Veins Of Gold
While visiting the charming Cotswold area of England, I purchased some bone china mugs as souvenirs. I used them carefully, but eventually one fell into the sink and shattered. I thought about that mug recently when I learned about the Japanese art of Kintsugi.
Find out how to avoid making the mistake of missing a potential blessing
Have you ever misconstrued a conversation? It can happen when we hear only what we want to hear. Discover how Jacob’s family misinterpreted a God-given prediction, and almost missed the potential blessing! Learn how to avoid making the same mistake.
Restored By The Master
Over the centuries, many attempts have been made to restore damaged and time-worn masterpieces of art. While some of these efforts have skillfully preserved the original work of artists, others have actually damaged many works of genius, including ancient Greek statues and at least two paintings by da Vinci.
The Day My Dad Met Jesus
My grandfather, my father, and his brothers were all tough men who, understandably, didn’t appreciate people who “got up in their faces about faith.” When my father, Howard, was diagnosed with a rapid and deadly cancer, I was so concerned that I took every opportunity to talk to him about Jesus’ love. Inevitably he would end the discussion with a polite but firm: “I know what I need to know.”
World’s Fastest Walkers
According to a study measuring the pace of life of cities in 32 countries, people in the biggest hurry live here in Singapore. We walk 60 feet in 10:55 seconds, compared to 12:00 seconds for New Yorkers and 31:60 seconds for those living in the African city of Blantyre, Malawi.
Discover the surprising connections between Jacob and Jesus
More than a millennium separates Jacob, the father of Israel, and Jesus, the promised Savior. Let’s study one such link between Jacob and Jesus—snakes. Pull up a chair and be a part of the conversation.
Forgotten Memories
Recently, a friend from my youth emailed me a picture of our junior high track team. The grainy black-and-white snapshot showed a vaguely familiar group of teens with our two coaches. I was instantly swept back in time to happy memories of running the mile and the half-mile in track meets. Yet even as I enjoyed remembering those days, I found myself thinking about how easily I had forgotten them and moved on to other things.
Discover how God can transform our identities
Names can stick with us for years. Perhaps you’ve had labels, nicknames, or reputations haunt you since childhood. Let’s study why Jacob’s name made him an unlikely participant in God’s sovereign plan. Our study of Jacob continues.
A psalm of my own, as inspired by Psalm 23
Psalm 23:1-6 The Lord is my Shepherd, my High Priest, and King. He supplies all that I need—everything. (Psalm 23:1) He makes me lie down and rest in safe places. He leads me to calm and reviving spaces. (Psalm 23:2) My soul is refreshed and restored to its whole. For His name’s […]
Meet Shrek
Shrek was a renegade sheep. He went missing from his flock and remained lost for 6 years. The person who found him living in a cave on a high and rugged place in New Zealand didn’t recognize him as a sheep. “He looked like some biblical creature,” he said. In a way, he was. Shrek was a picture of what happens to sheep who become separated from their shepherd.
God’s mysterious way of working out His amazing plan!
We know that God has a plan for us. But how He accomplishes that plan can often leave us scratching our heads! If the life of Jacob tells us anything, it’s that those confusing events are all part of God’s amazing plan!
Smile!
A recent study that I read concluded that smiling can be good for your health. Research shows that smiling slows down the heart and reduces stress.
Discover how what looks like favoritism is actually a sovereign plan to bless the entire world
There is an entire nation of individuals identified in Scripture as “God’s chosen people.” But where did this divine favoritism come from? Let’s go back to the origins of Israel, and God’s promises to His people.
The Kite’s Master
When Jesus preached during His earthly ministry, He made frequent use of parables—short stories teaching a useful lesson—and people would eagerly listen. A few days ago, I was reminded of this when an interesting story came up in discussion. “There was once a boy who loved his kite very much. One […]
The Light Of The Lamb
For countless generations people have looked to the sun and moon to light the day and the night. Whether illuminating our path or providing the life-giving radiance for fruitful crops and the nutrients our bodies need, the sun and moon are part of God’s marvelous provision of light. The book of Genesis tells us that God gave “the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night” (Gen. 1:16).
