There is something very attractive and very compelling about true goodness and godliness in action. Consider this picture of the church in Acts 2:46-47: “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number … Continue reading Glad and sincere hearts
sincerity
RationaLies
It’s easy to lie to ourselves, isn’t it? We take the easy path instead of the right path—and rationalize it.We can be lazy instead of diligent—and rationalize it.We sometimes avoid the reality of God’s word—and rationalize it. Psychologist Charles Lowery says this: “Rationalize means Rational Lies.”* Bam! When we say or do something that is … Continue reading RationaLies
Integrity — no matter what
In 1985 a tornado ripped through Barrie, Ontario—the city where I live. Just recently I was told about something that happened in the midst of that wicked storm. A Mennonite person saw a dollar on the sidewalk and returned it to City Hall. So if anyone had lost it they would be able to find … Continue reading Integrity — no matter what
Talk is… cheap?
“Talk is cheap.” Have you ever heard someone use that expression? It’s the cousin to “Actions speak louder than words.” I get where it comes from. Quite often, we only know if someone means what they say if they back it up with their actions. But WHY? WHY do so many people think talk is … Continue reading Talk is… cheap?
A surprising kind of fatigue
Fatigue comes in many different forms. -Not getting enough sleep can leave you tired. -Being stressed can leave you tired. -I think that not eating well or exercising can also leave you tired. But there’s another kind of tired that I want to tell you about. And you definitely don’t need it dragging down your … Continue reading A surprising kind of fatigue
#LookAtHowGreatIAm
Our egos are like Jabba the Hutt. They can be hungry, self-serving beasts who are always wanting more. Today's devo suggests one thing you can do to up your sincerity before God, making your kindness a bit more about him and less about you.
Deeper and more destructive with time
When I lived in Toronto I marveled at how many statues there were. They were things like warriors riding on horses or heroes from a previous age. From a distance they always looked impressive. But the closer you got, the more cracks you saw. There were fault lines and chips and discoloration. Isn’t that like … Continue reading Deeper and more destructive with time
The Up Devotional 