious.”
Key Scriptures: Luke 1:5-80
Her Story
Her eyes were a golden brown. Like currants set in pastry, they winked out at the world from cheeks that had baked too long in the sun. Snowy strands of hair straggled from beneath a woolen shawl, tickling her wrinkled face. Small hands rested tenderly on her rounded belly, softly probing for any hint of movement. But all was still. From her vantage point on the roof of the house, she noticed a figure walking up the pathway and wondered who her visitor might be.
She and Zechariah had been content enough in their quiet house these last few months, secluded in their joy. Each morning she had opened her eyes as though waking to a fantastic dream. Sometimes she shook with laughter as she thought about how God had rearranged her life, planting a child in her shriveled-up, old-woman’s womb.
Six months ago, Zechariah had been chosen by lot to burn incense before the Most Holy Place, a once-in-a-lifetime privilege. But during his week of priestly service in the temple, he had been frightened half to death by a figure who appeared suddenly next to the altar of incense. “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,” the angel told him, “and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” It was Sarah and Abraham all over, Rebekah and Isaac, Rachel and Jacob. God was once again kindling a fire with two dry sticks.
For the life of her, Elizabeth couldn’t understand her husband’s response to the messenger that had so terrified him. Once you’d laid eyes on an angel, how could you fail to believe that anything was possible? But Zechariah had blurted out his skepticism and suffered the consequences. His voice had been snatched away and would not be given back until the angel’s words came to pass. These days he communicated by scribbling on a wax tablet.
Elizabeth looked down again at the figure advancing up the path, a green sprig of a girl. The older woman stepped carefully down the stairs and into the house to welcome her guest. But with the young woman’s words of greeting came something that felt like a gale force wind, shaking the beams and rafters of the house. Steadying herself, the older woman felt suddenly invigorated. Her unborn baby leapt inside her as she shouted out a welcoming response: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
Mary had made the journey all the way from Nazareth to visit her relative Elizabeth. The same angel who had spoken to Zechariah in the temple had whispered the secret of the older woman’s pregnancy to the virgin, who was also with child. The magnificent song of praise that burst from Mary’s lips during their meeting may have taken shape during the course of her sixty-mile journey south, to the hill country of Judea where Elizabeth lived.
The two women held each other, their bonds of kinship now stronger than what mere flesh and blood could forge. For Israel’s God—the God of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Miriam, Deborah, Naomi, Ruth, Abigail, and Hannah—was on the move again, bringing the long-ago promise to fulfillment. And blessed was she who did not doubt that what the Lord had said to her would be accomplished.
Her Promise
God always keeps his promises! For hundreds of years, God had been telling the people of Israel that he would send a Messiah. One who would provide a direct bridge to God himself. One whose sacrifice would provide redemption for all time. The events in this first chapter of Luke are just the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise to his people. With Mary we can say: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”
 | When Life Doesn’t Follow Your Plans BRENDA BRADFORD OTTINGER Lee en español |
“‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.” Matthew 14:29 (NLT)
Short on time and long on impatience, I jotted a nearby address into my GPS one morning, and to my surprise, the highlighted route stretched wide and winding across the dashboard map.
As I backed out of the driveway, I thought, What ever happened to “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line”?
But as my speed calmed and reason returned, I was glad to be guided along the rambling, paved route rather than the short, straight line through a dense forest of pine trees where no path existed.
And it occurred to me that day that straight lines in life are rare.
So often, I’ve wanted to navigate my own route, bypassing the bends and backroads of life, seeking a direct path to my plans — when God hasn’t paved a way for them yet.
As a result, I’ve spent miles of life recalculating, circling in confusion, fearful to move along unfamiliar paths.
Yet I’ve come to realize that straight lines aren’t always in God’s navigational system either. God’s way is often a winding path paved on the waters of faith.
Consider Peter. He and some of Jesus’ other disciples had spent the evening with Jesus, healing and miraculously feeding a crowd of over 5,000. As the disciples travelled home across the lake, a sudden storm stirred up. As their vessel struggled against the waves, they looked up and saw Jesus walking toward them on the surface of the water. “Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.’ ‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.” (Matthew 14:28-29, NLT)
Peter’s testimony of faith that day wasn’t simply in his toes strolling through the waves but in his acceptance of a holy invitation to join Jesus on an unconventional path.
In that moment, Peter didn’t walk on shallow waters where his feet could catch the sandy shores of security. Rather, Jesus invited Peter to walk in the deep — and that’s His invitation to us, as well.
The path He leads us on is often a winding, meandering route on the waves of life, not the simple, straight line we might choose. But, just as Jesus calmed His disciples with the comfort of His presence that night, He does the same for us: “‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage. I am here!’” (Matthew 14:27b-c, NLT).
Friend, even when God’s plan for us feels long and divergent, take heart — He’s here, ordering every mile as we release our routes and join Him on the path He prepared in advance for us. (Ephesians 2:10)
Sometimes faith looks like remaining on an unexpected path in life and choosing courage, resting in the assurance that the Guide of our lives will never lead us where His presence won’t meet us.
For, at its very essence, faith is a safe shelter for our souls, bridging the gap between the known and unknown, freeing us to rest in the God who’s with us.
