Month: August 2026

Hope Beyond Tragedy

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“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

I can’t explain the tragedies of life. One child lost in a school shooting is one too many, just as one soul lost to war, or sickness, or famine in a distant land is one too many. When I see the tragic reports I am incensed at needless suffering, and, perhaps in that moment receive just a glimpse of what breaks the heart of God. Yet into the unspeakable tragic times in life the Psalms tell us that

God Is Close To The Brokenhearted

God is there to save those who are crushed in spirt. I’ve heard it criticized when someone says, “my thoughts and prayers are with you”, saying instead that tangible action is needed. Action is needed, and prayer is action step number one. Nothing on this earth is more powerful than prayer. For when I have no words, I use what few I have to say “Lord God, please draw near to those who are suffering heartbreak. Only You can comfort”. You’ve now enlisted the help of the creator of Heaven and earth. For when and where we can’t, He can.

Love Story

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“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

I sat down with my wife a few nights ago to watch “The Lake House” staring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. This romantic time traveling love story hit home for me the instant I heard Paul McCartney sing “This Never Happened Before”. The Lyrics say, “This is the way it should be for lovers, they shouldn’t go it alone, it’s not so good when you’re on your own.” Paul is right, we should’t go it alone, we’re meant to have one true love in our life. So,

How’s Your Love Affair With Jesus?

I love and adore my wife of 37 years, but I’ve had a life long love affair with Jesus Christ. Why, because as 1 John 4:19 says, He first loved me, so much so that he endured the cross so that I would not have to go it alone. You’re not meant to be on your own. Look up. He’s only a prayer away.

Rejoice Always

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“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

One of the great mysteries of faith is the power of prayer. Proverbs 18 tells that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Frankly, we have no earthly idea of just how much power we possess when we pray. Perhaps that’s why Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians implores us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and to

Give Thanks In All Circumstances

I can hear the skeptic in you saying, rejoice in my pain? My suffering? My hardship? Yes, that’s what I’m saying, and I’ll readily admit that’s not always easy to do! I’ll also say I’m continually amazed at the result when I do. Never grow weary in prayer. If you knew just how effective your prayers were, you’d never stop.

Hope For Tomorrow

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“His (God’s) favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning” Psalm 30:5

Arguably one of the best prison films ever made is “The Shawshank Redemption” staring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, and is based on a novella written by none other than Stephen King. In the film, Tim’s character pens a pivotal letter to Morgan Freeman which in part says,

“Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies”

In God we have the one great hope in life. For Psalm 30 tells us that His favor is for life, therefore, our momentary weeping over our struggles and trials in life may indeed endure for a night, but joy does come in the morning. Have hope today, the sun will rise tomorrow.

Blinders

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“The fool in his heart says there is no God.” Psalm 53:1

I opened my bible today and the first words that greeted me were from Psalm 53:1, “The fool in his heart says there is no God”. I won’t mention the name but someone famous recently died and I knew they had spent their lifetime saying that God did not exist. When they passed my heart broke for them. Quite frankly, I can’t tell you how many times my heart has broken when hearing of anyone who passed away after spending their lifetime saying that God did not exist. If history has taught us anything, it has taught us that no matter how enlightened we think we are, there is so much that we simply do not know. To hold to, or make definitive statements about the non-existence of God is simply

Recklessly Playing With Fire

Thankfully we serve a merciful God and he has given us the incredible power of prayer. The next time you hear of someone saying there is no God, simply say a prayer for them. No, you don’t have to do it out loud to their face, sometimes that just comes across as inciting an argument. Under your breath, simply pray for them. God has a million and one ways that he can change someone’s mind. You just have to care enough about those around you to ask Him to do so.

