And because you are so much more than good, you teach people like me your ways; ways much better than my own and paths much more well lit than the dark paths I might choose on my own.
For a very long time I have been comforted by the words of Psalm 25, especially during times of difficulty, uncertainty, and confusion. Let’s look at the words of the Psalmist:
Show me your ways, Lord,
[Show me, because I do not know the way to go. I want your will to be done in my life, I my family, in my…
Walking together, showing the way, bringing in the harvest.
I took this photo one afternoon when my family decided to drive a hour out of town on a somewhat treacherous road for a hike that we thought would lead us to a waterfall. The hike ended up being much longer than we imagined and the waterfall much less impressive than we had hoped, but the hike provided many good photos. This is one of my favorites — a little girl walking the trail with her mother coming in from the fields following a morning in the fields.
This little girl…
The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ― James 3:17
The fruit of the Spirit that Paul gives in Galatians could also be summed up as the “seeds of wisdom” or the “marks of wisdom.” Wisdom looks, talks, and acts like Christ. Seek wisdom.
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ― James 3:17
Living right and doing right begins and ends with the royal law of Scripture. …
A ladybug.
So small.
On many days I never would have seen it.
My eyes would have been focused on the road ahead, or else on my feet, attempting to keep from tripping on a rock or stepping into a puddle of mud.
On this day, however, my eyes were looking at the leaves of the trees lining the road to my right.
And that is when I saw her.
The lady in red…and black.
She was beautiful…and didn’t seem to mind sharing the moment with me.
There are so many small little beauties all around us.
But we must…
This part of the prayer is not all about me and its not about me getting what I want. It is about getting what we need to survive — in our lives, in our families, in our churches, in our neighborhoods.
In all things give me what I need and no more.
Give us today our daily bread. ― Matthew 6:11
When Jesus’ disciples asked for a lesson on prayer, Jesus gave them a simple, yet profound, model for how to pray. He taught them first to pray relationally, addressing God personally and then recognizing that, although God is Heavenly Father, God is still the one-and-only God whose name is Holy.
…
Before hitting the “post” button, I need to be sure that the words on the screen reflect the current condition of my heart, as best as I understand at that moment. But when I finally do hit the button
“Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, “Is life a multiple choice test or is it a true or false test?” …Then a voice comes to me out of the dark and says, “We hate to tell you this but life is a thousand word essay.”
— Charles M. Schulz
The essay.
As a teacher, the essay is my best friend, and my worst, at the same time. …
It was not thoughtless sacrifice that God desired, but heart-felt mercy; not the aroma from the smoke of burnt offerings floating the heavens, but hearts turned toward the Heavenly Father in all circumstances and situations.
Let love and mercy be the starting point of everything I do.
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. ― Hosea 6:6
Some people see the New Testament as a complete departure and overturning of the Law of Moses and the Old Testament sacrificial system. However, even in the Old Testament writings we catch glimpses of the heart of God breaking through the words of the ancient writers — mercy, not sacrifice. …
God is love. Love is the defining, foundational, and central characteristic of God’s nature. The kind of love that is God, in Greek, is known as agape. It is NOT a love based on attraction (romantic relationships), obligation (parental relationships, or shared interests (friendship relationships).
Let love and mercy be the starting point of everything I do.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. ― 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks in depth about the spiritual gifts that we use to serve in the church and for the common good of humanity –
- wisdom, knowledge, and faith
- prophecy, miraculous powers, and discernment of spirits,
- discernment of spirits,
- languages and interpretation of languages
Each of these is given by the Holy Spirit and each is needed for the Church to carry out its…
When we put our trust in Christ we become a “new creation,” with new kingdom DNA! Our thoughts, words, and actions are constructed with new building blocks — love, mercy, justice, truth, grace, peace, and blessing — and, like the natural creation, are seen an expressed in limitless variations in every place, every situation, and everyone!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.
― 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
The magnificent diversity of the created world is mind-boggling! From the smallest ant to the largest elephant, the most delicate flowers to the fortress-like Redwoods, the sweetest strawberry to the sourest lime, not to mention the incredible diversity of humanity. The artwork of God truly is amazing!
Perhaps most amazing is the fact that all of this diversity is coded into the world with DNA, a molecule found inside every living organism, and consisting of only…
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, the first request is “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The kingdom of God — the jurisdiction, domain, or administration — is found where God’s will is being done, the purpose and mission of God is being carried out, and the name of God is holy, sacred, and honored.
Let your kingdom rule in my body, my relationships, and my world.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ― Luke 11:2
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, the first request is “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The kingdom of God — the jurisdiction, domain, or administration — is found where God’s will is being done, the purpose and mission of God is being carried out, and the name of God is holy, sacred, and honored.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see…
S.E. Fairbanks
I teach, sing, write, play guitar and basketball, read, and pray that “if I must err, let it be in the direction of love.” Visit www.DoEverythingInLove.com