When we’re tempted to rush toward plans we long for, eager to bypass unexpected routes, may we instead quiet our bustling spirits and press into the tender leadership of God.
And when those times come along when our faith begins to sink, as Peter’s eventually did that night, and we’re distracted by the storms of life … even still, the very same Jesus who remained beside Peter to lift him up remains beside us, ready to answer our cries for help. (Matthew 14:30-33)
Dear Lord, thank You for being the Guide of my life. Please help me surrender my will to Your way today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Have you ever felt insecure about discussing certain topics with your closest friends because you aren’t sure how they will respond? Or wondered why people who share the same beliefs can see things so differently? Can we really find the answers to those questions in God’s Word? Find out in our next First 5 study, Colossians: How to Know the Truth in a World of Divided Opinions, starting September 20. Click here to order your study guide!
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For more encouragement, connect with Brenda Bradford Ottinger on her website.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 32:8, “The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” (NLT)
How has God met you along unexpected paths in your life? We’d love to hear your story in the comments.
© 2021 by Brenda Bradford Ottinger. All rights reserved.
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Promise #242
Promise #242:
There is a special room in My house prepared just for you.
John 14:2 (WEB)
In my Father’s house are many homes.
If it weren’t so, I would have told you.
I am going to prepare a place for you.
This is part of Jesus’ last address to His disciples before He goes to the cross. It is interesting that Jesus actually assumes that the disciples already know that they have a place in His Father’s house because He says… “If it were not so, I would have told you”. The verse prior to this one, Jesus says to His disciples … “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (NIV)
The very foundation of believing the promise that we have a place in our Father’s house is trust. Jesus’ heart’s cry is… trust in My Father and trust in me too! It is amazing to think that each one of us, who has called on the name of the Lord, has a place already prepared in heaven.
No matter how unstable this world system gets, we already have a home prepared for us and Jesus promises to one day receive us back unto Himself so that we can be with Him where He lives for all eternity (John 14:3). Where is this special room located in heaven? The KJV version of John 1:18 says that Jesus declared the Father right from His bosom. If we are to be where Jesus lives, I believe that each one of the rooms in our Father’s house is located in the center of His heart!
What a glorious promise! We will live forever with Jesus in the very bosom of the Father! May this promise bring comfort and hope to our hearts today no matter what trials we are facing.
Love God And Love Others Well
Filling Our Love Tanks
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” — 1 John 4:11
Some snake species regularly go without food for six months — but a tarantula can survive for more than two years! When the heat rises to more than 110 degrees, camels can live for five days without water — and during the winter months they can survive for half a year.
Humans aren’t as resilient. We’ll survive only a few weeks without food and a few days without water. But we need love daily. Thankfully, God is never absent. A spouse might die; children might move away; friends might be in short supply. But God is the Friend, the Lover, the Brother whose love is always accessible. To keep our “love tanks” full, we must learn to tap quickly into the love of God.
Let’s also remember that the people around us crave love just as much as we do, but some aren’t plugged in to the Source. So receive God’s love daily, but also give it daily.
I’m so grateful, Lord, that You created me to need love every day and then made sure I can always receive that love from You. Amen.
Jesus speaks…
Demonstrate your trust in me by sitting quietly in My Presence.
“God sees us with the eyes of a Father. He sees our defects, errors, and blemishes. But He also sees our value. What did Jesus know that enabled Him to do what He did? Here’s part of the answer: He knew the value of people. He knew that each human being is a treasure. And because He did, people were not a source of stress, but a source of joy.” ― Max Lucado
A Short Time Left
A Short Time Left
“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT).
Why are things the way they are in our world today? One reason is that Satan is allowed to have his way. He’s a fallen angel, which the Bible describes as “the god of this world” and “the prince of the power of the air” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT; Ephesians 2:2 NKJV).
The Bible also tells us that one day he will be dethroned. He may be insidious and invisible, but he is not invincible. He’s going down, and he knows it.
In fact, Revelation 12:12 says, “For the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time” (NLT). That phrase “great anger” could be translated as “a violent outburst of rage.” It’s a term that describes turbulent emotional fury, not simply rational anger but effectively freaking out. That’s because the Devil knows he isn’t going to continue his reign.
Even if some liberal theologians don’t believe it, the Devil believes that Jesus Christ is coming back soon. He knows that he has only a little time, so he has great fury. And he wants to take as many people down with him as possible.
However, God is sovereign, which means that He is ultimately in control. But He does allow wickedness, and He has allowed the Devil to have a certain leeway.
Yet there is coming a day when that is going to change. There is coming a day when Satan will be stopped dead in his tracks. No human system will bring that about, however. God will bring it about.
The return of Jesus Christ is bad for Satan, but it’s good for us as believers. For the Devil, it’s an incentive to attack our faith and try to cause us to stumble and fall. But for us, it’s an incentive to share our faith and seek to live holy lives.
Copyright © 2021 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
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Why Is the Church Going Dark?
- Janet Thompson
- Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Recently, we visited a church, not too different from some other churches I’ve visited. Maybe this even describes your church.
