Our mattress is fine when only one of us in on it, but add the second person and we roll to the middle. The search for a new mattress provided an unexpected opportunity to walk by faith — especially since Larry and I had some desires that seemed incompatible. How do we use our faith in selecting a mattress? As I asked the Lord to lead us I was reminded of some principles.

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The knot in the pit of my stomach reminded me of my disappointment. “Lord, what do you want me to learn from this” I prayed. The disappointment was nothing earth shaking, but something I had looked forward to, and spent money, time and effort on, had not lived up to its billing. Now it was installed and part of my life.

I sensed the Lord asking me to trust Him. As I reviewed the facts I realized that Larry and I had done our research, sought God’s leading and done the best we could with the knowledge we had. One of the purchases met our expectation; there had been no way to predict that the second one would not. The lesson for me was to trust God in what I could not understand. (Read More)

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Naaman was commander of the army of Aram. He was a valiant, successful soldier, but he had leprosy. He went to Israel to seek healing and returned with not only restored skin, but a new heart, a new value system, and hauling two donkey-loads of dirt. That’s right, dirt.

Naaman arrived in Israel in search of a miracle, carrying a royal letter of introduction from his king, nearly half a ton of riches and a proud heart. He had prestige and could pay for his miracle. When Elisha sent word through a servant for him to wash seven times in the Jordan River, his pride caused him to stomp off in a rage. The prophet didn’t even have the courtesy to address him in person. His homeland had better rivers than Israel. But his servants begged him to try the prophet’s strange prescription. (Read More)

“But he’s got high hopes, he’s got high hopes. He’s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes.” Perhaps you remember these lyrics from HIgh Hopes by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen where each verse ends with “oops there goes another…” impossible obstacle.

Do you have high hopes? Hope, peace and joy are precious commodities. Unfortunately, like delicate ornaments, too often they seem to go “kerplop.”A verse that repeatedly helps me reclaim these priceless gifts is Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” NIV (Read More)

A young woman shared through tears that despite the sorrow and loss of the unexpected death of her father, remembering her father’s testimony of receiving Christ brought her supreme comfort. When she felt sad she would remember where her daddy was and that she would see him again. The apostle John wrote, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Do you know that you have eternal life? If so, have you shared your testimony of faith with those you love? Leaving a will provides practical help for your loved ones, but leaving a testimony of faith provides peace and hope at their time of loss.

This week I got a call that shocked me. A friend called to tell me that her husband of 35 years had died the day before — the day after Christmas. As we talked I remembered Gary’s story of coming to Christ. I am sure he had no idea of the ongoing ramifications of that one decision, especially now when he is gone. (Read More)