Guru Joseph How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. Psalm 35:17 A test match in the game of cricket can be grueling. Competitors play from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with lunch and tea breaks, but the games can last up to five days. It’s a … Read more
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil. Psalm 34:12–13 Napoleon’s defeat in Russia 200 years ago was attributed to the harsh Russian winter. One specific problem was that his horses were wearing summer horseshoes. When winter came, these horses died because they slipped on icy … Read more
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 Fear sneaks into my heart without permission. It paints a picture of helplessness and hopelessness. It steals my peace and my concentration. What am I fearful about? I’m concerned about the safety of my family or the health … Read more
[Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 The alarm clock goes off. Too early, it seems. But you have a long day ahead. You have work to do, appointments to keep, people to care for, or all this and more. Well, you are … Read more
The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:4 It became painfully clear the first time my wife and I collaborated on a writing project that procrastination was going to be a major obstacle. Her role was to edit my work and keep me on schedule; my role seemed to be … Read more
The Lord is my light and my salvation. Psalm 27:1 Some young children have trouble falling asleep at night. While there may be many reasons for this, my daughter explained one of them as I turned to leave her bedroom one evening. “I’m afraid of the dark,” she said. I tried to relieve her fear, … Read more
Let no one who waits on You be ashamed. Psalm 25:3 nkjv The military command, “Mark Time, March” means to march in place without moving forward. It is an active pause in forward motion while remaining mentally prepared and expectantly waiting the next command. In everyday language, the term marking time has come to mean … Read more
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 I like watching birds, an activity I developed while growing up in a forest village in Ghana where there were many different species of birds. In the city suburb where I now live, I … Read more
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 In 1891, Biddy Mason was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Los Angeles. That wasn’t unusual for a woman born into slavery, but it was remarkable for someone as accomplished as Biddy. After winning her freedom in a court battle in 1856, … Read more
Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us. Luke 1:78 nlt It’s only a keychain. Five little blocks held together by a shoelace. My daughter gave it to me years ago when she was seven. Today the lace is frayed and the blocks are chipped, but they … Read more
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39 In the midday heat of summer, while traveling in the American South, my wife and I stopped for ice cream. On the wall behind the counter we saw a sign reading, “Absolutely No Snowmobiling.” The … Read more
He has sent me . . . to bestow on [those who grieve] a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning. Isaiah 61:1, 3 “We’re cutting your job.” A decade ago those words sent me reeling when the company I worked for eliminated my position. At the time, I … Read more
He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14:23 During a concert, singer-songwriter David Wilcox responded to a question from the audience about how he composes songs. He said there are three aspects to his process: a quiet room, an empty page, and the question, “Is there something I should know?” It … Read more
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. Exodus 13:17 Life’s path is often difficult. So if we expect that God will always give us an easy road, we may be tempted to turn our back on Him when the terrain … Read more
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11 Mary was widowed and facing serious health challenges when her daughter invited her to move into the new “granny apartment” attached to her home. Although it would involve leaving friends and the rest of her family many miles away, Mary rejoiced in God’s provision. … Read more
Last week I was on the phone catching up with an old friend when she asked me, “What’s new with you?” She had just returned from a European vacation and came home to a new apartment in the city, a new job and a new car. I sat there in silence for a few seconds, … Read more
Have you ever gone to bed with the light on? It’s what happens when you’re a 21-year-old me, having stayed up till 2 a.m. to finish a suspense novel. And when it so happens that the main character (a single young woman) wakes up to find some psychopath leering over her bed even though the deadbolt was fastened … Read more
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. James 3:9 When my grandmother came to Mexico as a missionary, she had a hard time learning Spanish. One day she went to the market. She showed her shopping list to the … Read more