6Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8And God will generously …
Out of the Chaos
Inspiration for living outside of the chaos.
This week I chose to focus on our faces and the impact a cheerful look or a scornful look can impart. My daughter, Emily, has two daughters. When Emily was less than a year old she learned to scowl. We thought it was hilarious and often asked her to do it for others. Now Emily …
Dormitories are the environments where the best and the worst are likely to be seen. I went to Bible school immediately after high school. I tried to avoid morning classes if at all possible, but someone had to take them. There are two classmates that stand out to me all these years later. Sharon was …
There was a woman who loved auctions and estate sales. One day she found herself wandering among the furniture at an auction when she looked to the side and saw another woman wandering the items as well. She looked away and thought to herself, “My! She was really grumpy!” Turning back to see if she …
It is a guarantee that our bodies will experience weakness and exhaustion. It is the signal our bodies give that we need to slow down and rest. Sleep is one of the five elements needed to survive. Our spirits also become weak, tired and exhausted. I remember one time meeting with my pastor to discuss …
Encountering the stars, I learn of God’s power and strength which helps me to know that His understanding is deeper than I can comprehend. He surely sees my troubles! He knows what I experience! But what is He doing about it? What response does He have? 28Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is …
Monday evening I went outside to look at the stars. I chose the front yard because there are fewer lights there than in the back. Opening the door, I snapped off the porch light and was immediately surrounded by deep darkness. So dark, in fact, that I couldn’t see the sidewalk. I did not let …
What did you learn by noticing the stars? Were you able to calculate how many there are, even counting them? Naming them? Yeah — me neither. But the immensity of the galaxies is certainly amazing, isn’t it? In Isaiah 40, God invites the reader to consider the stars. Then he asks two questions: 27O Jacob, …
As I sit here with my computer opened before me, I wonder what to write. I wonder if others are experiencing the same feelings that plague me. I wonder if I should expose my inner thoughts. I wonder how to make a difference in the lives of my readers. And then my mind starts to …
The center book of the Bible is Psalm 118. Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter of the Bible and Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible. There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after. If you add those together, you get 1188. Psalm 118:8 could be said to be the …
Out of the Chaos 