The most popular verse in Psalm 46 is verse 10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” In our world of frantic frenzy, scurrying, stress and busyness, the idea of “being still” really appeals to us. We might not always do it very well, but we sure like it! It makes us think of … Continue reading Inner stillness
wellness
A nap and a snack
You want to be faithful. You want to be loving. But if you’re always running on empty that will be hard to do. It will also be difficult if you’re always giving and giving and giving. Yes, giving is good. It can be a blessing when we give our time and talent to help others. … Continue reading A nap and a snack
The rock that is higher than I
Non-stop news. Overflowing schedules. Phones that won’t stop dinging. Mental and emotional frakis. You're right, "frakis," isn't a word, but you get the gist. Not everyone’s life is like this. But for a lot of people this is a daily reality. One of my favourite verses from the psalms is Psalm 61:2. David says: “lead … Continue reading The rock that is higher than I
Stopping not starting
In John 5 Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, the day of rest. Verse 16 tells us that “because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.” Observing the day of rest has long been important to God’s people. Even today “there are special ‘religious police’ with … Continue reading Stopping not starting
The Holy Spirit makes your spirit whole
“He restoreth my soul” (Psalm 23:3, KJV). What does God’s Spirit do in your life? Among other things the Holy Spirit makes your spirit whole. This is an idea worth pondering (and not just because it’s a neat word-play). A lot of people are talking about “wholeness.” It’s related to being mentally healthy and to … Continue reading The Holy Spirit makes your spirit whole
Avoiding the crash
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Earlier this year I invited therapist Sarah Covey to speak at a workshop. She talked about the possibility of a post-pandemic “crash.” Not for everyone, but for some. Generally speaking, we’re designed to handle crises for short periods of time. But the COVID-19 … Continue reading Avoiding the crash
The prudent give thought to their… clicks
This week I wrote an article for The Gospel Coalition Canada titled: “God Cares About Your Well-Being, Even Now.” [If you want to read it, click the link below.] It highlights several ways you can be proactive about your well-being in this crazy time, including this: Adopt a realistic approach to social media. Here’s why … Continue reading The prudent give thought to their… clicks
Your mental health—now more than ever
The phrase “mental health” doesn’t come up in the Bible. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t interested in our mental health. God loves and cares about us, and that clearly includes our minds. The Bible is full of stories about people who struggled. Job, David, Jesus and Paul come to mind. Psalm 88 ends like … Continue reading Your mental health—now more than ever
Your (media) diet
Watch your diet. Have you ever tried to do that? Have you ever tried to tell someone else to do that? It’s just so easy to get into the habit of eating things that taste good—but are really bad for your health. Today I want to encourage you to watch your media diet. All of … Continue reading Your (media) diet
When you’re always rushing
Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). John writes that “if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12). To the Romans, Paul says, “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up” (Romans 15:2). I don’t … Continue reading When you’re always rushing
The Up Devotional 