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Sunday, December 23, 2018

Feel like crap? Here's the answer. Overwhelmed with happiness? This is for you too. “Cry out to the Lord.” God speaks to us through the Holy Bible! Maybe He created the smartphone so we can have His Word at hand all the time. (Bible Gateway link below)

Psalm 142:1-5

With my voice I cry out to the Lord; 
  with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. 
I pour out my complaint before him; 
  I tell my trouble before him. 
When my spirit faints within me, 
  you know my way! 
In the path where I walk 
  they have hidden a trap for me. 
Look to the right and see: 
  there is none who takes notice of me; 
no refuge remains to me; 
  no one cares for my soul. 
I cry to you, O Lord; I say, 
“You are my refuge, 
  my portion in the land of the living.”
Psalm 142:1-5


     

Thursday, December 6, 2018

My life is about failing and picking myself up again, over and over. Why do I even try? Because I couldn’t live with myself. Without God’s promise of forgiveness and salvation I wouldn’t live at all.

“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Is it hopeless? Our country is such a mess. But this is an old story and the verses below, an old promise. It remains God’s promise to us. Redemption. Rescue.

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Monday, October 29, 2018

We’re overwhelmed by talk of violence, hate and incivility. Everyone is crying out "What can we do?" What are YOU willing to do?

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Ever notice that no matter what we have, or how right we are, we are never satisfied. That’s because we’re terrible at running our own lives. Know God and let him guide your life. At least He knows what he’s doing.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

My heart was so hard after many years of working as a journalist in Washington. Late in my career I found this verse and put it in my top desk drawer to guide me when I was angry and disheartened by all I saw. It helped greatly, but it was also one of the things that spurred me to retire early.

Philippians 4:8-9
Fox News Washington Bureau Chief
Circa 2005
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Millions of Americans might benefit from this verse today, or any day. When I am dismayed, confused and heartsick with the ways of the world, the Bible always has the answer.

Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice,
and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Here's a metaphor for your soul! I just visited the foundation of an old school in Detroit being renewed for a Cornerstone charter school. It had been an abandoned, neglected, vandalized, flooded mess. Soon it will serve God's children again. If you want this restoration for your soul, Christ the promised cornerstone is there for you.

Isaiah 28:16-17
therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
Bible Gateway link: Isaiah 28:16-17 (ESV)

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Whatever you are enduring it is worth it if you find God on the other side. If it worked for me it can work for anybody.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

I am so guilty of this. Really, I have no idea what I’m talking about most of the time. I am a fool, but at least I’m God’s fool.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Friday, August 3, 2018

Now here’s a guy with really effective priorities. Lucky he had that book. We have it too! It’s the Holy Bible.

2 Chronicles 34:31
And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

Monday, July 16, 2018

There's nothing new under the sun. So I guess we've been here before! The apostle Paul quotes ancient scripture in these verses, true in those times, true in Paul’s time, true in our times. Being close to God is our protection.

Romans 3:10-13
as it is written: 
“There is no one who is righteous, not even one;
      there is no one who has understanding, 
            there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; 
      there is no one who shows kindness, 
            there is not even one.”
“Their throats are opened graves; 
            they use their tongues to deceive.” 
“The venom of vipers is under their lips.”

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Friday, June 1, 2018

How does anyone cope without faith in a loving God? When I cry out, I am ALWAYS granted peace while I wait for guidance.

Psalm 102:1-2
Hear my prayer, O Lord; 
  let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me 
  in the day of my distress. 
Incline your ear to me;
  answer me speedily in the day when I call.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

So much divisiveness, intolerant language, pit-of-the-stomach anger and dismay in our country today. Have we forgotten this red letter command?

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Sometimes it is so simple it is profound. Stop stumbling around, walk in the light of the world.

John 11:9-10
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Friday, May 18, 2018

Of course it is all about me! I wasn’t much of a Jesus person until I noticed He and His red letters had completely transformed my life. Go figure.

John 10:37-38
If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;
but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Thursday, May 10, 2018

This seems so simple. It is.

John 6:28-29
Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Friday, April 27, 2018

When my husband sings in church, it is a joyful noise! It doesn’t have to be in key or tuneful, just joyous. Even if you can’t sing, who cares? Let go, don’t deny yourself the joy.

Psalm 98:4-6
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; 
  break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, 
  with the lyre and the sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn 
  make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Well this is reassuring! One of the many things my study of the Bible has confirmed for me, God keeps his promises.

Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
   I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him; 
   I will be with him in trouble; 
   I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him 
   and show him my salvation.”


Friday, April 20, 2018

Looking for a little recognition, a little reward as you slog through life? Maybe something more substantial than a glass of wine or a chocolate chip cookie? Here’s your answer: Have a servant’s heart, you will be rewarded in ways you can’t even imagine.

Joshua 22:5
Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Sunday, April 8, 2018

If you need encouragement, or just plain courage, the Holy Bible is full of it.

Deuteronomy 31:8
TriggerPhoto / Getty Images
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Friday, April 6, 2018

What is the point? More than once I've been on my knees asking God if I have to go on. I get the same answer every time: choose life.

Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

Sunday, March 25, 2018

I have an inordinately high opinion of my own strength. Nothing could be more counter-productive. I’m so relieved when I return to God and heed Him. He's mercifully there to show me that pushing the rock up the hill is not my job.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31
From there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul.

In your distress, when all these things have happened to you in time to come, you will return to the Lord your God and heed him.

Because the Lord your God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you nor destroy you; he will not forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them.