Scripture: Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.,” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43-43) NIV. For several years, I taught children’s church at the Friends Church in Bacliff, Texas. One of my favorite teaching tools was puppetry. I made four large […]
Read More →I recently found myself indignant over something a friend said and responded with angry words of my own. Even as I spoke, my spiritual contentment and peace evaporated. Then I turned to the Lord in my morning quiet time and asked what He would say to me. The gentle answer came as I felt impressed […]
Read More →Scripture: Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1John 5:21 KJV). Some years ago I heard an unforgettable story told by a newly assigned priest. He observed a woman who every afternoon knelt and wept before a lovely garden statue of Mary. “She must be very devout,” he remarked to an older priest, who had served […]
Read More →Scripture: [Joseph reassuring his brothers] “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to his position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20 NIV). Victor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, wrote of some of the situations he endured: “When […]
Read More →Scripture: “But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.”—Psalm 71:14 Matthew Henry (1662-1714) wrote a six-volume commentary of the Bible that was studied by George Whitefield four times, the last time on his knees. Once, Mr. Henry was robbed while on horseback. That night, he wrote in his journal: “I […]
Read More →Scripture: The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me” (Matthew 25:40 NIV). I will be judged by my failure to help others, because the “others” may be Christ Himself! John Wesley’s famous poem must have been inspired […]
Read More →Scripture: Then he [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” –John 20:27 NIV One of my heroes is the late Dr. Paul Brand, the surgeon who worked with lepers in Vellore, India, to restore use of their […]
Read More →Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them (Psalm 32:1-2). Have you ever been given a second chance when you knew you didn’t deserve it? I often relate my own undeserved forgiveness to the true story of Roy Reigels […]
Read More →Scripture: A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold (Proverbs 22:1 NIVUK). My name, Joanne, was given me by my father. He loved Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and Little Men. The heroine became his ideal of what a girl should be, and he determined […]
Read More →Scripture: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV). The quality I feel God wants me to work on this year is graciousness—kindness, courtesy, and compassion in all my […]
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