Encouragement
Excellent Behavior in Less-Than-Excellent Times
[Scary Thought Alert]You are being watched. The apostle Peter exhorts us (1 Peter 2:12) to keep our behavior excellent among the unbelievers. His logic holds that though they speak against us, they will see our honorable behavior and will glorify God because of it. Those of us who are Christ-followers, who walk with the indwelling…
Read MoreThe Logic of Suffering from 1st Peter
I am encouraged, comforted, and emboldened by the many faces of Peter. In Peter, we see impulsive and reckless behavior spawned by his desire to protect Jesus (John 18:10). In Peter, we see a dramatic reversal of his bold assertion that he was ready to die with Jesus (Matthew 26:35), as he sheepishly succumbed to…
Read MoreRethinking the Trials in Our Lives
There have been times in my distant past when all I could do was feign a smile, shoo the kids outside to play, and then shut myself in the bedroom and cry. Nothing in life is as dominating and paralyzing as a sense of hopelessness. Financial devastation. Family destruction. Betrayal. Loss of income. Health. Relational…
Read MoreFour Inspiring Examples of God Bringing Good Out of Evil
When I was very young, my mother gave me my first Bible. It was a small, white, leather-bound King James Bible. Given my youth, and the archaic language in that particular revision of the King James Version, the text was incomprehensible to me. But I knew it was a special book, I cherished it, and…
Read MoreLife After Tragedy Can Be Even Better – Here’s How
Today, we are honored to have a guest post from my friend, my sister in Christ, speaker and blogger, Sheila Qualls. She blogs at Sheila Qualls – Where Real Life Meets Real Faith. Particularly for you sisters in Christ, this would be a good blog to bookmark. At age 2, my daughter – dynamic, delightful child…
Read MoreAffirming Words
I got a paper cut today. It amazes me how a wound as minor as a paper cut can cause such a significant level of discomfort. A tiny little cut … a slice, made by a wimpy piece of paper, no less. Yet the pain it has wrought captures my attention and dominates my world…
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