When God lays His hand upon His children, it is always a loving hand. This is true as much for His hand of discipline as it is for the hand of encouragement or help or comfort. God offers us many hands. I wonder if there is any hand more precious than His healing hand. Of course healing hands sometimes have a scalpel in them.
“You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Ps.139 ESV Conversations Within” ts 7/16/26 REPOST from 2/6/
Love, which is so much more than a feeling, is proactive action. Love looks for ways to express goodness toward others. I am blessed to know people who love this way, always one step ahead, always looking to find a way to serve. Is there any better life?
“Love does
Stress can certainly cause fatigue. Alleviating it may sometimes involve lessening the load we carry each day. When this is not possible, we can adjust the way we think about our daily duties. If something has to be done, it has to be done, but this does not mean that we should allow it to do us in.
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and
Jesus told us to pray for daily bread because it is the only kind of bread He offers. Life comes to us a moment at a time, and God promises to provide for it. He invites us to sit down and gratefully eat at His table.
"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna... to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD"
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I do not like driving in heavy traffic. In fact, I get physically sick if I am required to do it for very long, even as a passenger. Now, I believe that calmness can be the natural state of the soul. But, what does one do if i have to drive to work in terrible traffic every day. I can acknowledge the value of fight or flight mode and still do this.
“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1Pt.5 Conversations Within” ts 7/10/
There are people who have lived long lives without following Van Dyke's positive disposition and example. Of course
“All the days of the oppressed are miserable, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.” Prov.15 Conversations Within” ts 7/10/26
God's knowledge is absolute. He knows everything that is uncertain to us, but His knowledge of everything is perfect and certain. There is no future possible happening that is unknown to Him and that is not ordered by His sovereignty. Coupled with the knowledge that God is love, is to find that greatest security.
“...and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.” Ecc.11 Conversations Within” ts 7/8/26
Jesus told us to pray for daily bread. Some things need repeating everyday to affect the goodness that God intends. In truth I need to remind myself every hour to keep in step with the Spirit. My feet stray off the path so easily. The
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 Conversations Within” ts 7/8/26
I wake up some mornings feeling really dumb about some of the stuff I do, and more often than I should. There are many things I do not like about myself, I am acquiring a new taste for how I want to live life. Thank you Lord Jesus, “The page is still turning. The ink isn’t dry.”
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”
I have unanswered questions, but can truthfully say that most if not all of them do not stress me. I ask for daily bread each day, and when God chooses not to explain certain things to me, I take it that what I don’t understand I do not need in my present circumstances.
“Give us this
I want to be grateful to You Lord. This is how I want to experience each day. When I eat, or drink, work, or play, grant in me a sincere appreciation for what You put on my plate, so that a grateful heart will govern every experience I share with You.
“Only
Grace and grace alone defines my standing before God. I merit nothing, because any good I do is also due to His grace working in me. My sins are ever before me, but so too are His daily expressions of grace.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through
Admitting I have tendencies toward overthinking a problem, is a good first step toward changing it. “Just do it” is more than a slogan. Wisdom is understanding but action matters most! Sometimes you just got to go for it.
“Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.” Prov.6 Conversations Within” ts 6/29/
Vanity has many expressions, all of them empty of value. The buzz words of our day: unique, authentic, open minded, etc, often echo back the hollow sound of pride. Admit it, some people try to look cool, others are cool. Some people try to look Christlike, others are Christlike. We must each discover Christ within, before others will authentically see Christ without.
“Love does not boast or brag.” 1Cor.
The quiet life begins in the quiet soul, and the soul is made quiet in the satisfaction of all that God is for us in the present moment. Come to the quiet. Cop a squat on the green grass of reflection, and lay down in the stillness of His leading.
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life…” 1Thess.4
I recently saw a post showing a man standing on Mt. Everest holding a marine fossil in his hand stating that the mountain was once at the bottom of the sea. My first thought was, just like the Good Book said, recording the story of Noah’s flood, “And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.”
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Is.40 Conversations Within” ts 6/
I am grateful that pain accompanies bad decisions. This is the grace of God teaching us to abandon choices that are not good for us. Wisdom teaches us to walk by streets that have brought us no joy and rewards us when we turn down streets that do.
“The fear of the
When God’s garden needs tending, often it is our prayers that become His tools. There are a number of stories in the Bible where God looked for His people to intercede for others, but sadly He did not find anyone. If you feel the urge to pray for someone, you may be the only person who does.
“I looked for someone among
In light of the fact that many in the United States do not believe in the God of Jesus, I celebrate that I have freedom to do so. The US did not grant me this freedom. The God of Christ did. I respect the right of others to not believe simply because the God of Jesus does. He knows that love cannot exist without this freedom. Here is the only path to a
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Ps.33.12 Conversations Within” ts 7/3/26
Jack Sparrow's compass always pointed to what he wanted most. I think it is important to know not only what brings us joy, but lasting, even eternal joy. According to Jesus, His joy springs from sitting at His Father’s right hand, living for His pleasure. Living in the favor of God, sounds good enough to me.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb.12
What a wonderful way to live each day, to simply cop a squat right where you are, and be there.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Ps.23 Conversations Within” ts 6/21/26
If you are not wiping out, you're not surfing. It is inevitable to fall down. Let me perfect the skill of getting back up every time I do. Let me practice this same grace to others when they stumble. Jesus did tell us to pray, deliver “us” from evil, not deliver me.
