Today is Ash Wednesday. It starts the 40-day journey to Easter (excluding Sundays) that we call Lent. Lent is a time of preparation. I like to think of it as spiritual training. It’s just so easy to let laziness creep into our faith. So we use Lent to hone our spiritual muscles as we get … Continue reading What Lent can mean to you
love
Loving people you just don’t like
Some people put their foot in their mouth… but seem to enjoy the taste. Some people rub you the wrong way… but act like it’s the right way. Some people know how to push your buttons… and you detest that they can have so much negative impact on you! It’s true: Some people just drive you … Continue reading Loving people you just don’t like
Amazing grace for a telemarketer?
John 1:16 "And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." (ESV) Today's Thought Amazing Grace is one of the best-known hymns. And for a lot of us it conjures up special memories. When I hear it on the bagpipes I think of my Grandpa Ruttan. He was the pipe major in the … Continue reading Amazing grace for a telemarketer?
Without food we can live for weeks… but hope?
1 Peter 1:3 “he has given us new birth into a living hope...” (NIV) Today's Thought Unfortunately, we live in a time of increasing despair. Last year, a front page New York Times article titled “U.S. Suicide Rate Surges to 30-Year High,” highlighted the sobering fact that overall suicides rose 24% between 1999 to 2014. … Continue reading Without food we can live for weeks… but hope?
Moving toward love
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love." (NLT) Today's Thought It’s been a difficult week. In addition to whatever happened in your personal life, we hear about walls being built and political protests in the streets. Then on Sunday evening here in Canada, 6 Muslims were shot … Continue reading Moving toward love
They were hiding in barn lofts
Genesis 1:27 “So God created human beings in his own image" (NLT) Today's Thought All week I've been suggesting practical things we can do to love one another more fully. So today I'd like to bring the week to a close with this suggestion: Acknowledge that every single person is made in the image of … Continue reading They were hiding in barn lofts
What’s good in their life?
Philippians 4:8 “…whatever is commendable… think about these things.” (ESV) Today's Thought This week I’m suggesting practical things we can do to love one another. We’ve talked about the importance of taking your own sin seriously, about listening before talking, and about using words that encourage. (To review those posts just scroll down and navigate … Continue reading What’s good in their life?
The Whisper Test
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up" (ESV) Today's Thought This week I’m suggesting practical things we can do to love one another. On Tuesday I talked about the importance of taking your own sin seriously. (You can review it here.) On Wednesday I talked about listening before talking. (And … Continue reading The Whisper Test
Before you talk, do this
James 1:19 “...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak...” (ESV) Today's Thought This week I’m suggesting practical things we can do to love one another better. Yesterday I talked about the importance of taking your own sin seriously. (If you missed it, you can review it here.) Here’s suggestion #2: Listen before … Continue reading Before you talk, do this
What’s Wrong with the World?
Romans 3:23 “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (NIV) Today's Thought In the Bible, we’re told to love one another. It’s like the chorus of a catchy song that never goes away. We just keep on hearing it. Unfortunately, we don’t always do it very well. Well, that’s not totally … Continue reading What’s Wrong with the World?
