When you are full of worry and angst, remember the majesty of the Lord our God as found in Psalms 23. He is Jehovah Raah, our Shepherd. He protects us, leads us guides us. We shall not lack. He is Jehovah Shalom, our Peace. He bears our burdens and our sorrows. He leads us to green pastures, quiet waters providing times of refreshment. He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, Our Righteousness. He...
Living in Christ Verses 12 & 13
It’s 5:00 am on a Saturday morning. Last week was my first week back at work and students start Monday. Come Monday, I can no longer hit snooze when the alarm sounds at 4:45 am. So honestly, I’m a little ticked with my body for not enjoying these last days of sleeping in. But I’m awake. There is a lot to be done so I start by reading the word...
Are You Living Your Life By the Numbers?
I woke up to a strange thought this morning. Before I could read the word, I heard, “You are living your life by the numbers.” A strange thing to speak to a math teacher. Numbers are my life. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of the time David conducted a census and it displeased God. That story has always confused me. So then I asked, “Okay Lord, what are you...
You Got This!
What are you anxious about today? A deadline at work or A presentation? Starting a new job or A road trip? Sharing your faith, Praying for a friend? Sending your child off to college or kindergarten? Starting a new career or retiring from a career? Starting a new business or ministry? Whatever has you anxious today, remember this: God has already equipped you with everything you need to walk in...
On the Other Side
I was reflecting on the last six months of my life with a friend yesterday. It was a season characterized by deadlines and busyness while emotionally dealing with being cheated, rejected, and disappointed by various people who I trusted and honored. But this morning, this verse spoke to me: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope....
The Storm
We delayed our departure because of the storm. We literally circled the airport, flying aimlessly for an hour because of the effects of the storm. Once we landed, we waited hours for our connecting flight because of the storm. Finally we landed at our destination in the wee hours of the morning. Tired. Inconvenienced. Frustrated. Because of the storm. We landed safely because we wisely decided to fly above the...
Melissa’s Psalm
God is good. His mercy endures forever. God is good. His faithfulness knows no bounds. God is good. His love overwhelms. I will praise Him. I will dance and shout before Him. I will sing of His goodness. When chaos comes, I will praise Him in the midst of it. When I don’t understand, I will sing his praises for the world to hear. When darkness abounds, I will shine...
Valiant Warrior
Three life lessons we can learn from Gideon: 1. On your absolute worse day, when you have received a bad report, when you feel as if all hope is gone, when you have nothing else to give, God looks at you and declares: “ I am with you, oh valiant warrior.” But we have to choose if we will believe that statement. 2. God can handle our temper tantrums. Gideon...
Surrender
When you are between the promise and the fulfillment, surrender. If I have learned anything from reading Genesis to Revelation, it is this: “Life rarely turns out like we had planned.” But God can take our mistakes, our failures, our hurts, our pains and our tragedies, and use them for His glory. If we can trust Him with our past, can’t we trust Him with our future? God is...
Celebrated Not Tolerated
Jephthah was ordained by God to be a mighty man of valor. But he had one problem. His mom was a harlot. His dad had other sons by a respectable woman but Jephthah was judged not for his mistake but his mom’s. He was labeled by his brothers, “The son of another.” His brothers drove him away. Denied him of his inheritance. Jephthah left. Gave up His inheritance. He went...