“Lord, even before I speak a word, you know all about it.” Psalm 139:4 NIRV I read the words on the screen before me. They cut very deeply. I knew the judgment was not accurate but that didn’t quell the pain rising inside me. Anger flowed through my veins. But I knew my immediate…
Category: Promises
Unmasked
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16: 7b NIV He walked into church, a trained smile upon his lips; one that never seemed to reach his eyes. No one wants to truly know what I…
Altered to a T
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 A middle-aged husband asked his wife, “Do you know a good tailor?” Puzzled, she responded, “I know one, what do you need?” “Some of my pants need let out, they’re too snug.” She tried to hide her…
P.U.S.H. Part II
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:18 NIV “I can’t believe I spent years in college for this,” the new nurse mumbled under her breath as she punched in her medication cart code for the seemingly thousandth time that shift. Back…
Shut In and Remembered
Genesis 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” It was January in Michigan, cold, dark, and stormy. The young foreigner felt the weather matched her disposition: cold, dark, and…
Starting Success With Failure
““For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV “Lord, why did I ever think I should attempt this?” Sara desperately prayed as she stared at the computer screen before her. Why on…
Garden of ‘Even,’ Part II
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 Sin had officially entered the world. With all its pomp and circumstance came changes, lots of changes. But God was ready with a plan. Psalm…
Spiritual Promises in Romans: His Love Intercedes
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26 Do you always know what to pray- always finding the right words to convey your heart’s cry? Some…
Spiritual Promises in Romans: There’s More Than This Life
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 Many years ago, a friend of mine was told, “You’re in high school, these are the best years of your life, enjoy them!” After the conversation, she turned to me and said, “If…
Spiritual Promises of Romans: It’s Not Just a Feeling!
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8: 16 You awake before your alarm. You get ready for the day, pleasantly surprised to see you have an extra ten minutes over your regular schedule. You enjoy a perfect cup of coffee and a leisurely commute to work. Your boss…