It is in the quiet crucible of your personal private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born and God’s greatest gifts are given. (Whintley Phipps) I wrote down this quote while watching a Gospel music concert. The singer who said it sounded as if he knew what he was talking about—in a moment, his heart was…
Tag: faith
258. Just be
“What could I do?’” A familiar exclamation from humanity in difficult times that echoes the fear and despondency of an upside-down world. It stands in stark contrast to the cry, what should I do, where action is implied and rather reflects a hopeful vision of the future. We need only look around us to see that…
248. Ghosts and gods
We are all rational beings who live our lives with wisdom and discernment, without succumbing to the follies of wickedness and godlessness. It is sometimes inevitable to witness a life within a family or circle of friends take a wrong turn and descend into tragedy, while feeling powerless to help. This is not necessarily due to…
246. Great upheaval
I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound;decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled.Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Have you read these words before? If not, would you be able to guess from which book and chapter from the Bible they are? The…
245. If the foundations…
If the foundations are destroyed,What can the righteous do? (Psalms 11:3) It is only a children’s story after all with all the dramatic differences in the details while telling the same story – three little pigs, their houses and the big bad wolf that blows, with the threat of biting and, of course, killing. Little pigs are…
243. A “Rome-day”
Slowly but surely during my childhood years, I acquired a deep admiration for Europe and everything European – lifestyle, food and gardening combined with all the gorgeous fabrics and furniture, coffee in cozy cafés, tea in dainty cups and teapots with tea cozies insulating the brew to stretch the ritual of a culture that celebrated creativity…
239. Look out, look up… and see
It is Holy Week. For us urban dwellers in the New Jerusalem, citizens of the Kingdom of God, members of the Body of Christ it is the most holy time to reflect on the foundation of our faith; that which it is all about – the Cross of Jesus. As all of humankind we ARE because…
237. Feet of faith
Let us linger a bit longer in the words of Habakkuk – words of gold for all times and ages. Habakkuk moves his thought-horizons from threatening political upheaval to a heavenly perspective with eternal applications. The effect of his “new” thinking is a joyful praise-song and an inspired spirit that stirs faith and builds trust in God for…
236. Wisdom that laughs
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. (Proverbs 31:25, NLT) I don’t think it is easy to laugh about the future. It might rather take a big effort not to cry about the future. The world is evil… and violent… and uncertain… and dirty. The list of wrongs could be very long,…
230. Pray for the impossible
Don’t give up. Our God specializes in things thought impossible. Sing the song of Moses: “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15) The immeasurable privilege to enter the throne room of the Most High God of the universe, by the Blood of Jesus, is unequaled on the list of human privileges that…
Pebbles of Perpetuity 