“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 When I was young, I did not care much about what I was about to say, who might hear them, or if I would offend …
Watch Out For Collateral Damage
I watched a great western yesterday. The Man From Laramie starring Jimmy Stewart. He headed to a town that was “owned” by the biggest rancher in the region. His younger brother had been killed there. Long story short, the son of the land baron was working with the ranch foreman selling guns to the Indians. The son was so angry that everything he did was a catastrophe. The collateral damage of his personal animosity eventually cost him his life and that of his father. Oh beloved, we have a choice. We can let our issues become so angry within us …
Staying Humble
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Ephesians 4:2 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” When Jesus came to Capernaum, a centurion, an unlikely man, asked for his help to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13). The centurion commander of a Roman army during …
Such a Simple Act
I found myself mesmerized as I watched my grandkids playing in the sandbox. Their giggles reminded me of something we often forget. Sometimes we don’t realize that we are given a gift each day. It’s called life. If you can’t find anything to smile about, try this. Reach out to someone in need. Make a phone call. Write a letter, or place a potted flower at your neighbor’s doorstep. A simple act of kindness is simple to do. You just have to take the first step. Someone recently helped me, without expecting anything in return. Wow! It made an impression …
Love the Hate Away
One of the things I found myself doing was randomly scrolling Facebook. If only I could burn calories with the miles my thumbs have scrolled. I started seeing negative post after negative post and it put me in even more of a funk than I was in already! Have you ever been offended by something someone posted on social media? Maybe it was about you, maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was political or racial or an injustice going on in the world. Maybe it was a little more personal and you understood what Taylor Swift meant when she said, “Haters …