I was born this time of year and I tend to consider my life with all its mistakes and joys. I never wanted children and I never had any. Life is too short for regrets, but as I get older I do think occasionally, ‘who will take care of me?’ Then I run into a verse like this, and know with certain faith that God will take care of me.

“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break

Photo by Helen Hume Onufer

forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:1 -

Bible Gateway link: Isaiah 54:1 (ESV)

Ever notice that the sit-coms of our current culture cast the dumb husband/father figure as the butt of most of the jokes? This verse is simple. Men, love your wife as yourself. Women, respect your husband. Marriage is hard enough. Try a little respect, it may get easier.

Ephesians 5:31-33 -

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Bible Gateway link: Ephesians 5:31-33 (ESV)

This is a great check for me to see if I’m making progress. It is also a concise instruction on how to make that progress possible. It’s a verse worth putting on your ‘do today’ list.

Ephesians 4:31-32 - 

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Bible Gateway link: Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV

I have had it! All the noise in my life, the news channels, the angry words, the lies and half-truths, the false posts, the politicians wrangling with each other, it wears me out. But wait! Wait on the Lord!

Isaiah 40:28-31 - 

Have you not known? Have you not heard? 

The Lord is the everlasting God, 

the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

He does not faint or grow weary; 

his understanding is unsearchable. 

He gives power to the faint, 

and to him who has no might he increases strength. 

Even youths shall faint and be weary, 

and young men shall fall exhausted; 

Photo by Virginia Hume Onufer

but they who wait for the Lord 
shall renew their strength; 
they shall mount up with wings like eagles; 

they shall run and not be weary; 

they shall walk and not faint.

Bible Gateway link: Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)

I loved Cokie Roberts. I worked with her at ABC news. I admired her knowledge and wisdom, but I admired more a certain spirit she had. This verse captures it, she lived by the Spirit and she kept in step with it. She was not conceited, provocative or envious. She was kind.

Galatians 5:25-26 - 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bible Gateway link: Galatians 5:25-26 (ESV)

Sometimes you just have to give over to full-throated praise. I was saved, I wake up every morning amazed and grateful.

Psalm 59:16 -

But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

 Bible Gateway link: Psalm 59:16 (ESV)

Can I really stop seeking approval from my fellow humans? Yes. I may fail at times but I give it my best shot. Being a servant of Christ is better.

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Bible Gateway link: Galatians 1:10

I had no tolerance for emotional pain. I would do ANYTHING to mask it. Little did I know that submitting to that pain was the way through. It is also the way through to God.

Psalm 51:17

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The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

 - Bible Gateway link: Psalm 51:17 (ESV)

I loved my work, I was comfortable being miserable most of the time. I retired early and now I work in God’s vineyard. I love that more, but it is not always comfortable. It definitely is something to rejoice.

Ecclesiastes 3:22

So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

 - Bible Gateway link: Ecclesiastes 3:22 (ESV)