mercy

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 Illusion of Independence

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28) We spend much of our lives making plans, solving problems, and managing responsibilities. It’s easy to begin thinking we’re carrying more of life than we actually are.…
Take It In, Breathe It Out

Scripture Focus: “The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” — Job 33:4 It’s easy to move through a day without ever thinking about something as simple as breathing. It just happens—quietly, steadily, without effort, announcement, or applause. We don’t schedule it. We don’t earn it.…
Holding On Through the Storms

Scripture Focus: “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it…” —Song of Solomon 8:7 Real love is not a paper umbrella in a thunderstorm. It’s not the kind of thing that collapses the moment the wind picks up or life starts throwing sideways rain. Scripture describes true love as something stronger than…
Spiritual Baggage and Generational Patterns

Scripture Focus: “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep…
Where Mercy and Truth Meet

Scripture Focus: Psalm 85:10–11 “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” If Psalm 85:10–11 were a recipe, it would have some of the richest ingredients a soul could live on: mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace.…
Where You’re Going, He Already Is

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” There’s something deeply comforting about knowing God goes before us. He never points us toward a hard place and then stands back…
Still Mine

(For my beloved son, David—no distance, no darkness, and no mistakehas ever changed the love that carries you.) There is a space beside methat does not belong to silence—it belongs to you. The world keeps movingas if nothing has been misplaced. But something has. A piece of my breathingwalks this earthoutside my reach. My hands…
The Balancing of the Clouds

Job 37:16“Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?” Job was spoken to from within a storm. God spoke from the whirlwind. He met Job in a place of noise, confusion, and upheaval, not after the storm had passed, but while it was still raging.…
Love in Its Truest Form

Love is not the spark alone,Not roses laid at twilight’s door,Not whispered words that fade by noon,Or hearts sketched lightly on a shore. Love is not the pulse of thrillThat races bright, then settles low.It is the quiet, steadfast willTo stay when lesser feelings go. It is the lamp in storm-tossed air,The hand that does…