“A man is "never so proud as when striking an attitude of humility".” C.S.Lewis

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

“Are you washed in the blood, In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?”

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 we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace... " Eph.1 Conversations Within” ts 6/10/26

“This too will pass. It may pass like a kidney stone but it will pass.” Meme

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 Conversations Within” ts 6/9/26

“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom.” E. O. Wilson

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 established.” Pro.16 Conversations Within” ts 6/8/26

“This place doesn't suit my life…. No, it is your life that doesn't suit this place.” A Good Year

 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 me.” Rom.7 Conversations Within” ts 6/7/26

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Hippocrates

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 6/3/26

“God is with us, and His power is around us.” C. H. Spurgeon

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

“If you can’t say something nice…don't say nothing at all.” Thumper

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 mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph.4.29 Conversations Within” ts 6/2/26

"He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake. ” Augustine

 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 6/1/26

A good conscience warns us that God is looking.

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 conscience is not leading us astray.

“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

“When one bases his life on principle, 99 percent of his decisions are already made.” Author Unknown

I want only one key to open the door of my heart, one principle to govern my thoughts and actions. Does it mirror the dynamic of the love of Christ? 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Ps.119 ESV Conversations Within” ts 5/3026

I want to be able to say that if you want proof of the resurrection of Jesus, just look at my life.

 Does my life give evidence of the resurrection of Christ? I may not have been an eye witness, but I am a witness none-the-less. The manner in which I live, the values I espouse, my words, and actions either attest or deny that the living Christ lives in me or not.

“And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4 Conversations Within” ts 5/2926

“When God has led you through the sea, everything else is a mere creek crossing.” Andy Stanley

A tour guide was leading and speaking about an historical event that had taken place in the Holy Land. What impressed one person on the tour is that he spoke of what happened in the first person as though he himself was personally there. This is the connection every child of God should have when speaking of the Red Sea crossing. Think about it!

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea..” 1Cor.10 Conversations Within” ts 5/2726

“Try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara

Live with divine purpose, and you will need to live forever to accomplish it. The good news is that God will accommodate such a life with all that is needed.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Phil.3.12 Conversations Within” ts 5/26/26

One key to a healthy relationship is to love someone on the days you don’t like them.

I can make peace with the fact that I do not always like someone as long as it does not interfere with loving them. Liking is a feeling. Loving is an action. 

“Love never fails.” 1Cor.13 Conversations Within” ts 5/25/26

“Right now counts forever.” R.C. Sproul

It is one thing to live “in” the moment and another to live “for” the moment. The first is perfect focus, the latter is a kind of nearsightedness--the inability to see beyond now. One of the most important reasons to give myself fully to this moment is that there are other moments to follow, and what we do now will follow us. 

“Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 5/23/26

I asked AI, “What is the most important verse in the Bible?”

After offering a few qualifications, AI's answer was John 3.16. I thought this was worth sharing. Loving God is the greatest commandment. But as important as it is that we love God, it is infinitely more important that He loves us. We love Him because He first loved us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3.16 Conversations Within” ts 5/22/26

“The real labor is… to come awake. Still more, to remain awake.” C.S. Lewis

I wake up many times a day. I find myself looking at something and realize that I have fallen asleep to life’s wonders. The wind brushes my face. I look up and see its movement in the trees. I catch a whiff of a magnolia bloom in the breeze. My Father whispers to me, "Wake up and join me in the moment. Don’t miss out."

“Wake! Why are you sleeping?” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 5/22/26