If you ask children what they want to do when they grow up, most of the time they want to be something great. I have never heard a child say that he wants to be a servant. Self-esteem is strongly promoted today. Kids are taught to think they are great superstars. They long to wear […]
Jeremy Taylor was a 17th-century English cleric [preacher] who was severely persecuted for his faith. But though his house was plundered, his family left destitute, and his property confiscated, he continued to count the blessings he could not lose. He wrote: “They have not taken away my merry countenance, my cheerful spirit, and a good […]
In “The Encourager,” Charles Mylander writes, “Sunrise was dawning when Los Angeles motorcycle police officer Bob Vernon saw a red [ute] pickup truck speed through a stop sign. This guy must be late to work, he thought to himself. He turned on his emergency lights and radioed that he was in pursuit. The pickup pulled […]
Peter and the Christians to whom he was writing lived in a time of cruel persecution. Living for Christ was not easy. Many of those who identified with Jesus lost their possessions, their comforts, their freedom, and often their lives. In the previous section, God told us that if we suffer it should be for […]
Trust is an important part in any relationship. Faithfulness builds trust. Prudence builds trust. Communication builds trust. Loyalty builds trust. Experience builds trust. True change can heal broken trust. God is absolutely trustworthy in every way. He always does right. He is always faithful. He always knows what is best for every situation. Both the […]
The partridge is a bird a little smaller than a chicken that was common in Israel. “In every part of the hill country it abounds, and its ringing call-note in early morning echoes from cliff to cliff alike amid the barrenness of the hills of Judea and in the glens of the forest of Carmel.” […]
On July 19, AD 64, shortly after the time of Peter’s writing of this book, Rome burned. Nero falsely accused the Christians of starting the fire. Historian Thomas Armitage reports, “Many were seized as victims, were enwrapped in oil or pitch; Rome was invited to the imperial gardens, and crowds gloated their eyes on the […]
Our dog Libby is very selfish. She lies in the path and does not want to move when she sees us coming. She pushes up against us for attention and gets jealous if we give someone attention instead of her. She thinks only of herself. In 1 Samuel 25:1, we read that Samuel the prophet […]
Sadly, many people hate life. They are miserable and unhappy. That is not what God wants. God assures us that if we desire to love life and see good days, we can. Those who obey God can love life and see good days. The thing that makes life unhappy is sin. We cannot always control […]
David’s life was filled with stress. Hiding from the king was no easy task. Narrow escapes and dangerous trips were frequent events. Having been a shepherd, he was used to the rough wilderness. It was there that he and his company took refuge. Transition This evening, I borrowed the headings in my outline come from […]