It was dark! No windows and the only bright lights shining were on the stage. People entered the dimly lit, mostly dark, rows of chairs and found their seat. Some pulled out their cell phones and started texting.
I wondered, as I always do when I enter a similar church, will they turn up the lights so I can see my Bible when the sermon starts. They didn’t.
As we began to worship in song and the lyrics appeared on the screens, I had an epiphany from the Holy Spirit. The lyrics were much like this song “The Light in the Darkness,” which starts out like this:
In the beginning was the Word/The Word was with God and the Word was God/Through Him all things were made that have been made/In Him was Life and that Life was the Light of men/And the Light shone in the darkness/But it did not understand/The Light shone in the darkness/But it did not comprehend/That which we have heard and we have seen/This we proclaim to you concerning the Word of Life/This is message we have heard and declare to you/God is Light and in Him there’s no darkness at all/And the Light shines in the darkness/But it did not understand/The Light shines in the darkness/But it’s hard to comprehend
As the words kept flashing on the screen, I thought, Lord, why are we singing about you being the Light in the darkness while standing here in almost complete darkness? This just doesn’t seem right. You are the Light of the world. You tell us to go into the dark world and let our Christian light shine, and yet, we’re worshiping in a church enveloped in darkness!
We continued singing in the dark . . .
The Word became flesh and dwells among us/We behold the glory of the only begotten Son/He has come full of love full of grace and truth/This is the message we proclaim to you/And the Light shines in your darkness/And we pray you understand/The Light shines in your darkness/And we pray you comprehend/The Light shines in the darkness/Ah but will you understand/The Light shines in the darkness/But will you comprehend/Will you comprehend/I pray you comprehend
I know many churches start out in movie theaters and office buildings, but the church we were in that Sunday morning looked like a new building.
I’ve also heard the reasoning behind having the church dark is to draw the younger generation, but this is not a concert setting; this is church! Why does the next generation want to sit in the dark?
The pastor was not a young pastor; he looked like he could be a grandpa.
When we returned to our home church, I loved worshiping with the sunlight streaming through the windows and looking at the clouds and blue sky through the window behind the log cross, built by one of our parishioners. And with the beautiful overhead lighting, I could see clearly my church family, and most importantly, the words in my Bible.
The side “walls” at Saddleback Church where we were members for almost 25 years, are floor to ceiling windows, and the sanctuary well lit with overhead lights. When you walk in, you can clearly see fellow parishioners to greet them. There is no darkness. Even if you were feeling down when you entered, your spirits lift in the bright cheery atmosphere. People can actually sit outside and look through the windows to see the stage and hear through speakers.
They can see to read their Bibles, if they bring them.
With so many churches going dark today, I understand why people aren’t taking their Bibles to church. I recently wrote about this sad trend: Are Today’s Churches Discouraging Reading the Bible? Some comments mentioned they couldn’t read their Bible in church because it was so dark.
The word “light” appears 263 times in the NIV Bible.
Maybe I’m making too much of this, but I know it was the Holy Spirit nudging me to speak out as I stood in the dark, singing about the Light shining in the darkness. We know that “darkness” in the Bible refers to a culture or “world” that doesn’t know or worship God and His ways: anti-God.
But “God is never too exhausted by His Light to take care of the darkness,” said Pastor Brian Smith. And neither should we be!
I honestly don’t understand why churches are choosing to have dark sanctuaries. I would welcome a discussion to please enlighten me, and others who want to see clearly, when we go to church.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)
Walk in the light because He is in the light!
Janet Thompson is an international speaker, freelance editor, and award-winning author of 19 books. Her latest release is Mentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness. She is also the author of Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten; The Team That Jesus Built; Dear God, Why Can’t I Have a Baby?; Dear God They Say It’s Cancer; Dear God, He’s Home!; Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter; Face-to-Face Bible study Series; and Woman to Woman Mentoring: How to Start, Grow, & Maintain a Mentoring Ministry Resources.
She is the founder of Woman to Woman Mentoring and About His Work Ministries.
Visit Janet and sign up for her weekly blog and free online newsletter at womantowomanmentoring.com.
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How to Find Stability When the Lord Gives and Takes Away
- Mike Leake
- Borrowed Light
There have been a few times in my life where the sovereignty of God was a less than comforting doctrine for me. One particular time involved a church-league softball game and a former student. My former student was on the opposing team, playing third base. I hit a rocket towards him, as it hit a rock or dirt clod on the infield the ball took a horrendous hop and hit my former student right between the eyes. I felt bad that I had broken his nose. But those bad feelings turned much worse when we heard the news that he had been rushed to the hospital with a brain bleed.
I was at church camp when I heard the news of the severity of the injury. I gathered with other believers, and we prayed. We thanked God for His sovereign care, we acknowledge that He was in control and not us, and we pleaded that the Lord would provide healing. Someone prayed that God would be glorified in the situation. Normally these truths provide me comfort. On this occasion I was not as comforted, because I remembered Job. Yes, God is good. Yes, God is in control. Yes, God does things for His glory. But a good God can allow suffering while He is in control. God would have been good, and God could have been glorified if our former student had not survived or ended up physically disabled. But I’ll admit, I didn’t like that prospect.
