As a writer, I love words. So I look forward to my daily podcast of the Merriam-Webster “Word of the Day,” where I’ll be introduced to words that may be added to my personal lexicon. But as a Christian, I look to a different resource for an even more important “Word of the Day.”
Taking the time out to read even few verses from the Bible each morning makes such a difference. It is no coincidence that there have been times when a certain passage seemed to apply to everything I experienced throughout the day. Those are the times, by the way, when I know for sure that there is a serious lesson God wants me to learn.
Then there are those days when I’m just so “busy.” I may not have time to listen to my podcast, but being in a rush is no excuse to miss the Word. In fact—those are the days when I seem to need it most! And nothing beats the comfort of having God’s Word to lean on at any point during the day.
Some of my favorite verses:
• “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24)
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
• “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
• “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)
Now, as a native English speaker, I love the nuances of the language—the way different words mean different things, depending on the context. When I listen to my daily “Word of the Day” podcast, I not only learn new words, I learn new meanings to some familiar words as well. I believe the same holds true for God’s Word—different verses have different nuances, depending on what point you are in your life and spiritual journey.
Are you getting your Word of the day? To borrow from an old commercial, “Don’t leave home without it!”
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Day After
Yesterday, the news media, the Internet, and event the barbershops and beauty parlors were abuzz with the news: The world was coming to an end. According to the prediction of a widely known religious leader, May 21, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. (ET) would be the end of times. Yet, the hour passed and the world survived…now what?
People have been predicting the end of the world since the times of Christ. In fact, when John the Baptist cried out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” some may have mistaken his warning as a doomsday message instead of a proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. Since the beginning of time, people have been fascinated with wondering how it will all end.
One of the reasons people get so worked up about the “end of days” predictions is that they are really fearful of what they believe is the “unknown.” For too many people, life ends with a giant question mark. But as Christians, we are not like those without hope. We take joy in knowing that whether in this world or beyond, we have the presence of Christ with us.
Someone may argue that this most recent “end of days” prediction was made by a Christian—who encouraged other Christians to work themselves into a frenzy of emptying their bank accounts, quitting their jobs, and making their final peace with anticipation of the end of the world. However, this is in direct contradiction with the Word of God, which tells us that yes, one day the world will end, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” In fact, it suggests that when the end does come, it will be so swift and sudden, there will be no time to make any preparations (Matthew 24:36-44). One would think this so-called “religious leader” would have come across this information at least once in his reading of the Bible. Beware of false prophets!!!
However, what the enemy meant for bad, God uses for good. Despite the fact that the prediction was a farce, it may have caused some people to take a good look at their lives. Because the truth is, one day life as we know it will be over. It may not be the result of a cataclysmic event that ends the world. It may simply be the body’s time to expire. And when that day does come—what happens next? If the answer to that question is anything other than peace and joy—it’s time to know Jesus. As Christians, whether our world ends tomorrow, next week, or a thousand years from now, we know that we have the promise of life with Jesus afterward.
For Christians, there are no worries about the end of the world—because what comes next is even better!
People have been predicting the end of the world since the times of Christ. In fact, when John the Baptist cried out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” some may have mistaken his warning as a doomsday message instead of a proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. Since the beginning of time, people have been fascinated with wondering how it will all end.
One of the reasons people get so worked up about the “end of days” predictions is that they are really fearful of what they believe is the “unknown.” For too many people, life ends with a giant question mark. But as Christians, we are not like those without hope. We take joy in knowing that whether in this world or beyond, we have the presence of Christ with us.
Someone may argue that this most recent “end of days” prediction was made by a Christian—who encouraged other Christians to work themselves into a frenzy of emptying their bank accounts, quitting their jobs, and making their final peace with anticipation of the end of the world. However, this is in direct contradiction with the Word of God, which tells us that yes, one day the world will end, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” In fact, it suggests that when the end does come, it will be so swift and sudden, there will be no time to make any preparations (Matthew 24:36-44). One would think this so-called “religious leader” would have come across this information at least once in his reading of the Bible. Beware of false prophets!!!
However, what the enemy meant for bad, God uses for good. Despite the fact that the prediction was a farce, it may have caused some people to take a good look at their lives. Because the truth is, one day life as we know it will be over. It may not be the result of a cataclysmic event that ends the world. It may simply be the body’s time to expire. And when that day does come—what happens next? If the answer to that question is anything other than peace and joy—it’s time to know Jesus. As Christians, whether our world ends tomorrow, next week, or a thousand years from now, we know that we have the promise of life with Jesus afterward.
For Christians, there are no worries about the end of the world—because what comes next is even better!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Motherly Wisdom
My husband’s mother used to have a sign in her kitchen that read, “Attention kids with stupid parents—get out while you still know everything!” Even recently in my own home, one of my teenagers complained about the rules my husband and I have laid down over the years. “Some of it just doesn’t make any sense!” he objected.
There are circumstances in which mothers make decisions that really don’t seem to make sense at the time. But never underestimate the power of motherly wisdom and divine guidance! One of the greatest mothers in the Bible made an unusual decision that ended with great reward.
Imagine a woman putting her newborn child in a basket and sending it up a river! When Egypt’s Pharaoh declared that all newborn males would be put to death, a mother decided it would be better to attempt to float him to safety than to keep him herself. As a result, the woman’s son was discovered by the daughter of Pharaoh himself. She took him in as her own and named him Moses. (Exodus 2:1-9) And, as we know, Moses turned out to be one of the greatest leaders Israel had ever known.
Although in 21st century America there is no official decree to murder our children, there is no denying that there are dangers in every community that can harm them. And moms are often the first line of defense. Despite social pressures, Christian moms cannot be afraid to make tough decisions—even the ones that on the surface seem “stupid” or “make no sense.” Spiritually wise choices may not be popular or conform to societal norms, but the results speak for themselves. The direction, advice, and actions of God-fearing mothers are essential to helping young people survive—and go on to later achieve great things.
Happy Mother's Day!
There are circumstances in which mothers make decisions that really don’t seem to make sense at the time. But never underestimate the power of motherly wisdom and divine guidance! One of the greatest mothers in the Bible made an unusual decision that ended with great reward.
Imagine a woman putting her newborn child in a basket and sending it up a river! When Egypt’s Pharaoh declared that all newborn males would be put to death, a mother decided it would be better to attempt to float him to safety than to keep him herself. As a result, the woman’s son was discovered by the daughter of Pharaoh himself. She took him in as her own and named him Moses. (Exodus 2:1-9) And, as we know, Moses turned out to be one of the greatest leaders Israel had ever known.
Although in 21st century America there is no official decree to murder our children, there is no denying that there are dangers in every community that can harm them. And moms are often the first line of defense. Despite social pressures, Christian moms cannot be afraid to make tough decisions—even the ones that on the surface seem “stupid” or “make no sense.” Spiritually wise choices may not be popular or conform to societal norms, but the results speak for themselves. The direction, advice, and actions of God-fearing mothers are essential to helping young people survive—and go on to later achieve great things.
Happy Mother's Day!
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