2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Up Continue Reading…
Psalm 90: 14, 17 “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love….establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” My friend Frank liked to say everyone in the world is searching for two things: to know someone loves them and that their life has Continue Reading…
Revelation 2:4 “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” They worked tirelessly without growing weary. They endured hardship after hardship for the sake of Christ. They persevered when others folded. They fearlessly exposed hypocrisy in the church, unswerving in their dedication to Continue Reading…
Matthew 14:13-14 “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them….” Jesus had just heard the Continue Reading…
Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time….” I’m a firm believer beauty has a way of stimulating us toward a more generous thought life. It lifts us above the petty and connects us with Something bigger. I think that accounts for what happened to me in the Continue Reading…
Jeremiah 38:12-13 “Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, ‘Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.’ Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern.” “Be kinder than necessary.” That’s the motto South Carolina governor Continue Reading…
Matthew 14:14 “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Not only did Jesus heal those in the crowd who were sick, he welcomed them. He spoke to them about the kingdom of God. And he fed them bread and fish Continue Reading…
Matthew 8:3 “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” I am willing. What words of power! Of healing. Of love. Words every single person needs to hear. The man who came to Jesus was a leper. The only Continue Reading…
Matthew 10:42 “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Rod Maynard attended the church my grandpa pastored for as long as I can remember. Continue Reading…
Matthew 25:40 “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” My brother-in-law, David, is probably one of the most eccentric people I’ve ever known; he’s also a great example of someone who sees the dignity and Continue Reading…