faith

The Poverty of Plenty

“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” -Ecclesiastes 5:10 Have you ever noticed how quickly “just a little more” quietly becomes “still not enough”? Solomon certainly did. Few people have ever possessed more wealth, influence, opportunities, or accomplishments than he did.…
Still Under Construction

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:6 Most of us like to think we’re making good progress in our Christian walk. We learn to be patient, extend grace, and speak kindly. Then someone cuts…
The Fragrance of Our Influence

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour…” — Ecclesiastes 10:1 I have always found this to be one of the most vivid illustrations in Scripture. An apothecary would carefully blend fragrant oils and costly spices into a beautiful perfume. Every ingredient was chosen with care, yet it only…
The Wind in the Branches

There are some things in life we know are real, even though we’ve never actually seen them. I’ve never seen the wind. I’ve watched towering trees bow beneath its strength, curtains billow through an open window, leaves skitter across the driveway as though they suddenly remembered an appointment somewhere else, and clouds drift across the…
Roots by the River

Scripture Focus: “For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:8 I…
Room for One More

One of the things I learned to appreciate about my father is that he never seemed to spend much time asking whether he could afford to help someone. He simply helped them. That probably sounds reckless to some people. Looking back, there were certainly times when our own circumstances weren’t exactly overflowing with abundance. We…
The Chapters Before Us

Father’s Day has a way of making me think about things I didn’t understand when I was younger. Not because nobody explained them to me, but because children have a limited view of the world. They see what’s directly in front of them and assume that’s the whole story. When I was little, I knew…
The Sound of a Praying Father

Scripture Focus: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” — James 5:16 When I think of my father, many memories come to mind, but one rises above most of the others. The sound of him praying. While my dad was still living, I didn’t always fully appreciate what I was hearing. It…
The View from a Grateful Heart

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about just how much I have to be thankful for. The more I think about it, the more I realize how many blessings I’ve simply grown accustomed to. Like Israel gathering manna each morning, it’s easy to become so familiar with God’s gifts that we stop…
The First Concern

A few days ago, I witnessed a scene in a grocery store that has stayed with me. A young mother was standing in the checkout line with three small children. The youngest, perhaps four years old, was helping place items on the conveyor belt. It made me smile. I thought to myself, Boy, you don’t…