The Addiction Of Us All
"There, but for the grace of God, go I." How often I've said that— especially when observing drug-addicted people. I think I say it humbly—but am I really sincere?
Encouragers
Discouragement is a problem for many Christians. While they may not be distressed about health, family, or work, they're discouraged about their spiritual service. They compare themselves to others who are gifted with musical talents or the ability to teach the Bible. They see people who are able to give generously and pray with evident effectiveness, but they think they can't do these things. As a result, they feel they are useless to God. They need to realize, however, that every Christian is qualified to carry on at least one helpful ministry—the ministry of encouragement.
Peaks And Valleys
One autumn day, my wife and I drove Colorado's beautiful Trail Ridge Road from Grand Lake up through Rocky Mountain National Park and back down to Estes Park. It was an exhilarating ride past mountain meadows and rushing waterfalls. Each bend in the road presented us with another startling, unexpected, awe-inspiring view. But if we hadn't decided to make the climb high above the tree line, we would have missed the view of peak after majestic peak as far as the eye could see.
Rest Easy
For 18 years the routine is the same. Each night you make sure each child is asleep before turning out the lights and locking the door. You can rest easy only when you know that the family is safe.
Paint Job
A children's wading pool in an East Coast inner-city neighborhood had been closed for 2 years. City workers finally painted the pool, filled it with water, and opened it to the delight of excited children.
God Has A Purpose
When we go through deep trials or great suffering, we need to be reminded that God is working purposefully, intelligently, and lovingly in our lives. Isaiah used the illustration of a farmer to teach this truth to the Israelites.
An Ordinary Life
Barb listened with quiet envy as the speaker at the women's retreat talked in glowing terms of the way the Lord had marvelously provided for her need. Barb wished that would happen to her.
Level Ground
Racial prejudice can take root early in human hearts. Children are colorblind until they hear adults making unfounded statements or see them shunning people of a different race. Prejudices soon become well-established weeds with deep taproots. Eradicating them isn't easy.
When Right Seems Wrong
When the crowd is running the wrong way, it's hard to be the oddball who runs the right way. Most of the participants in the NCAA 10,000-meter cross-country race in Riverside, California, thought Mike Delcavo was heading the wrong way. He kept waving for the other 127 runners to follow him, but only 4 believed he had taken the right turn—the turn that all the other competitors had missed.