“The Lord gives and the Lord takes away” is both a comforting and an unsettling truth in Scripture. How can we find stability in what appears to be a shaking truth?
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images-AntonioGuillem
Biblical Context of ‘The Lord Gives and the Lord Takes Away’
I’ve heard “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away” quite a few times in my years as a believer, and as a pastor. Seldom have I heard it quoted in a scenario similar to that of Job. I have heard it quoted as a man prayed next to his dying wife. I have also heard this when a wife and mother lost her husband to painful circumstances. But I’ve also heard it on far more trivial things. The original context for Job was far from trivial. In a single day, he lost his home, his livelihood, and most important his children. But the narrator wants us to know that Job also lost his standing in society as well as the relationship with his wife. Job lost everything on that one day.
How would Job respond to such a painful day? Would he curse God, as the Accuser said he would? Or would Job still be a man of resolute faith? Job 1:21 gives us our answer. Job continued to trust in God, even though he was in deep pain and confounded by what was occurring. Job understood that both his answers and his redemption would be found in God alone. I appreciate these words from Francis Andersen:
Job sees only the hand of God in these events. It never occurs to him to curse the desert brigands, to curse the frontier guards, to curse his own stupid servants, now lying dead for their watch-lessness. All secondary causes vanish. It was the Lord who gave; it was the Lord who removed; and in the Lord alone must the explanation of these strange happenings be sought.
It may seem as if it would be best for Christians to absolve God of any presence in these events of Job. But at the end of the day, this would be far worse. It would mean that such things can happen and God is powerless or uncaring to stop them. But Job still desires an answer from God. He trusts in God’s sovereignty but the book of Job is an unfolding of the “why”. Why did God give such wonderful things to Job and then in a single day have them taken away? 
Why Does the Lord Give and Take Away?
In one sense our proper answer to this question is to admit that we do not know why. In another sense, we know that God does all things for His glory which is our greatest good. Once we attempt to find specific answers to these questions, we find ourselves on shaky ground. All throughout Job, his friends offer advice and answers to this pressing question. Some of his friends believed that the Lord “took away” because Job had been unrighteous. And if this is true, then the good that Job had would have been because of his good actions as well. Others believed that Job was wrong for even seeking an audience with God—that he should just accept what had happened and not grieve or ask any questions. Such a belief would have had God as a distant and uncaring sovereign. We know their answers are incomplete because of how the Lord rebukes them in Job 42:7.
To put it simply, the Lord gives because he is good. And the Lord takes away because he is good. We are familiar with the concept that good can come from an action that appears to be evil. If I told you a man grabbed a child’s arm and snapped his arm so hard that it broke his bone, you’d likely assume that man is evil. But when I explain that he is a doctor resetting an already injured wrist, you slowly realize that this break is actually for the good of the child. That concept is easy to grasp—but it’s much more difficult to apply when we start talking about the specifics of what Job suffered. Are we somehow to say that it was good that Job’s children died? Of course, not. Death is the enemy. But somehow God is working good in and through the situation. I do not understand the details—and that’s part of the point of Job. We are not God and so we as finite human beings cannot fully comprehend the ways of God. But someday we will.
At funerals, I usually turn to Romans 8 and attempt to let our grief turn to glory. In those dark moments, we see that the Lord has given (precious years, memories, eternity, ultimate healing, etc.) and he has taken (a spouse, a parent, a sibling, etc.,). As I walk the congregation through Romans 8:31-39 I point out that death cannot separate us from the love of God. We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. To conquer something is to defeat it. Death has certainly been defeated in Christ. But the text does not say that we are conquerors. It says that we are more than conquerors. What does this mean? Perhaps a clue is given when Paul speaks of “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor 4:17).
Is it possible that the pain we feel when sorrow overcomes is meant to propel our minds to that great day when every tear will be wiped away? How precious must Jesus be that we could look back upon the very real pain of death and suffering and call it a “light and momentary affliction”?
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How Can We Find Stability When the Lord Gives and the Lord Takes Away?
I remember seeing a video several years ago of a half-time marching band forming a giant football player and kicking a field goal. It was an absolutely beautiful thing to behold if you had the correct angle. (I believe it was the University of Hawaii if you want to look it up). From the grandstands it makes perfect sense—all those moving pieces work together to form something beautiful. But can you imagine what it looks like if you’re on the field? It might appear chaotic and senseless. How can you find stability in God when it seems as if his world is filled with chaos and pointless suffering? If God seems to be giving and taking on a whim, how can we have any stability? The answer is to have a few from the grandstands (This illustration is adapted from one I read from Randy Alcorn in The Goodness of God.).
It’s understandable that Job’s friends (and maybe even Job at times) had the view of the world that they did. Good things happen to good people. Bad things happen to bad people. Our fairy tales are written this way as well. The good princess gets the prince and the ugly and wicked step-sisters are banished. It feels more stable. If I do good things then God will bless me. If I do bad things then God will punish me with bad things. But that’s not gospel, that’s karma. The good news of the gospel is that rebels to the kingdom (bad people) inherit the kingdom because the Good King died in their place.
