The word opportunity comes from two words in Latin, “ob” meaning “in front of, or toward” and “portus”, meaning “harbor”. One entomologist summed it up beautifully, saying that it means: “The wind that takes you home.” That is a lovely image that implies smooth sailing toward our goal. Opportunities do not always come knocking on…
From “Life Lessons from Romans” by Max Lucado: “God of peace, teach us what it means to be peacemakers. Help us to cultivate peace between others and you – in our churches, neighborhoods, offices, and schoolrooms. Help us to start today in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Teach us to rely on you to defend…
There are many good quotes about mistakes. My favorite is, “Embrace your mistakes (unless you dated them).” Sometimes we do embrace our mistakes at our own peril, because it is hard to let them go. As my next favorite quote put it: “You can pick up your mistakes and carry them like a burden; or…
Prayer Seed: Dear Abba, Thank you for loving us! Thank you for putting Your love for us into action through Jesus’ sacrifice so we can have salvation. Please help us to be a reflection of Your love through our actions with other people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Manipulative people use cunning and craftiness in their deceitful schemes, trying to manipulate and control others. Advertisers are notorious for trying to manipulate parents into buying the latest toy or gadget for their children. They make the product look exciting and hope the children will beg their parents to buy it for them for Christmas…
Prayer Seed: Dear Abba, Thank you that when we believe in You and accept You as our Lord and Savior, we can have everlasting life. Thank you for being food for our soul, for sustaining us, and always being with us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I have written about compassion, which has a lot in common with kindness. In fact, we sometimes use the two terms interchangeably. The difference, for me, is that kindness is an attitude while compassion is an action. Kindness is the good intention; compassion is the follow-through. Compassion does not exist without a kind attitude. Kindness…
Prayer Seed: Dear Abba, Thank you for the sacrifice that Jesus made, by shedding His blood and giving His body, so we can have the gift of salvation when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Thank you that we can have everlasting spiritual satisfaction through Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. In…
People talk about inspiration as though it comes to us, like a flash of lightning, out of nowhere. And, in some cases, it seems to, but the word literally means that ideas come from “the spirit within us.” A dictionary definition is “the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to…
Prayer Seed: Dear Abba, Please help me to have a better attitude regarding things I really don’t like to do. Please help me to change my thinking from “I have to” to “I get to”. With Your guidance, I can find things to be thankful about in all situations. Instead of complaining about having to…