1 Timothy 6:6 (MSG)
A devout life does bring wealth,
but it’s the rich simplicity
of being yourself before God.
1 Timothy 6:6 (MSG)
A devout life does bring wealth,
but it’s the rich simplicity
of being yourself before God.
“Prosperity is a great mercy,
but adversity is a greater one,
if it brings us to Christ.”
J. C. Rylie (1816-1900)
Do you have enough? More than enough? Or do you need more?
• There’s never quite enough
• I’m good
• I have more than is good for me
Think of people around the world. Think of people through the ages. Would those folks like to have what you have? Would you want to trade places with them? In truth, most of us have more than we need. We have plenty. Abundance.
Give credit where credit is due:
ISIS attacks drove Christians in Iraq from their homes. In the historic Christian city of Qaraqosh, for example, almost all of the 50,000 residents left to find shelter elsewhere, some families packed into small spaces for years. 14,000 of them have chosen to return, finding their homes and churches destroyed.
Samaritan’s Purse is helping to rebuild. Project Nehemiah has helped complete almost 500 homes, with 250 more in progress.
“When we fled, we kept our faith. God is not limited to one area . . . In Him we are so strong. He is always by our side in the darkest times.”
Atheer, one of the returning Christians
Lord, we pray that your Church in Iraq will grow and thrive. Provide the money, materials and muscle power to restore their buildings. May they worship, work, sleep and share the good news of Christ in safety.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIRV)
But they make themselves humble . . .
They pray and look to me.
And they turn from their evil ways.
Then I will listen to them from heaven.
I will forgive their sin.
And I will heal their land.
Healing starts with humility:
In his second inaugural address, President Lincoln offered this possible explanation for the loss of life in the Civil War:
” . . . until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword . . .”
What price, then, might America pay for every life lost through abortion?
I’m pro-life, anti-abortion. But I can understand why someone might choose an abortion.
This I don’t understand:
How a woman can see a pregnancy through 18, 24 or 30 weeks without choosing. How she can hear the heartbeat, see the ultrasound, feel the flutters and jabs of little arms and legs–and then decide, “good riddance.”
And this:
How folks can grandstand, celebrate and light up the night sky, declaring “this is a victory for women everywhere.”
This week, the state of New York made abortion legal up to the time of birth.
I don’t often make a public stand on a political position, but I cannot let this one pass. Those people who celebrated this law have lost sight of an important truth:
The womb is created to be a safe shelter for the unborn.
Psalm 139:13
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
The God who sees into the womb saw their cheers and applause. I know our Lord can forgive even this offense, should they have a change of heart.
Change their hearts, O God!