Recognition. I’m not talking about face-recognition software or any other type of modern technology. I’m talking about being recognized, about being noticed, in a wider sense. When a young person dreams about being famous, I wonder if a part of the allure isn’t simply about being recognized and noticed. For adults, why do we like … Continue reading When you think you’re not noticed
value
Your soul has a label with three words
This week I’ve been encouraging you to think about how you are valuable. This is no power of positive thinking. This is rooted in Scripture. You are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). When we read our Bibles, or speak to a Christian friend, or read … Continue reading Your soul has a label with three words
Who are we when all our things are taken away?
One of Arthur Miller’s books is called Incident at Vichy. A man appears before a Nazi guard. The Nazis have just invaded their town. The man is well-educated and well-respected. He shows his credentials to the guards. These include his university degrees and his letters of reference from well-known people. The guard asks him: “Is … Continue reading Who are we when all our things are taken away?
Received, not achieved
Our society values achievement. That’s one of the reasons we have things like trophies, ribbons, A-pluses, and year-end bonuses. If we’re not careful we can start to think that our value is connected to our achievements. “I’m only truly valuable if others recognize me, or if I have a lot of money, or if I … Continue reading Received, not achieved
God notices you
They were tired. They were undergoing hardship. They were questioning Jesus. You get the sense that they didn’t think God was noticing their work, their love, and the help they were giving to others. ‘Was any of it making a difference?’ It’s fair to say that they needed some encouragement. So the writer of Hebrews … Continue reading God notices you
Confused about the true value of things
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 to God’s word and message because of three things. The one we’ll focus … Continue reading Confused about the true value of things
You will never make a good impression if…
Most of us check the mirror in the morning, usually while combing our hair or brushing our teeth. Then we walk away from the mirror. But not really. A lot of us carry an invisible mirror around with us all day. What I mean is that we’re aware of ourselves. We’re aware of the impression we’re … Continue reading You will never make a good impression if…
Dear You
Recently I was reading Psalm 139:14 where it says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” I’ve read a lot about this verse. Different scholars say different things. But in and through it all are a few firm facts of modern life: That sometimes you need to acknowledge the dark difficulty of … Continue reading Dear You
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
