Please, Encourage Me If you are anything like me, there are times when your heart cries, “Please, encourage me.” Between the times of blessing, we still have trouble, trials, and temptations that leave us looking for encouragement. In fact, Jesus told us it would happen. Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus told his followers they would soon face problems. John 16:33 is a record of what Jesus said to his disciples at that time. It was a word of encouragement to... Read more
“The Hidden Power of Hope” Uncovering the hidden power of hope is not as hard as it may sound. Certainly, we all want to be hopeful people. However, hope has often been poorly portrayed, leaving us uncertain. I recall a line from the movie Shawshank Redemption where Andy, played by Tim Robbins introduces the subject of hope in a letter to Red, who Morgan Freeman plays. Red responded by saying, “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.... Read more
The Wonder of Worship The wonder of worship is that we might know God and offer Him our deepest and most sincere love. After all, Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). It is impossible to love what or whom we do not know. And we can only know God if He reveals Himself to us; which... Read more
Why Am I Depressed? Asking “Why am I depressed?’ is perfectly reasonable. Everyone feels sadness, grief, and disappointment from time to time, but are they the same thing as depression? In my last article, I described depression and how it differs from the kind of sadness we occasionally face. It’s an important distinction because people in popular culture often use the terms interchangeably. How you feel about yourself and your experiences is important. Feelings of sadness might not technically be depression,... Read more
“Dealing With Depression,” is not easy, but with support from loved ones and professional help from counselors and physicians, it is certainly possible. If you or someone you love has dealt with depression, then you know that it is a real and complex issue. Further, many people misunderstand and mischaracterize it. Hopefully, I can shed some light and share some hope. Dealing With Depression: What is it? According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common... Read more
Van Gogh’s Struggle & Faith Van Gogh’s struggle & faith are well-documented. Few painters represent the image of the starving artist as does van Gogh. Books and songs refer to his misfortune both as an artist and as a man. Born in 1853 in the Netherlands, he was only thirty-seven years old when he died from a gunshot wound to the chest. However, in his brief but troubled life, the masterful artist found an expression for his art and life... Read more
Learning To Love is the Big Lesson of Life Learning to love is the big lesson of life. You and I may have never met before, still, we have much in common. Even in our differences we have similarities. For instance, we might live in different parts of the world, however, we both assimilate our perceptions and attitudes about society from the culture in which we are brought up. This is true of the culture of our home, church, school,... Read more
The Way of Escape in Scripture When facing trouble or trauma, who doesn’t want “the way of escape.” “For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such... Read more
Come and dine! I like the way that sounds in 1907. Charles B. Widmeyer (1894-1974) first published his song by that name. It soon became a staple of revival services and camp meetings. It was recorded about 20 years later by a quartet called “The Happy Four.” There is a great deal to be said about the call to eat together and to be happy about it. The theme of the song is taken from John 21. After Jesus’ resurrection,... Read more
Marriage is a wonderful God-ordained institution that is filled with situations that require forgiveness. If a person has trouble with forgiving, they will most likely have a difficult time in marriage. From forgetting special occasions to messing up airplane reservations, all the way to checking out of difficult conversations, to badgering, to flirting with a member of the opposite sex or having an affair, being married presents more opportunities to practice and perfect forgiveness than most any other type of... Read more
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