And it is in this death of the Good King where we find our stability. God did not give Job the answer he was looking for, but he gave Job the answer he needed. God is God, Job is not. That is stabilizing. He is good. He is in control. It may not make any sense now but someday it will.
We can find stability when our hope is fixed upon Christ and the inheritance which he has purchased for us. If our hope is tied to the things of this world—they can be given or taken at any point. But God is giving to us that which cannot be taken; eternal life in Christ. Perhaps that is some of what God is doing as he gives and takes. He is changing our appetites for that which will last forever. God is a good God and he will do whatever is necessary to redeem us fully—even if at times it means we must endure suffering. Our stability is in the immovable God. 
Conclusion
I’ve always found John Newton to be helpful in gaining perspective. Newton shared a helpful illustration at one point in his ministry:
Suppose a man was going to New York to take possession of a large estate, and his [carriage] should break down a mile before he got to the city, which obliged him to walk the rest of the way; what a fool we should think him, if we saw him ringing his hands, and blubbering out all the remaining mile, “My [carriage] is broken! My [carriage] is broken!
That which the Lord has taken will always pale in comparison to what the Lord gives. That’s not meant to diminish the real pain of real loss. But it is meant to astonish us at how glorious and wonderful that God must be in order for that statement to be true. He will restore that which is broken. He will give back the years the locusts have eaten. It is here, in the eternal God, that we find the only true stability which exists.
Oh, and my former student was fine. It was actually a life-saving thing that happened. He was able to discover a soft spot that had been there from childhood. God did give in this situation. He answered our prayers. But even if he had not answered them as we hoped, he would have still been good and would have been doing us good.
Sources:
Andersen, F. I. (1976). Job: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 14, p. 93). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Halfpoint
Is Smoking a Sin?
- Seth L. Scott
- Columbia International University
Growing up in the church, the application of Paul’s admonition to remember that our “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19) seemed to only apply to particular behaviors deemed socially and culturally unacceptable. Being of the world meant drinking, smoking or chewing tobacco, dancing, playing cards, getting tattoos, listening to music that emphasized the second and fourth beat, and watching movies beyond PG ratings. These behavioral standards fed my perception of spirituality, allowing me to assume a superior moral position than anyone who exhibited such behaviors. These assumptions also fed a perception of Jesus in my mind, one in which Jesus looked like me: a clean-cut, tie, belt, and Christian-pun-emblazoned t-shirt wearing Christian, among but sanctimoniously separated from the “weaker brothers” struggling in worldliness.
As God worked in my life to expose my own hypocrisy, pride, and sinful struggles, I recognized that Paul’s warning is in relation to fleeing sexual immorality and is not limited to the avoidance of certain behaviors but also includes the standard of glorifying God in our bodies because we are not our own and have been bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20). So while the question for many is, “Is smoking a sin?,” if our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit intended to glorify God, we also need to ask in what ways consuming smoked brisket, Diet Coke, and French fries can also be a sin, recognizing that sin is not just behavioral, but is a condition of the heart in which what comes out of our mouth is the indication of our defilement and not what goes in (Matt. 15:11). So, is smoking a sin?
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Highwaystarz-Photography
What Does the Bible Say about Taking Care of Our Bodies?
Aside from the King James Version translating Genesis 24:64 as “[Rebekah] lighted off the camel” (meaning that she dismounted), Scripture does not mention smoking or tobacco. This makes sense as Scripture also does not address social media or television because these things were unknown in Bible times. Tobacco and its use for smoking and chewing was introduced to the West in the early 1600s by explorers from the Indians of the Caribbean and America. A distinction between the Law in the old covenant and grace in the new covenant is the shift from prohibitions to provisions. Instead of relating every possible vice, behavior, or practice we need to stop or avoid, like in the Law, we are instead given the Holy Spirit to write the law on our hearts (2 Cor. 3:3), empowering us to live according to the new life and strength He provides, “glorifying God in our bodies” (1 Cor. 6:20).
The standards and expectations of the life brought failure and death because in our sinful flesh we are unable to meet those standards (Rom. 3:19-20). That was the point, to demonstrate that our strength and independence is insufficient, we need to die to ourselves and live in full and utter dependence on God and the strength He provides (Rom. 3:21-26). That is also the problem with the expectations and standards with which I was raised. These standards provided a means of comparison of myself versus others, but in only focusing on what I shouldn’t do and not what I should do, I was self-righteous in my comparisons and not rightly focused on my sinfulness in comparison to God’s standard and expectation. Any ability for morality or righteousness I have is insufficient and only leads to death (Titus 3:5). External standards of moral behavior ignore my true need for a new heart, not just a remodeled and smoke-free one.
We need to shift our focus from emphasizing what we shouldn’t do to what we should do, which is a much higher standard and is only achievable in the power of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is the death and burial of our old self and the resurrection with Christ to new life through the provision of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:5-6). This new self/body no longer belongs to us but is now joined to Christ and His kingdom purposes having been purchased by His blood and intended to bring Him glory in all things (1 Cor. 6:15, 19-20). We take care of our bodies because we are stewards of the image and temple of God, intending its use to be for His glory and His purpose.
Is Smoking a Sin?