“Though a righteous man
There is a lot to be said about pressing on toward a goal. And, while it is important to do so on days where one does not feel like it, it is equally important to keep a positive attitude. doing so works the muscles of faith with gratitude. Enduring and positively enduring makes it a twofer where character is concerned.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already
If I pray and ask God to do something in the name of Jesus, would Jesus proudly represent my prayer to His Father. Jesus told us to pray that God’s name be set apart above everything. He calls on us to call upon His name, to live our lives under His values and His deliverance.
“And there Abram called on the name of YHWH.” Gen.13 Conversations Within” ts 6/17/26
According to the Good Book, everybody falls short. Knowing this encourages us to consider that energy outside human effort is necessary if we are to experience the life God intends. Call out! The lifeguard awaits and will always answer our cry for help.
“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Ps.50 Conversations Within” ts 6/16/26
Life is the Spirit is not about a religion, but a relationship and partnership with God through the abiding presence of Christ living in the soul. It is the vital connection that enables us to walk in The Way of Jesus experiencing and spreading His love to all Creation.
“Be filled with the
Life in the Spirit is life indeed. Walking in the way of Jesus teaches us the value of slowing down, and giving our attention to what really matters, rather than to all the urgent, but trivial demands of modern life.
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 6/13/26
Find a way to get it done. Be the kind of person who looks for a way instead of an excuse. Adopt an attitude that says, we can do this, we can figure this out.
“A lazy one says, “There is a lion on the road! A lion is in the public square!” Prov.26 Conversations Within” ts 6/12/26
Contrary to the mistaken notion that God can do anything, the Spirit teaches us that God cannot do many things. He cannot lie, or be one place at a time or be anything other than Himself. He cannot force people to love Him, and escape the inevitable miseries of not doing so.
“Apart from You, I have nothing good.”
I read a story where an assistant pastor walked by the sanctuary and heard the senior pastor down on his knees crying out to God saying, Forgive me Lord, I am nothing. The assistance went in, got on his knees and also prayed the same prayer. The janitor walked by, saw them and fell to his knees praying the same. The assistant nudged the senior pastor, pointed at the janitor and smugly said. “Now look who thinks they are nothing.”
“The Pharisee, prayed… ‘God, I thank you that I am not…like this tax collector. But the tax collector, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” Luke 18 Conversations Within” ts 6/11/26
The Christian faith is a bloody affair. Indeed, God tells us that without its shedding there can be no forgiveness of sins. God alone makes us clean. He washes us with the blood of His sacrificed Son. If we want to know how much God loves each of us, just look at the price He was willing to pay for our redemption.
"In him
Progression is built into the framework of creation. Plowing gives way to planting, and planting to pruning, and pruning to harvest. One does not keep on plowing, and plowing, and plowing. There is a time to plow, but one season passes naturally into another, and we are wise to accept and cooperate with these ordered rhythms.
"Does he who plows for sowing plow continually?" Is.28.24
I google all day long and feel spoiled to have all the info at my fingertips. But as amazing this is, quick access to knowledge is no substitute for having wisdom. Author J.I Packer defines wisdom as “the power to see and the inclination to choose, the best and the highest goal together with the surest means of attaining it.” Wisdom is doing what you know.
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is
One brother wrote, “Heaven is an acquired taste. ”There are many beneficial activities and attitudes that require an attitude adjustment in me. In fact, when I think about it, if something doesn’t naturally fit my life, I should probably be working to make it that way. Sadly I am naturally inclined toward living unhealthy. Jesus is changing this.
“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with
How exactly does one eat or drink for the glory of God? Well, I would think several practices come into play. The apostle told us that all things are good when they are received with thanksgiving. He also told us to treat our bodies as a temple. We glorify God by gratefully enjoying both the meals, and the wisdom He has provided to do so.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1Cor.10 Conversations Within” ts 6/3/
All that matters in life is to have the presence and blessing of God and to know you have them. With that knowledge comes the opportunity to interact with the power that comes with Him. Power to will and do His good pleasure and discover His to be ours.
“But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Gen.39 Conversations Within” ts 6/3/26
I heard a bit of news about someone that put them in a bad light, and was on the edge of sharing it with my spouse. Before I did, the Spirit of Jesus poked me, so to speak, and caused me to ask what benefit would it bring to her if I did. I decided to keep it to myself. Keep nudging me in the right direction Lord.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
Love for God will enrich all other loves. We properly love Him above everything and everyone, and when we do, we do not love others less, we love them more. C. S. Lewis put it this way. "When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now."
“Love the Lord with all of your heart…” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 6/1/
The Good Book tells us that people generally do what is right in their own eyes. This is one of the reasons Jesus cautions us to pay close attention to how we view the world. Most would say be true to your own conscience, but we should be equally concerned that our
“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” Rom.14 Conversations Within” ts 5/3126
