Some say, after disaster, that prayer is too little, too late.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Prayer – better late than never.
Better yet, more and sooner.
We witnessed senseless evil last week. Innocent people were injured and killed, for no apparent reason. What do you think?
I was reading about the mystery man behind the mayhem. No criminal record, no red flags, nothing to raise suspicion. And yet, his life struck me as dark and joyless.
I had a sudden, startling thought:
During Stephen Paddock’s 64 years of life, I wonder, did anyone ever pray for him?
Maybe you’ve heard about the night life in Bangkok, Thailand. You many already know that women there are caught up in the sex trade. You might even know that there are ministries to such women, ministries that offer them a a way out.
Did you know that you can help?
NightLife is one such ministry. Here women work with dignity. They design and make jewelry and clothing–honest, creative and profitable employment.
Bless the work of their hands, Lord. May it be their delight–and yours. Amen.
From the NightLight Design website:
Why do we exist? For Freedom’s Sake. Why do we create and design? For Freedom’s Sake. Why do our employees labor? For Freedom’s Sake. Why should you shop? For Freedom’s Sake.
Do some Christmas shopping at NightLight. For freedom’s sake.
Yep, this sounds like something God would say:
“I forbid adultery and premarital sex not because sex is bad
but because it is good.”
Robert Boyd Munger
My Heart – Christ’s Home, 1954 
I heard a sex-ed teacher describe a lesson. She fills a glass with water and tells her students to pass it one to another, each spitting into the glass. After they all spit, she asks if anyone would like to drink the water.
Ick! Yuk. Gross.
But sex with someone you barely know, that’s OK?
God has a better plan.
Proverbs 5:15 (TLB)
Drink water from your own well–
share your love only with your wife.
.
Per the “Hookup Culture,” sex is about how good it feels, no commitment required.
It occurs to me that this is exactly what some people want in Christianity: just to feel good, no commitment required.
Luke 10:27 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.
Hugh Hefner died last week. His impact on American culture can’t be denied. Was it for better or worse?
Imagine a video replay of our lives, as seen from God’s point of view—that is, seeing our legacy, our impact on others for better or worse. Imagine if we could see how it would have worked out if we’d lived differently.
I wonder. What would the world look like if Mr. Hefner had lived differently?
There are thousands of children in America waiting for adoption. Most of them are school age, many in sibling groups.
Think of it–their homes fell apart, through death, through violence, through neglect. No grandparents, aunts or cousins are there to take them in. Each child has seen tragedy. These kids come with few belongings, but heavy baggage.
Pray–
Lord, raise up hundreds of Christian households willing to welcome these children under their loving, sheltering roofs. You know each child by name. Call them into their new homes.
