God had brought His people out of slavery, cared for them forty years in the desert, and now was bringing them in to their inheritance – the land He had promised long ago to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He had given them victory over Jericho; Ai was next. Because there were few men in Ai, only two or three thousand …
Most of us don’t like to be criticized. When someone finds fault with us, it wounds our egos and makes us feel uncomfortable. A good, experienced critic can make havoc of a perfectly enjoyable day. We can get away from most critics. We can choose a new job, live somewhere else, or find new friends. But there is another kind …
Sometimes on cold winter nights, I enjoy soaking in a tub of nice hot water. I add my bath oil, climb in, and enjoy myself. Soaking in the warm water relaxes me, makes me feel peaceful, and when I leave the water, the sweet fragrance of the oil lingers. This world is “cold” to those who truly follow Jesus. We …
Does praising the Lord actually cause things to happen? Do circumstances and events really change? I mean, do they really change? It depends! First, it depends upon what we actually do when we “praise the Lord.” If we follow certain prescribed rules in a mechanical way, we can look back at our efforts and say, “I’ve done everything exactly as …
Paul, the faithful servant of Christ, had a problem. He had what he called a “thorn-in-the-flesh.” The Bible has never told us just what his “thorn” was. Some have thought Paul was referring to his poor eyesight, but it seems that God has always left it open… perhaps to more clearly teach us a principle. The “thorn” may have been …
Praising God as an act of outward obedience is a good thing, but it is only the beginning. If we come to the point where our praise seems to break down, that usually means something more is required. The price is high – and the paying often painful; we must give up that one thing that blocks our relationship with …
By Mary Carothers In Old Testament times, when a lamb was chosen to be the sacrifice, it was “set apart” from others in the flock. This was in order to examine it for a period of time to be sure that it was “without spot or blemish.” Jesus, of course, was the Sacrificial Lamb of God. He, and He alone, …
It is extremely important that you enjoy what you have. Think about it. Meditate on it. Concentrate on it. For, if you don’t, you will soon be thinking, meditating, and concentrating on what you don’t have. The old slogan, “accentuate the positive,” is sound, and it is essential that we heed its advice if we want to be …
By Mary Carothers It was a bad dream. I dreamed one of my children was severely injured and I was terribly distressed. As I was on my knees, crying out to God in despair, I began to wake up. The Lord began to teach me something, but it didn’t make much sense to me. You see, you’re awake now… you’re …
Having been a pastor, an Army chaplain and in the ministry for many years, I have been led by God through places where I have seen and experienced much pain and suffering. During World War II and in conflicts in Korea, Dominican Republic, and Vietnam, I saw some of the horrible suffering that this world can inflict upon us. On …
