On Second Thought “Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” —1 Peter 4:8 Jealousy rarely introduces itself honestly. It does not knock at the door of the heart and announce, “I have come to make you resent another person’s happiness.” It enters disguised as disappointment, criticism,Continue reading “When Another Person’s Blessing Begins to Hurt”
Category Archives: Experiencing God
The Love That Calls Us Home
DID YOU KNOW “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” —Hosea 11:1 Hosea 11 presents one of Scripture’s most moving descriptions of God’s relationship with His people. God speaks like a loving Father remembering Israel’s childhood, teaching the nation to walk, lifting its burdens, and drawingContinue reading “The Love That Calls Us Home”
When the Resurrection Reaches Our Wallet
DID YOU KNOW “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.” —Acts 4:32 We sometimes read Acts 4 as though it describes an unreachable spiritual utopia.Continue reading “When the Resurrection Reaches Our Wallet”
When Service Becomes a Distraction
On Second Thought “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” —Luke 10:42 The home of Martha and Mary must have been filled with activity when Jesus arrived. Hospitality required preparation, and Martha accepted the responsibility of serving their honored Guest. Nothing inContinue reading “When Service Becomes a Distraction”
When the Bible Refuses to Leave Us Comfortable
DID YOU KNOW Scripture Readings: Hosea 6:1–7:16; Acts 2:42–3:26; Job 15:21–35 Most of us enjoy Scriptures that reassure us of God’s love, presence, and protection. We are less eager to linger over passages that question our priorities, expose our selfishness, or require costly change. Yet God did not give us His Word merely to affirmContinue reading “When the Bible Refuses to Leave Us Comfortable”
When Another Person’s Blessing Feels Like Your Loss
On Second Thought Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 18:10–16 Key Verse: Proverbs 6:34 “For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.” —Proverbs 6:34 Jealousy rarely introduces itself honestly. It does not normally announce, “I resent the good that God has given someone else.” Instead, it disguisesContinue reading “When Another Person’s Blessing Feels Like Your Loss”
Pentecost Was Only the First Basket
DID YOU KNOW “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” —Acts 2:4 Beginnings awaken something within us. A new ministry, friendship, school year, or opportunity carries an energy that can be difficult to sustain once the unfamiliar becomes ordinary. ActsContinue reading “Pentecost Was Only the First Basket”
When Another Person’s Success Feels Like Your Loss
On Second Thought “And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” —1 Samuel 18:9 Jealousy rarely announces itself honestly. It usually enters our thinking disguised as discernment, fairness, or concern. We tell ourselves that someone is receiving too much attention, advancing too quickly, or being praised beyond what they deserve. We may even convinceContinue reading “When Another Person’s Success Feels Like Your Loss”
When God Turns a Broken Story into a Portrait of Grace
DID YOU KNOW Hosea 1:1–2:23; Acts 1:1–26; Job 15:1–9 Did You Know that Hosea’s troubled marriage was intended to make Israel see what its unfaithfulness looked like to God? The opening chapter of Hosea is among the most emotionally difficult passages in Scripture. God commanded the prophet to marry Gomer, whose unfaithfulness would become aContinue reading “When God Turns a Broken Story into a Portrait of Grace”
Fully Alive in the Light
On Second Thought “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” —1 Thessalonians 5:5 What does it mean to live life to the fullest? The phrase often brings to mind travel, adventure, financial security, good health, fulfilled ambitions, or finally havingContinue reading “Fully Alive in the Light”