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Feeling Overcome? There’s a Way Out
Overcome. Have you ever felt that word? Just overcome. Too much to deal with. Too many disturbances in your life. Too much heartbreak. Too many concerns out of your hands. Too much. Period. Me too. Consulting Webster, I didn’t find the word used in that sense. The definition had a positive slant: to get the…
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A Mother’s Heart Never Loses Hope
I wonder what she thought—the mother of the prodigal son. We know nothing about her. She isn’t mentioned in the parable Jesus related in Luke 15:11-32. Although Scripture does not record the mother’s experience, with my mind’s eye I caught a behind-the-scenes glimpse from the perspective of a modern-day mother, recognizing vast differences in our…
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Living with Expectation in the New Year
Are you beginning this new year with expectation? Here’s a good verse of encouragement. “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 KJV). I’m ready for a new thing. Aren’t…
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Have You Ever Asked God Why?
Why, God…why did you let this happen? You could have done something! Why didn’t you? Heartbreak sends us to our knees, begging God for answers. If only we understood his purpose in heartbreak… Have you been there, devastated by calamity, crying out for an explanation? Well-meaning comforters sometimes pour on the guilt, saying we shouldn’t…
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What Does a Helpless Baby Have to Offer?
Who would’ve thought a helpless baby hidden in a basket along the edge of the Nile River would someday lead God’s people out of bondage in Egypt? Before I interview Moses, here’s the backstory. “And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly,…
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Plan B Is Never My First Choice
Plan B is never my first choice. Don’t most of us prefer Plan A? That is always the preferred route. The best course of action. The expected path to fulfillment. Surely no one starts with Plan B. Plan B is the alternate route. The way we must go when Plan A fails. The road life…
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Chosen! God Has a Purpose for Your Life
Chosen. Does the word bring back memories of a childhood game—being chosen for a particular team? Nobody wanted to be chosen last. The word took on special meaning in my adult years as I began to understand the honor of being chosen by God to serve him in a distinctive way. Stories throughout the Bible…
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God Never Neglects to Punish Evil
Evil things happen. But we can be sure God never neglects to punish evil. He may not inform us of his plans—although sometimes he does. Way back in time, when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt to the land God had promised them, a rebellion developed among the people. The ring leader was…
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God Fights for Me—Another Truth that Leads to Rest
Where did I get the idea God fights for me? I read what Moses said to the Israelites. “…Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight…
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Promises of God Are Reliable…Always and Forever
Promises. We make them casually. But our good intentions often succumb to unexpected life turns. We meant to keep our promises but circumstances hindered us. God’s promises are reliable. This time of year, while looking forward to what the coming year may bring, we also reflect on the past. With a flood of gratitude we…