“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).Autumn is a time of gratitude. The leaves on the trees are beautiful. We sing “Great is thy faithfulness” and remind ourselves about the good people … Continue reading Even if I could multiply myself a thousand times
thankfulness
Are we coming to worship entitled or thankful?
Today is Friday. In two days from now Christians all over the world will gather together to worship God. They will do so in simple church buildings or fancy ones. They will gather in storefronts or movie theatres. They will gather in someone’s home or out in a field.No matter what their surroundings look like, … Continue reading Are we coming to worship entitled or thankful?
When you don’t get a thank you note
As a part of our daily discipleship, I think it's helpful for us to continually think about how theory meets reality. If an idea is theologically important, I start to wonder about the influence it is supposed to have on my life as I walk out of the church and into the wider world. Speaking … Continue reading When you don’t get a thank you note
Look for the good
I read about a psychology experiment. Some of the participants were sad. Others were happy. The entire group was asked to descramble messages. There were a variety of phrases which could be made. Here’s what happened. The people who were already sad created more sad messages, even though happier ones were possible. And people who … Continue reading Look for the good
Whether we’ve been praying for five minutes or fifty years
Paul’s wisdom and instruction in Philippians 4:6 endures: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Note his logic. He first says to not be anxious about anything. That’s something to shoot for, and it is certainly a work-in-progress for many of … Continue reading Whether we’ve been praying for five minutes or fifty years
The needs he has already addressed
Martin Rinkart was a German who lived through the Thirty Years’ War. Plus, the plague struck in 1637. More than 8000 people died in his town. He was a pastor and buried 4000 of those people, sometimes in mass funerals for 50 people at once. This man, with these experiences, wrote that great hymn of … Continue reading The needs he has already addressed
Directing your happiness
In the Bible, James is so wise. He gives insight about how to respond to a variety of different situations. Here’s an example. In James 5:13 he writes: “Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” Simple. Straightforward. But what difference does it make? Earlier he has said that “Every good and perfect gift is … Continue reading Directing your happiness
Remember this feeling
Last week I came across a picture that someone from my congregation posted on Instagram in winter. It was snowy and she was cross-country skiing to church! It’s a picture that both is beautiful and powerful in its simplicity. (It’s the photo that goes with today’s devotional below.) It got me thinking about the things … Continue reading Remember this feeling
You and gratitude vs. worry
This week we’re talking about worry. Unfortunately, much like water damage, friends who turn their back on you, or health problems, worries are often a difficult and deflating part of life. To counterattack the onslaught of worry, practice gratitude proactively. Consider the famous Psalm 23:1: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in … Continue reading You and gratitude vs. worry
Radical gratitude, fleas and Nazis
Corrie ten Boom was able to find radical gratitude in a concentration camp. Her experience can teach us a lot, and improve our perspective on life...