If what goes into our mouth does not defile us but only the “evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matt. 15:19) because they come from our heart, is smoking a sin? Yes, I believe that smoking is a sin because it contains nicotine, a highly addictive and poisonous drug that enslaves our desires (Rom. 7:19-20; 1 Thess. 4:3-5) and impairs our freedom to steward our bodies in service and glory to God (1 Cor. 6:20) through its negative health impacts. However, we must recognize that while all sin separates us from God, necessitating both ultimate forgiveness of our sinful state and regular forgiveness to maintain relationship while being sanctified, not all sin has the same consequences.
Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances, creating rapid physiological and psychological dependence for many people. While addictions like cigarettes, painkillers, pornography, sugar, and other food may begin with a choice, the progression of dependency reduces the perception and capacity for choice with each use. It is not enough to manage our sin, limiting the spread and impact of it to our lives and relationships. Instead of being careful to not sin, we need to “be holy” (1 Peter 1:16). The questions and expectations for our decisions are bigger than whether we should do something or not because it is sin or not. Instead of asking, “Can I do this?,” we need to ask, “Will this further God’s kingdom and bring Him greater glory?” It is insufficient to regulate the degree of darkness, we must instead “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8), exposing the darkness through our imitation of God and the spread of His love toward others (Eph. 5:1-2).
In the same way that cigarettes leave a telltale fragrance of their presence on us, Paul suggests that Christ’s presence in us and our knowledge and relationship with Him spreads as a fragrance of life to the world (2 Cor. 2:14,16). What then will be the residual fragrance of our presence on others? Treating our bodies like a temple means more than just the avoidance of negative behaviors but is instead the infiltration of the fragrance of the Gospel to the world.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/metamorworks
The Function and Purpose of a Temple
If we are to treat our bodies like a temple, it is important to understand the function and purpose of a temple. A temple is viewed as the dwelling place of a deity and because of his presence it serves as the focal point for worship. In the Old Testament, the presence of God in the Tabernacle (prequel to the temple built by Solomon) was evidenced during the Exodus with a pillar of fire at night and cloud by day (Ex. 13:21). God met with His people through the mediation of the high priest with a regular blood sacrifice (Heb. 9:25-26). Christ actualized the promise of the new covenant with His death on the cross, moving the location of His presence from the tabernacle or temple in the Old Testament and the person of Christ in the incarnation, to the person of the believer through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the community of believers as the body of Christ in the church (Rom. 8:11; 1 Jn. 4:13).
In Judaism, the temple served as the center of religious, cultural, and national life, the centering focus for the life and people of Israel in their role as special representative of God’s love, blessing, and provision to the world. The creation story demonstrates God’s intention for mankind to function in this representative fashion, explaining how God made man in his image as male and female created to rule and fill the earth (Gen. 1:26-28). The metaphor of creation is God establishing His temple in the Garden with Adam and Eve acting as priests to the world, walking in relationship with God and purposed with His mandate to rule and populate the earth, extending this relationship outward. The Fall disrupted our relationship with God, each other, ourselves, and creation, distorting our capacity to reflect God’s glory and purpose to the world.
Through Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the dwelling place of God shifts from a what to a who, perfecting God’s purpose in the creation mandate (Gen. 1:28) with the new creation mandate of relationship with God (Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:10-11). With our bodies housing the presence of the Holy Spirit we are to reflect God’s glory and radiate His presence to the world through our presence and interaction in the world, representing Christ as ambassadors of the reconciliation available through the cross (2 Cor. 5:20).
How to Treat Our Bodies Like a Temple
What does it mean for us practically to have our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit? Simply avoiding seemingly bad behaviors feels like a “No skateboarding, bicycle riding, rollerblading, or loitering” sign tacked to the outside of our “temple,” defining who we aren’t in place of who we are. The temple was the cultural, religious, and social center of community life, a place to go with questions, needs, struggles, and uncertainties. Jesus demonstrated the role and intent of the temple when He shifted its location from Jerusalem to Himself in John 2:21. Instead of evaluating what we shouldn’t do or be as the temple of the Holy Spirit, we must shift our focus to whom we should be, conforming to the person of Christ by imitating Him (1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 5:1). Paul responded to questions of legalistic allowances by suggesting a higher standard and purpose, pursuing only those things that build up (1 Cor. 10:23), benefit others over yourself (1 Cor. 10:24; Phil. 2:4), and ultimately bring glory to God (1 Cor. 10:31).
To steward our body as a temple requires a reprioritization from our normal perspective. Asking whether something is allowable for us places the focus and perspective on us and our needs. We must shift our focus from ourselves to loving God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Lk. 10:27) to bring Him glory as we represent Him to the world with the Holy Spirit overflowing His love to our neighbors through us (Mk. 12:31). This reprioritization means we pursue discipline in the use of our bodies, so we have margin and capacity to be used by God for His glory. We eat healthy and get sufficient sleep, so we have the energy to be God’s hands and feet to the world. We abstain from things both bad and maybe good to pursue the best.
Conclusion
External behaviors like smoking or drinking don’t defile the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, but these choices to gratify our mortal desires can distract us from our purpose in glorifying God and reduce our capacity in time and ability through their consequences. Caring for your body requires a comprehensive, holistic lens, recognizing the inextricable connection between physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological, and relational health. We don’t need to be careful to protect God from defilement or the contagion of sin. Our corruptible and sinful body will be replaced with an incorruptible and immortal body through the resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:53).
