“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me, give ear to me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 6:9) Many of us have already heard the joke about life’s three greatest lies. You know, “I’m from Washington and I’m here to help; the check is in the mail; and, I’m praying for you”. While we laugh at the humor behind those words, we are embarrassed to admit that few of us rarely live up to the promise, “I’m praying for you”. Now don’t get me wrong. […]

“And now, please let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. (Isaiah 5:5) One of my favorite pastors once told me, “The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He does not go where he is not wanted.” I wonder if this statement could be applied to what’s happening in our country today. There is no doubt that God placed a hedge of protection around […]

“And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:28) I am a product of a blended family. In other words, as a child I lived under the same roof with a parent and a stepparent, both of whom were rearing children of their own. I am now the head of a blended family. And while my whole perspective about it has changed, one thing hasn’t: Harmony in a blended family is a difficult to sustain. I am ashamed to admit this, […]

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) We often think that God is never around for the little things. That’s mainly because the only time we ever look for him is when hard times come our way. The truth is God is always with us and reveals himself to us in small ways, too. There’s a wonderful story in Chapter 6 of II Kings that illustrates my point. The Prophet Elisha, who was Elijah’s replacement as God’s prophet to Israel, was […]