In the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander tells people not to worry. In response, one of the characters says, “Tell me, has anyone ever believed you when you told them not to worry?” He replies: “My philosophy is that worrying means you suffer twice.”* Isn’t that great? Worry is a … Continue reading Worrying means you suffer twice
stress
Your giants tumble
How many of you face invisible giants on a daily basis? I’m guessing a lot of you. Here are a few examples of what I mean by “invisible giants”: stress at home, a persecutor, a financial worry, loneliness, an addiction… Here’s a helpful word from Max Lucado: “Focus on giants you stumble. Focus on God … Continue reading Your giants tumble
Don’t beat yourself up
Today I’m here to tell you to cut yourself some slack. Here’s why. We’re living through a global pandemic. Has buying groceries ever been this complicated? More people are working from home (or adjusting to a new work situation), homeschooling their kids, trying to think through extracurricular (if even possible), dealing with limited access to … Continue reading Don’t beat yourself up
God is God. You are you.
In today’s modern society we can control more and more things in the quest for convenience and comfort. We can control the temperature in our homes, sometimes even from a distance. We have access to medicines that people would have died for a century ago. We can make headaches go away with a single pill. … Continue reading God is God. You are you.
Worrying about what OTHERS are going to say or do
I think a lot of the frustration we experience in life comes from worrying about things beyond our control. How much time and energy do we spend (waste) worrying about what someone else is going to say or do… when our time and energy is better spent focusing on what WE are going to say … Continue reading Worrying about what OTHERS are going to say or do
Does it choke it or stoke it?
In Mark 4:18-19 Jesus says that some people “hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” He’s describing people who don’t respond well to God’s word and message because of three things. The one we’ll … Continue reading Does it choke it or stoke it?
In the chaos
Last week I was talking to one of our church elders about the Canadian federal election. He said, ‘No matter who wins, God is still in control.’ He wasn’t being dismissive. Elections matter. What he was doing was demonstrating great confidence in the almightiness of God. God is on his throne. As we read in … Continue reading In the chaos
Dealing with stress…
Have you ever dealt with stress? Wow, all of your hands just shot up at once! Dr. Tim Cantopher explains that the word “stress” is from the world of engineering. Think of a bridge. When it is bearing a load that is heavier than it is designed to carry, it is “under stress.” With that … Continue reading Dealing with stress…
What he did with his hardship
When we hear about other people going through hardship in a noble way, it can actually be a source of encouragement for us. First, we sympathize with their situation and offer help. But it can also make us think: ‘If they can do it, so can I!’ We can learn from their example. Recently I … Continue reading What he did with his hardship
The battle plan
Psalm 95:1 says, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” It’s no secret that I like statements of truth which are clear, practical, and to-the-point. I came across one of these recently by author and speaker Lysa TerKeurst. Here it is: “My … Continue reading The battle plan
The Up Devotional 