“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” (Isaiah 61:3) Some of life’s fiercest blows hit …
May these words of my mouth and this mediation for my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) We make decisions every day – both conscious and unconscious – that determine how our days will go. We choose what to wear, what to eat, and what to say …
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 37:18) I know a thing or two about being brokenhearted, walking away, and starting over. It’s gut-wrenchingly painful, fraught with heartache and fear. Still, there’s strength in doing so and peace that settles in, thereafter. How many of us …
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21) By nature, we all strive to control our existence. Why wouldn’t we? Life feels chaotic when we lose control of the world around us – whether through decisions we’ve made or by random acts that affect our …
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. I will build you up again.” (Jeremiah 31: 3-4) We all have the opportunity to learn and grow through our experiences. Some of us choose to defy that concept – opting …
Most of all, let love guide your life. (Colossians 3:14) Any number of things can motivate us: pride, hunger, anger, jealousy, greed, power. But what about love? How often do we let love guide our thoughts, words, and actions? I’ve always been driven by love. I love my family, friends, home, job, friends, boss, co-workers, …
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – those He redeemed from the hand of the foe… (Psalm 107:2) It took me over two years to get up the nerve to initiate this blog. I wanted to; I needed to, but I was afraid to begin. I am a survivor. My story needs …
The joy of the Lord is my strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) Let me ask you a question. When was the last time you felt joyful? Not happy. Not content. I’m talking pure, unadulterated joy – the kind that fills your heart, makes you want to sing, then spills out into a feeling you can hardly contain. …
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below. There is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:39) Is it just me, or do the skies seem to weep on the days when we are most sad? Here in Savannah, it’s been an inordinately dry autumn. Until this …
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. (Psalm 37:7) Bad things happen to good people – every day. We get sick. We have accidents. We lose our jobs. Over this past week, I witnessed terrible things happening to a large number of good people – 446, to …