large asking
John Newton, slave trader turned pastor and hymnwriter, believed in “large asking” when it came to prayers. He encouraged many with the archaic words in this verse from the hymn “Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare”: “Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring, for His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.”
What’s a question you wrestle with—one for which you would love to receive an answer from God?
What’s a question you wrestle with—one for which you would love to receive an answer from God?
September 29, 2014
If you could do a specific type of ministry full-time, what would it be? Why?
finding joy in Jesus
We’ve all heard that God’s plans are more important than our own. And if you’re like me, you’ve nodded your head in agreement at the wisdom of those words. Yet when we encounter a situation in life where things don’t go according to our plans, we can often become devastated!
sleepless nights
Sleep. It’s one of the most underrated pleasures in life. There’s nothing like a good night’s rest or napping on a rainy day. My bed feels like a refuge—a small sanctuary from the cares of life.
silencing the barren womb
Dear Sheridan,
selfish servants
The lighthouse keepers had survived harsh and lonely conditions on a meager salary, endured the incessant roar of the foghorn, and rowed their lifeboat onto stormy seas to rescue sailors. But the keepers had also resisted efforts to install a new lens that would have doubled the amount of light their station could have cast. Why? The keepers had made a financial arrangement with the maker of the old lens, and they didn’t want to lose the cash—even if it would have saved lives.
planted
Accompanied by a cool breeze, the sunlight slowly spread over the horizon. It was a beautiful morning to plant. Grabbing various tools, my husband and I set out to rake back mulch and dig some holes. We had carefully selected plants that would work in the various growing environments our yard offered. Though the work had been strenuous, I later found it rewarding to stand back and see the fruits of our labor—a beautiful array of bushes, flowers, and trees.
who holds the reins?
read> Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding (v.5).
An ex-racehorse at my stable, Dawson, is a talented jumper, but he struggles with overanticipation. Whenever we begin a ride, he speeds up, dances in place, and tries to anticipate my commands, not because he’s being defiant but because he’s eager to…
why didn’t He protect us?
Our lives began to fall apart when my daughter took her life,” the woman told me during a break in the conference we were both attending. “And then our second daughter spiraled into depression and started to ‘self-harm.’ After several months we discovered the reason why: While my husband and I were missionaries in Indonesia, two of our three children had been sexually abused at a mission-run school. We had given our lives to serve God. . . . Why didn’t He protect us?” I would hear similar stories at that conference—people who felt betrayed by God.
you choose Q: how do we know that Jesus and God exist, and where did that information come from?
Q: Recently I spoke to a friend from Germany, and that person asked me how do we know that Jesus and God exist and how we get this information and from whom? Because the Bible was written from prophets, how did they get this information all about Jesus and God? —Kofi
A: We can know that God exists because God Himself told us…
you choose Q: how do i know what God's plan is for me the rest of my life?
Q: Since my husband went to be with the Lord (over 4 years ago), the "new normal" for me has not been that normal! I need to work to support myself, but I also have a great support system in our grown kids, even though I don't want to burden them—they have their own families. My question is this: How do…
angels watching over me
Jacob was on the run from his brother. Frightened and alone, he walked as far as he could, then grabbed a rock for a pillow. Dreaming that God was standing on the top of a stairway, Jacob heard Him promise, “I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15). He saw angels ascending and descending the stairway—going out to patrol the world and coming back to report what they had done (Job 1:6, 2:1; Hebrews 1:14).
