By Mary Carothers “I just got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” “I’m just in a bad mood.” Have you ever heard either of these expressions? Or perhaps said them yourself? We like to excuse ourselves, don’t we? (My bad attitude or bad mood is never my fault!) Oh, no. Of course not! But did you …
Jesus’ disciples were called ignorant and unlearned. Jesus taught them for three years and at their graduation ceremony they all fled when He was arrested. Yet before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He gave them their assignment. Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation (Mark 16:15 NIV). Jesus also told His disciples that they would …
How long does it take to get strong muscles? Not a very simple question to answer, is it? But it’s the same as a question I often hear, “How long does it take to learn how to praise the Lord and see good things happen?” Babies take a long time to develop strength. How long depends on many factors including …
By Mary Carothers There are certain areas in our lives that we cannot handle alone. We recognize our need and readily look to the Lord for His strength, His help. This is as it should be. The problem comes at other times when we think we can do just fine on our own. Maybe we have learned a lot in …
One day, when I was a little girl in first or second grade, I made a discovery. I found out that all fathers are not the same. It was recess time, and a little friend and I stood talking. I don’t remember what we were talking about. I remember only this one statement she made: “When I want something, I …
I sometimes think that I have been mistreated. When someone says something to me that I feel is unfair, I immediately want to say something back. At the time, it seems to me that I would feel much better if I told the person how unfair they are. But I’ve long since learned that what I may feel like saying …
By Mary Carothers I love Christmas! I love the family get-togethers. I love thinking about the presents Merlin and I are going to give to those we love. The decorations are one of the most “fun” parts of Christmas. I really get into decorating our home for the holidays. And the lights! Ah, how I love the lights of Christmas. …
We learned to eat, walk, talk, and read. Everything we learn takes time and effort. We often complain that it takes too long to learn some things. Animals learn to eat, walk, and develop most of their communication skills soon after they are born. Why does it take so long for us to learn? Quite simply, that’s the way God …
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 …