Let us pursue holiness and use our bodies and lives to bring God glory, loving Him completely so through Him we can also love others. This pursuit comes as we refine and retrain our desires, looking to Jesus as our model and method to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Jacob Ammentorp Lund
Seth L. Scott, PhD, NCC, LPC-S is an associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina and provides clinical counseling and supervision in the community through his counseling practice, Sunrise Counseling. Seth, his wife, Jen, and their two middle school children enjoy outdoor activities, reading together as a family, board games, and meeting people through Jen’s pottery business at galleries and festivals.
A Prayer for Hearing God’s Voice in Unexpected Ways
- Heather Barr
- iBelieve Contributing Writer
I marvel at a good mystery, don’t you? There is something about the mystery of God that ignites a fiery desire, deep in my heart.
Yet, in all God’s mystery and majesty, His Word tells us that through a personal relationship, my Heavenly Father—Almighty God—longs to share His heart, with me.
“’Call to me and I’ll answer you, and will tell you about great and hidden things that you don’t know.’” (Jeremiah 33:3 ISV)
He longs to teach me about life, about His ways, about His heart and my heart, about His plan and purpose for the world and for my life.
As high and exalted as God is, He longs to let me in on his mysteries, so that I might better know His heart.
How does he do this? Oftentimes, it’s not in the ways we expect.
God revealed himself to the people of the Bible in miraculous ways, including in dreams and visions. God delivered warnings (Genesis 20:3, Matthew 2:13), gave prophecies (Daniel 7, Genesis 41:25-27), and communicated his will (Matthew 1:20-23, Acts 10:9-17).
Such dreams were often very specific, about certain people, places, and events, and delivered to certain individuals.
How Does God Speak to Us?
Our Heavenly Father desires closeness with us—a communion with each of His sons and daughters. So how does He draw us near?
God speaks in many different ways. Here is what Scripture says about how God speaks to us:
He speaks to us through His Word:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)
He speaks to us through His people:
“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV)
He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit:
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)
He speaks to us through His creation:
“…The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1 AMP)
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20 NLT)
He speaks to man through dreams and visions:
“For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.
In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,
He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from perishing by the sword.” (Job 33:14-18)
Why Does God Speak to Us?
Whenever God speaks, it will be to call us into His will for us, to draw us closer to himself, to teach us about and confirm the truth of His Word.
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NLT)
In all the ways He speaks, through Word, Spirit or Creation, God desires to infuse us with courage and boldness as He sings over us.
“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)
God speaks so that we might seek Him, know Him and be saved by Him.
“Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.” (Job 33:29-30 NKJV)
“O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” (Psalm 139:1 NLT)
Through His speech and revelation, God seeks to draw us in, to let us catch glimpses of “more” than what we thought we knew. When you learn to look for these glimpses, you will gain a hunger for more of Him, for His Word, and through this, He transforms our hearts.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 Berean Study Bible)
Through dreams, He might lead us into intercession, perhaps for a specific person, or situation.
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…” (Ephesians 6:18 ESV)
Through dreams, He gives us deep revelation of the condition of our hearts.
“But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, ‘Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.’” (Genesis 20:3)
“It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:22 NASB)
God may show us an area where He wants to cleanse us, or heal us, or deliver us. Perhaps He wants to give us confirmation or direction.
Through dreams, because of His love and mercy, He warns us.
“God speaks in different ways,
and we don’t always
recognize his voice.
Sometimes in the night,
he uses terrifying dreams
to give us warnings.” (Job 33:14-16 CEV)
He may reveal to us something that is to come in order to prepare us for it. However God speaks, He seeks to draw us into a deep hunger to know His heart and His will for our lives. Through His Word, Holy Spirit, creation, dreams, or visions, He points us to Christ.
A Prayer to Hear God’s Voice in Unexpected Ways
“He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light.” (Job 12:22 ISV)
“Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wonderful things from Your instruction.” (Psalm 119:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Heavenly Father,
I praise You and I thank You—that You express Your heart, that You express the beauty, and the glory of who You are—that we may KNOW You, here and now.
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NIV)
God, Your Word is our firm foundation. Lord Jesus, You’re our solid Rock—our way, our truth, our life, our salvation! And God, I thank You for Your Holy Spirit—our “truth navigation.” How You direct us and lead us into what is true. You give us sight to see, to hear, and to perceive what You are speaking.
It is written, “…blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). God I want to see what You are saying, I want to hear what You are showing me. Purify my heart and my senses, that I may be able to clearly see and hear what You are saying…within Your Word, by Your Spirit, through what You illuminate for me to see and to perceive in and through Your creation, and through the pictures that You paint for me to see and hear and perceive within my imagination. Surprise me, Lord, with what You desire for me to perceive from You, in beautiful, unexpected ways! For it is all, that I may know You more.
Amen.
You may also be interested in:
How to Discern God’s Voice in Your Life
Is God Still Speaking to Us in Dreams, Even Today?
