Be and Do

By Gina Stinson

Christ was always busy doing the work of His Father. Whether he was performing miracles, learning from the priests in the temple, spending time in the Garden with the disciples, sharing a meal of remembrance or dying on the cross. He was busy…doing the will of God. In the world that we have made for ourselves, it’s difficult to imagine living such a singular purposed life (after all, there’s a mortgage, jobs, kids, pets, stuff, bills, schedules), yet as Christians it’s the singular purpose of JESUS that should keep us focused on finding a way through all that…to share Christ with others.

Read more

Midas Touch? Hardly.

By Rhonda Rhea

One look in my fridge and we all realize I do NOT have the Midas touch. Gold? Um, no. It’s pretty clear from the blue-green glow coming from inside that fridge that most things I touch turn to fuzz. Fur-covered macaroni, spotted cheese and spaghetti that seems to have grown its own meatballs. Ew. I think I have something closer to the “Mold-us” touch.

I admit it. Cleaning the fridge is generally way too far down the line on my list of priorities. I’ve brought more than one box of baking soda to its knees.

I hope I’ll never be casual, though, about how I touch others with my words, and how those words affect and influence people. Ephesians 4:15 refers to “speaking the truth in love.” Truth. Love. We really have to have both. Truth without love is harsh. But love without truth is fruitless.

It’s easy to say what we think others want to hear. Easy, but not fruitful. I want my words to touch lives in ways that will make a difference. That doesn’t always mean saying things that are warm and fuzzy (and by the way, that’s not a reference to that moldy kind of fuzzy). Sometimes helpful words are the kind that sting a little.

Ecclesiastes 12:11 says, “The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep” NLT. Cattle-prodding words. I really get a charge out of that visual.

It goes both ways. I appreciate my closest friends who lovingly “herd” me in the right direction with caring words of wisdom. A painful poke instead of a tickle? I’m telling you, I’ll take the jab of truth any day. I’d rather head the right direction after a stinging prod than to continue down the wrong road, all the while hearing everything’s fine and I’m doing great things.

Do value truthful words from a trusted friend. They’re more precious than the insincere, say-whatever-you-want-to-hear words of a flatterer. Give your faithful friends the freedom to tell you the truth even when it smarts. Those stinging truths are often the ones God can use to polish your character and make you more like Christ. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” NIV. Another version puts it this way:  “You can trust a friend who corrects you, but kisses from an enemy are nothing but lies” CEV.

If you don’t have a friend who will speak the truth in love to you, be on the lookout for one. Ask God to provide that friend for you who can help add just the spit-shine you’re needing in your life.

Loving words of truth and wisdom. Now there’s something I don’t want to let slide down my list of priorities. Ever.

The fridge-cleaning? Okay, a spit-shine could definitely stand to come up the priority list a notch or two. Especially after last week. Who knew a bag of lettuce could totally liquefy?

Wait a Minute

By Christine Thomas

The average person over 50 will have spent five years of his life waiting.
The scenarios are endless: stop lights, checkout lines, and a human voice when you call the utility company. With so many opportunities, we should be good at waiting.

Christians, especially, are called to exhibit patience to a watching world. The Bible says “For they shall know us by our fruit” (Colossians 3:20). When God has you in a holding pattern, do you wave frantically like an impatient maniac behind a slow driver in the fast lane? Or do you exhibit self-control while striving for contentment in an unpleasant situation?
Read more

The Cupboard is Bare

Isn’t it amazing how we can have a cupboard full of food, yet can hear the cry from our families, “There’s nothing here to eat?” We know there is plenty of food in the house. No one is going to starve. But then they know that, too. They’re not really saying they can’t find anything to eat. What they’re looking for is something that will satisfy. Our souls are like that. We long for something that will satisfy our inner hunger. We look into the cupboard that is filled with all the world has to offer: movies, relationships, big houses, fast cars, and nice vacations, and yet see nothing to eat – nothing to satisfy. But God knows how to satisfy our hunger pangs.
Read more

The Possibility of Love

By Jane Thornton

“Papa, tell me a story about the wild, wild, west!”

“I’ll tell you a story about the wild, wild, west where I met the girl I loved the best, and her name was Mimi Hot Shot.”

Thus began many a tale told by my grandfather to my big brother. I often listened in, but I don’t remember any of the adventures, dangers, or shootouts. Girly girl that I am, that introduction sticks out for me. Papa loved Mimi. Their love story lingers as a family legend.

Read more

« Previous Page — Next Page »