Tag Archives: Parenting

Immanuel

What could be better than “God with us.”? For Joseph and Mary, the surroundings and circumstances of Jesus’ birth probably added to the long list of unanswered questions. What did it all mean?  In the midst of the chaos, there’s … Continue reading

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Joseph

When it came to choosing a husband for His mom, Jesus chose Joseph. We know very little about him, but what information we have is significant. He was a Jewish tradesman with no special social status; but the comment about … Continue reading

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Sustained

“Cotton candy inspiration” may be sweet, but it doesn’t last. Over the centuries, the people of God have faced challenges of many kinds and the Word of God has proven to be the only lasting source of encouragement. Today may bring … Continue reading

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Wisdom 13.20

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13:20 NIV Over time, peers can influence our values, hopes, and dreams. The ideas and suggestions most often discussed around us will eventually … Continue reading

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Shamgar

Thought about the guy Shamgar much lately? And now you’re thinking, “Who is that?” Well, he was one of the Judges of Israel like Samson and Gideon. However, he rarely makes the cut for children’s Sunday School lessons because the … Continue reading

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Joshua

In a culture that’s traded absolute truth for tolerance, the concept of a line in the sand regarding values may be considered extreme. However, in a similar environment, Joshua (as leader of the Hebrews after Moses) made a bold statement … Continue reading

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Harvest

A spiritual seed contains life. Whether it’s a word of scripture, a brief testimony, or the sharing of resources and encouragement, tiny grains of life can produce a sizeable harvest because Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest (Matt. 9:38). … Continue reading

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Trust

“Confidence” and “expectation” are key parts of “trust”. When it comes to people, to place trust in someone is to have confidence or expectations regarding their character. The interesting question is, “What produces the confidence or expectation?” Does it come … Continue reading

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Steady

When the trail gets long, it often comes down to simply putting-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other. The scenery isn’t inspiring anymore, the small talk is no longer interesting, the pack has gotten heavier and rest seems far away. In the life of a disciple, … Continue reading

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Whatever

Details can be important. For example, one wrong calculation can cause a spaceship to miss its target by thousands of miles, and a decimal point can change a deal from good to bad. As a former Pharisee, Paul was a man … Continue reading

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Leading

It’s often said that leadership equals influence. As an apostle, Paul was commissioned to influence people. He explained his approach and process this way: “When I came to you…I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. For I … Continue reading

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Unbreakable

Laws are often violated; either on purpose, through negligence, or lack of knowledge. However, there’s one that cannot be broken: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” – Gal. 6:7 NKJV … Continue reading

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Unanswered

Do your prayers ever seem unanswered? There’s a beautiful story in Luke of two people who struggled with silence…Zacharias and Elizabeth. They endured daily shame in a culture that believed no children was a sign of hidden sin. However, according … Continue reading

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Social-Issue Sucker-Punches

With “tolerance” becoming the new litmus test for public legitimacy, perhaps you’re feeling a little intimidated these days. If so, a few quick thoughts on the matter may help when the next verbal “sucker-punch” comes along at the workplace or family … Continue reading

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“Fear”

Fear can be paralyzing and is mentioned throughout the scriptures. There are stories of people fearing each other, fearing to follow through on God’s instructions, fearing the presence of angels, etc. In many passages, the words “Do not fear” are … Continue reading

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“Asking”

When praying, we must remember that God’s parental perspective is far beyond ours, and even the best earthly examples fall short. As parents, we often struggle regarding “what, when and how”; but God doesn’t. He never paces the floor with … Continue reading

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“And”

Sometimes the word “and” can be a pesky little thing, like “The meeting is tomorrow AND the report is due”. Other times it’s a welcome addition, like “Grandma’s coming AND she’s bringing a cake.” When it comes to spiritual matters, the … Continue reading

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2-29-16 “Powerless”

The disciples knew empowerment, but they also knew weakness. In Mark chapter 6, the story is recorded where they were sent out by Jesus with the power over evil spirits and to heal. They returned with stories of demons being cast … Continue reading

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2-25-16 “Peace”

Storms can be scary and destructive. Hot/cold air collisions and seasonal change can produce some nasty weather. In our personal life, it’s also true that changing winds can bring a storm. In the Gospels, there’s a pivotal moment where the … Continue reading

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2-24-16 “Tiny”

Big results in God’s kingdom often start very small. Jesus explained it this way: “To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is … Continue reading

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