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Yolya
Heather Barr is a simple country girl living in North Carolina alongside her husband, Jason. They have two Blue Heeler pups, two cats, and eight chickens. Heather enjoys photography, spending time in the garden, and curling up with a good book. Heather loves writing about her journey into the Father’s heart, as she faces her fears, discovers who she is in Christ, and learns how to live life in the Secret Place of His presence. You can follow her daily journal at Life in the Secret Place, and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
This article is part of our larger Prayer resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.
Prayer for God’s Help
Prayer for Strength
Prayer for Protection
Morning Prayers
Good Night Prayers
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[kay warren] refined in the fire
My loving, purposeful Father had factored cancer into His plan for me long before I was aware of it. ~ Kay Warren, Praying Through Cancer (Laura Geist)
Refined in the Fire
by Kay Warren from Praying Through Cancer by Susan Sorensen | Laura Geist
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. — Job 23:10
The doctor was very matter-of-fact. When he told me I had breast cancer, his inflection didn’t change, his manner didn’t warm up, and he offered nothing in the way of comfort. He left the room, leaving me to weep alone.
While this earthly man had no reaction to my diagnosis, my heavenly Father instantly offered me His words of comfort and peace. A Scripture fragment floated into my mind: “He knows the way I take.” In my shock and dismay, I couldn’t remember where it was from, but it gave me a lifeline to grab on to.
God, the Creator of the universe, the Almighty One, the Lord of Heaven and earth, knew the “way” — the journey I was starting on. That meant He wasn’t surprised (although I certainly was) and had already begun to prepare all that I would need along the way.
My loving, purposeful Father had factored cancer into His plan for me long before I was aware of it. His eyes were on me; He held me in His tender gaze. I wasn’t alone anymore!
God, how can I ever thank You for showing up when I need You the most? I am never alone! You promise to be my refuge and my strength, my ever-present help in trouble. You are with me when I receive exciting, thrilling news, and You are with me even when I hear news that threatens to shake me to my core. Those dreaded words, “It’s cancer,” don’t send You running from the room. Instead, You rush to bring me the assurance that You know exactly where I am.
There is nothing ahead of me that can detour Your will for my life. You will fulfill Your purpose for me. How I praise You for Your unfailing love. You are my God forever and ever, and You will be my guide even to the end. I trust You implicitly. May this furnace of testing show the true colors of my faith in You, and may I come forth as gold.
~ Kay Warren, Senior pastor’s wife, Saddleback Church
Today’s Tip: When you find yourself facing frightening moments, remind yourself that God stands with you. You are never alone!
Prayer references: Psalm 46:1, Psalm 138:8, Psalm 48:9-14, Job 23:10
Excerpted with permission from Praying Through Cancer by Susan Sorensen and Laura Geist, copyright Susan Sorensen and Laura Geist.
* * *
Your Turn
You are not alone no matter what you are going through. Others may not show care or concern, but God the Father knows intimately what is going on and He cares deeply for you. He knows the way He will take you and He has you in His capable hands. Trust His love for you! Come share your thoughts. We want to hear from you!
God owns it all… so what do you have to lose?
Choose God’s way, and hold possessions lightly. — Billy Graham
God Owns It All
by Billy Graham, from Peace for Each Day
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. — Psalm 24:1
Consider for a moment your possessions. Actually, we can possess nothing — no property and no person — along the way. It is God who owns everything, and we are but stewards of His property during the brief time we are on earth. Everything that we see about us that we count as our possessions only comprises a loan from God, and it is when we lose sight of this all-pervading truth that we become greedy and covetous.
When we clutch an object or a person and say, “This thing is mine,” we are forgetting that we can’t take it with us. This does not mean earthly riches are a sin — the Bible does not say that. The Bible makes it clear that God expects us to do the best we can with the talents, the abilities, the situations with which life endows us. But there is a right way and a wrong way to acquire money and a right way and a wrong way to achieve power.
Choose God’s way, and hold possessions lightly. How can you think about possessions so that you hold them lightly?
A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF MATERIALISM
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. — 1 Timothy 6:10
The Christian attitude should prevail in the matter of economics. Jesus said a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. Money is a good slave but a bad master. Property is to be used, enjoyed, shared, given, but not hoarded. Paul said that the love of money was the “root of all… evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).
Covetousness shackles its devotee and makes him its victim. It hardens the heart and deadens the noble impulses and destroys the vital qualities of life.
Beware of covetousness in every phase and form! All of us should keep ourselves from it through vigilance, prayer, self-control, and discipline. Life is not a matter of dollars and cents, houses and lands, earning capacity and financial achievement. Greed must not be allowed to make man the slave of wealth.
The Christian, above all others, should realize that we come into life with empty hands — and it is with empty hands that we leave it.
Do you feel money is more your servant or your boss?
Excerpted with permission from Peace for Each Day by Billy Graham, copyright Billy Graham Literary Trust.
. . . .
Your Turn
Everything belongs to God. Everything. Whatever we have is just on loan to us! Let’s hold things and people lightly and be grateful and generous with what has been entrusted to us. Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily
Wisdom for Today
“The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” – Proverbs 10:27
Dose of Devotion 