"Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 4:6
Tranquility—a little peace and quiet—I need more of it. Do you? For the average American woman rest has become an illusive dream. More often than not we are stressed with the double burden of working a full-time job and taking care of family. For most it is pretty overwhelming and exhausting. When..."Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware." 1 Corinthians 12:1
The Lord wants us to clearly know that He has given every believer spiritual gifts. It’s as if He doesn’t want to leave us any room to say, “I really would serve You if I could, but I just don’t have anything to offer.” By the power of the Holy Spirit within us, He has given each one of us unique..."He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
What would we do without lists? They are everywhere! The grocery list…the carpool list…the Target© list…the school activities list…and the list goes on and on. We even find a list - of what to do and what not to do - in the Bible! Ten things on that list to be exact (Exodus 20:1-17).With every..."Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20
Since sin entered the world, wars have been fought for a wide variety of reasons. World wars have been fought over ruthless leaders carrying out acts of genocide and today war rages across various parts of the world between terror cells and the countries seeking to destroy them. War is inevitable..."Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8
Trusting God to reveal His dream in your life and give you hope often requires an extraordinary act of willpower. It’s kind of like one of those “trust falls,” where you fall backward into the arms of someone you trust to catch you. You give up total control and place absolute trust in that person..."But when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth…" John 16:13
Have you ever found yourself wishing the Lord would suddenly appear in your living room with step-by-step instructions for your life? Perhaps you’ve thought, “If God can speak directly to Abraham, Moses, Mary, and Paul, why not me?”Sometimes it’s hard to believe in what can’t be seen. Sometimes it’..."I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13 NIV
“Content”—it literally means “desiring no more than what one has; satisfied.’ Do you know anybody who lives with such freedom? Content. Satisfied. Settled. Fun to be around. Free. Despite the hardships and painful circumstances he endured, the Apostle Paul remained content. He was confident in..."Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" Numbers 14:3
Ever met someone who complains about everything? It makes me crazy!Chronic complainers gripe about anything and everything. The Israelites had grumbled against God and Moses ever since they left Egypt, and they continued to complain (Numbers 14:1-4). God was fulfilling the dream he had for their..."Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things." Philippians 4:8
Do the relationships in your life allow you to think about positive things? Lift you up? Brighten your spirits? Or do they cause you worry, despair, and anxiety? Some people may have a negative influence on us, some a positive one. We struggle with relationships that burn us out, leaving us drained..."Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4 NKJV
Many of us have forgotten the path of patience we must take to get to the next level in our relationship with Christ. It has been rejected by a society thriving on instant gratification, faster technology, and a fear of commitment. We want it now, or we don’t want it at all. Even committing to a..."And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Sprit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17 NKJV
Ever wonder what it means to truly have the Holy Spirit living within you? It’s a strange thought. But, comforting none the less. As the passage in John tells us, we know the Holy Spirit, we recognize and have a relationship with Him, because He “dwells with [us] and will be in [us].” These words..."Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Revelation 2:4 NKJV
Crazy in love. You remember it don’t you? The “I can’t get you out of my mind—out of my life” love. Times when—you couldn’t seem to get enough of each other. And then something happens. The pressures and demands of the world begin to take hold. Staying close to one another gets more difficult. And...
