Category Archives: hope
When Things Unravel
Like the unraveling of a rope, the threads of Doug Merkey’s life were breaking one by one. “My mother had lost her prolonged battle with cancer; a long-term romantic relationship was failing; my finances were depleted; my vocation was foggy. . . . The emotional and spiritual darkness around me and within me was deepContinue reading “When Things Unravel”
He Is Waiting…
I Become What I Express
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.—Proverbs 15:2 Why is the tongue so important? Because the expression of a thing deepens the impression. A word uttered becomes a word made flesh—in us. We become the incarnation of what we express. Jesus said, “For by your wordsContinue reading “I Become What I Express”
That HE Would Even Speak to You
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart.—Jeremiah 15:16 If you were to receive a note from the leader of your country or someone famous, you would probably save it as a keepsake. How much more precious is a message from almightyContinue reading “That HE Would Even Speak to You”
Keep the View from the Throne
Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling… How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:11-12) Everything going on around us in the world is a distraction that seems to contradict the sovereignty and purpose of the Father. Global conflicts, oppressive government regimes, massive suffering, and the dominance of evil readilyContinue reading “Keep the View from the Throne”
Praise Opens the Heart
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God (Psalm 42:1 NKJV). The psalmist gives us an example of the difference between praying our prayers and truly praying. He really wanted a relationship with God more than anything else in the world. Many people pray without earnestly wantingContinue reading “Praise Opens the Heart”
Are You Sorry Enough?
“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned….” Ps. 51:4 When you sin and then feel sorrow in repentance, why are you sorry? Are you sorry because you have been untrue to the Lord and have grieved the Holy Spirit? Or are you sorry merely because you have failed, and have not come up to yourContinue reading “Are You Sorry Enough?”
No Mercy
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). We must acknowledge and admit that not much mercy is shown in this cruel world today. Abortion clinics have no mercy on the innocent life. Casinos have no mercy taking money from those who take the risk. Robbers have no mercy holding up businesses.Continue reading “No Mercy”
You’re Just Not Desperate Enough
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus ChristContinue reading “You’re Just Not Desperate Enough”
Intentional Faith 