A Great Treasure

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“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for He gives His beloved sleep..” Psalm 127:2

One of the great treasures in life is a good night sleep. For a few decades of my life a good night sleep was elusive. Invariably, once my head hit the pillow my brain would start working, rehashing every issue, problem, and difficulty that I was dealing with in life. Then I ran across Psalm 127:2 which says,

God Gives His Beloved Sleep

“I’m His beloved”, I thought. “So, why do I have such difficulty sleeping?” Then I realized that each day I was failing to take God up on his promises. God says many times in his word, and in many different ways, “cast your cares upon Me.” I thought, “why not take Him up on his offer”, so I did. Each day I began to pray, “Lord, whatever you have for me today I am truly grateful, and whatever you have in store for my future, again I am truly grateful. As for my cares, I gladly entrust them to you”. For the better part of a decade now I have prayed this prayer every day and I would venture to say that in more than 95% of my nights I look like the cat in the photo above, happily surrendered in sleep. You are God’s beloved. Sleep tight tonight.

Choices

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Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4

The poet Robert Frost once wrote: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”. Translation, of the many choices you have in life which ones will you make, the comfortable ones, or, the ones that may throw a few (or many) challenges your way but lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life. As I think about Robert Frost’s play on words, and reflect on the choices I’ve made in life, I can’t help but think of Jesus words when he said,

“Launch Out Into The Deep”

Certainly “the deep” qualifies as a road less traveled. They are also scary words quite frankly, and one’s that I have not always heeded. But I’ve noticed something, the fish usually don’t just jump into your boat on their own. You have to venture out into the deeper waters where the fish are then cast your net to catch them. Choosing comfortable is easy, but I would venture to say less fulfilling. What dream have you been holding onto far too long? Why not try the road less traveled and choose to get to work in bringing that dream into reality. You have a willing partner in Jesus just itching to bless the work of your hands. Remember, with God, nothing is impossible.

Harmony

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“For I the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you ‘Fear not” Isaiah 41:13

I was recently walking through a store when my eye caught a young child holding his father’s hand. When the father stopped to take an item from the shelf, the child stopped, gazing up at what his dad was up to, then to the shelves filled with items all around. When his father started walking again, the child kept pace, seemingly without a care in the world.

There Was Safety In His Father’s Hand

We do a wonderful job of wandering wherever we want in life, and yet wonder why we feel so much stress and anxiety along the way. On this day, in that store, a little child reminded me of why I put my hand in my Heavenly Father’s hand. How sweet it is to trust in the Lord.

The Cease Fire

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“How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand” Psalm 139:17-18

I’ve learned one powerful lesson in life; never be at war with yourself. When I first wrote those words I looked at them and said, “Well, that seems obvious, who’d be dumb enough to do that.” The problem is, we all are! We waste a great deal of time warring with ourself and never even realize we’re doing it. The conflict may never have been officially declared, the battle lines never clearly drawn, but realize it or not we’re at war with ourself more often than we care to admit. “I’m not good enough, I’m not strong enough, I’m not good-looking enough, I’m not rich enough, thin enough, young enough, old enough, fast enough, smart enough, cool enough, cagy enough, connected enough…and the list goes on…

It’s Time To Declare A Cease Fire

God created you. His thoughts toward you are amazing, wonderful, beautiful. Bask in that knowledge today for you are wonderfully made and you are loved just the way you are!

Retrain Your Brain

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

A friend of mine went through a hip replacement surgery. I remember my surprise at hearing the news because he is relatively young and in good shape. Yet the joint had worn to the point where he was walking with a visible limp, and over the past few months even started to use a crutch. He went through the surgery and thanks to the skill of a modern day surgeon was quickly up and around on his new hip. Still for a month or two after the surgery his limp remained the same. Then suddenly, to my surprise, the limp vanished. Where did it go? That limp was there the day before. Had it vanished in the night? “Your walking great,” I said. “What happened?” His response to me was priceless! “My physical therapist told me that

I Had To Retrain My Brain”

His brain had been trained to expect pain with every step, so it told him to limp in anticipation. Even if he didn’t feel the pain right away, his brain said, don’t worry, it’s coming. Those word struck me with tremendous force for Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:7 gives to us those same words. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” We have to retrain our brains to believe and ACCEPT that in Christ we are a new creation. Christ has already done the restoration work in us. Just as my friend had a new hip, Christ has given you a new life. The old one is gone, along with any horrific thing you have done thought or said. Retrain your brain to accept Christ forgiveness and restorative work. It’s time to stop limping through life and start walking!