These three words spoken by Jesus have the power to transform lives, yet we rarely use them today. Instead we are telling people to take any number of things . . .
a chill pill another shot anti depressants a drink a smoke or a hit
It’s so easy for us to rely on taking things that change the physical chemistry in our bodies. But doing the hard work of soul and mind work requires the heart. Spiritual transformation…..
“I’m convinced that when Jesus prayed for unity among those who love him he was praying for a willingness to struggle together for understanding out of mutual respect for him.”
I wrote the above statement in a previous post titled “Engage Yourself in a Struggle to Understand.”
What person, place, thing or event are you trying to understand at this moment in time? Why is it important for you right now?
Have you ever felt misunderstood? When you feel…..
Someone asked me once if it was possible for a person to ‘lose their salvation.’ Not understanding what they meant I had to ask them and they replied: Well, do you believe in the saying “Once saved, always saved.” or do you think we can lose our salvation?
I had to think about this for a moment because I hadn’t heard that saying before they quoted it to me and it sounded rather odd to me. Finally I answered ……
This morning I came across a book given to me by my mother many years ago: A Child’s Faith: Fifty-two Lessons for Home and School. By Sibyl Harton. First published in 1938 and reprinted several times – the last date in my copy is 1951. I remember seeing my mother study this book when I was very young, no doubt in preparation for teaching Sunday School Lessons or for helping us with ours. I remember reading from it when I…..
In my last post I told you the thought behind writing “A Litany of Prayer for a Loving Attitude.” And I admitted that I, like many others, have struggled with loving myself.
Having struggled and won that battle I’m going to touch on the topic of Love and Perfection.
I think there are two ways of looking at Perfection. One is in the way of thinking everything and everyone have to be perfect. The other is in thinking about…..
The question was asked of me by a young woman trying to make sense out of her life and the Christian faith she was returning to.
This is a common struggle experienced by many people. Influenced by many factors. Not easily answered. I encouraged her to seek professional counseling and thankfully she did. Too many don’t and their lives keep spiraling downward.
Why is it so hard to love myself in this condition?
This question was asked of me by…..
In my book, “Praying Our Way Through Stress” in writing about The Lord’s Prayer and the phrase; Save us from the time of trial I quote Luke 22:31, which reads:
“Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
I go on to write:
Perhaps this relates to Peter (aka Simon) having his faith shaken by the arrest,…..
When I was a young girl I had to take one of my math classes three times. I was embarrassed, was called stupid and afraid I would never get into college. I cried in class one day. My teacher talked with me after class and told me they were proud of my struggle to and desire to learn. That encouragement helped me to persevere and eventually understand the concepts in algebra so that I could pass the course. The experience…..
It’s a question I asked my Sunday School teacher when I was a young girl. I think I was in either 5th or 6th grade when I asked her this question. I had friends of different denominations and maybe even different religions – I’m not sure. But I remember we were having a conversation about Jesus…..
When Jesus opens the scroll in the temple and begins reading, he reads about why the Holy Spirit is upon him. It’s upon him for specific work. Christians are familiar with reading this in the Gospel of Luke 4:17-19
There is a list of work, works of love, that Jesus reads about and then goes about doing, and he does it all. Good…..