CRITICISM
If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept criticism, you will be honored. Proverbs 13:18, NLT Criticism is rarely easy to hear. Our first instinct is often to defend ourselves, explain our actions, or argue with the person offering it. In the process, we can spend a great deal […]
TRUSTING GOD WITH OUR BURDENS
Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—He’ll carry your load, He’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin. Psalm 55:22, MSG For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:30, NIV Every school year brings its share of burdens. Some come from home—illness, the loss of loved ones, aging […]
DISAPPOINTMENT AND BLAME
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV Our 6-year-old grandson was really looking forward to a specific afternoon activity with someone he had not seen in a while. He mentioned it to his […]
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16, NIV The evil one wants us to believe that God is unapproachable. But as Christian educators, we know that this is far from the truth. We […]
TELL-TALE SIGNS
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us. 1 Peter, 2:12, NIV I saw her in the supermarket aisle. She was smartly dressed with comfortable shoes, looking intelligent, and quickly collecting her groceries. […]
PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27, KJV It was the perfect storm! It all began right around 2:30 PM…… I work as a school counselor at an elementary […]
SANCTIFYING CHRIST IN MY HEART
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. 1 Peter 3:14-15, NASB These are trying times. And at times, the battle appears to be lost when viewed purely horizontally. But […]
RISEN
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone […]
JOYFUL, PATIENT, AND FAITHFUL
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12, NIV This is such a familiar verse. We see it all over coffee mugs, t-shirts, and refrigerator magnets. But I want to encourage you today to be careful not to let familiarity lead you to forget the power of the message. This sentence […]
THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE EVERY DAY
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9, NIV When I was a child, I knew a phone number by heart. It was the number I dialed almost every night. And every time I called, the same […]