Why Does God Allow Some to Suffer More Than Others?
At a recent political conference, I had the opportunity to meet individuals from different countries, many of whom were currently living amid political uncertainty. Listening to the struggles they faced in their own countries, I was intrigued.
Jesus . . . the Light of the World
Unlike the Bible’s King David, most of us haven’t had to face problems like our adult child chasing us down to kill us, or the leader of our country ordering our assassination! But we do have our dark days filled with problems and challenges. Today on Discover the Word, we will reinforce how in those […]
God’s Sandpaper
My friend’s words stung. Trying to sleep, I battled to stop mulling over her pointed comments about my strong opinions. As I lay there, I asked for God’s wisdom and peace. Several weeks later, still concerned about the matter, I prayed, “I hurt, Lord, but show me where I need to change. Show me where she’s right.”
My friend had acted as God’s sandpaper in my life. My feelings felt rubbed raw, but I sensed that how I responded would lead to the building of my character—or not. My choice was to submit to the smoothing process, confessing my pride and…
Waiting for the Lord’s deliverance
Hope and faith—two pretty important words in the Christian’s vocabulary. And today on Discover the Word, we will look at Psalm 27 where we find King David in a time of crisis. In this song, David expresses both hope—that translates to courage, and faith—the act of waiting for the Lord’s deliverance. Psalm 27—a song of hopeful […]
Test Match
A test match in the game of cricket can be grueling. Competitors play from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with lunch and tea breaks, but the games can last up to 5 days. It’s a test of endurance as well as skill.
The tests we face in life are sometimes intensified for a similar reason. They feel unending. The long search for a job, an unbroken season of loneliness, or a lengthy battle with cancer is made even more difficult by the fact that you wonder if it will ever end.
Perhaps that is why the psalmist cried out, “How long, Lord,…
The Wrong Horseshoe
Napoleon’s defeat in Russia 200 years ago was attributed to the harsh Russian winter. One specific problem was that his horses were wearing summer horseshoes. When winter came, these horses died because they slipped on icy roads as they pulled the supply wagons. The failure of Napoleon’s supply chain reduced his 400,000-strong army to just 10,000. A small slip; a disastrous result!
James described how a slip of the tongue can do great damage. One wrong word can change the careers or destinies of people. So toxic is the tongue that James wrote, “No human being can tame the tongue. It…
The Power of Prayer in Evangelism
After our son had left home and set out on his own, he visited Mardi Gras in New Orleans with friends. He had been struggling with substance abuse, and my wife, Cari, and I worried about the trip and choices he might make. We prayed for him constantly.
The first night he was there, our phone rang. His number popped…
Free from Fear
Fear sneaks into my heart without permission. It paints a picture of helplessness and hopelessness. It steals my peace and my concentration. What am I fearful about? I’m concerned about the safety of my family or the health of loved ones. I panic at the loss of a job or a broken relationship. Fear turns my focus inward and reveals a heart that sometimes finds it hard to trust.
When these fears and worries strike, how good it is to read David’s prayer in Psalm 34: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears”…
Dealing with the “Death Knock’”
The words “death knock” is enough to make my knees go weak and my hands go clammy. A “death knock” involves a journalist showing up on the doorstep of a family who has just lost a loved one for a story.
“Fear of the Lord” . . . what does it mean?
What does “fear of the Lord” mean? Does it mean we should cower and cringe . . . hoping that God won’t punish us for our mistakes? Today on Discover the Word, the team discusses a helpful way of thinking about what it means to “fear the Lord.” It’s kind of a surprising end to […]
Human Race
The alarm clock goes off. Too early, it seems. But you have a long day ahead. You have work to do, appointments to keep, people to care for, or all this and more. Well, you are not alone. Each day, many of us rush from one matter to another. As someone has wittily suggested, “That’s why we are called the human race.”
When the apostles returned from their first mission trip, they had a lot to report. But Mark did not record Jesus’ evaluation of the disciples’ work; rather, he focused on His concern that they rest awhile. Jesus said,…
Why We Need Games like Pokemon Go
In today’s world, Pokemon are everywhere. And people walk for hours on end and visit places they don’t normally go to, well, catch these virtual pocket monsters.
To know God and make Him known
Fulfillment is found in many things, a challenging career, a happy family, or a fun hobby. But no matter what we occupy our time with, we need to remember our core mission, which is to know God and make Him known. Today on Discover the Word, the team discusses the joy that comes from helping […]
Tactical Distractions
It became painfully clear the first time my wife and I collaborated on a writing project that procrastination was going to be a major obstacle. Her role was to edit my work and keep me on schedule; my role seemed to be to drive her crazy. Most times, her organization and patience outlasted my resistance to deadlines and direction.
I promised to have a certain amount of writing done by the end of one day. For the first hour, I plugged away diligently. Satisfied with what I’d accomplished so far, I decided to take a break. Before I knew it, my…
