endurance
Recently, I took a 17-hour road trip and my family and a foreign exchange student we were hosting were also along for the ride. To save time, we attempted to cut through a bordering country. We were turned away at the border, however, because our exchange student did not possess the right paperwork. Good security resulted in bad news for us. Disappointed, but undeterred, we took the long way to our destination.
Don’t miss the final message in a series on Mark chapter 8
Every day we add to the pages of our life story. Based on your actions today, what will your eventual biography reflect? Let’s take a cue from the story of a blind man’s encounter with Jesus to help us write our own narrative; one that points others to the Lord.
“Please, take my life!”–Alexandra’s Story Part 2 of 2
There are some events in life that no one could survive in their own strength. Hear the remarkable story of how God intervened to rescue a young orphan girl from the devastation and despair of a Nazi labor camp. The inspiring conclusion of Alexandra’s story. Find out more of what the Bible says about “Out…
Big Spring
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a remarkable natural wonder—a pool about 40 feet deep and 300 feet across that Native Americans called “Kitch-iti-kipi,” or “the big cold water.” Today it is known as The Big Spring. It is fed by underground springs that push more than 10,000 gallons of water …
what counts
The other day I was teasing a male colleague about the look of his lunch bag. The bag featured striped pastel colors with what appeared to be daisies around the edges.
Facing life’s unanswerable questions
In a sense, I am a problematic kid. I have many questions. I wonder: What is the purpose of life? Why do we undergo sorrows and pain? If God loves us, why did He take our loved ones, why doesn’t He heal all sick people in the hospital, why are there people […]
Consider The Lilies
I enjoy nature and giving praise to its Creator, but I sometimes wrongly feel guilty for admiring it too much. Then I remember that Jesus used nature as a teaching tool. To encourage people not to worry, He used simple wildflowers as an example. “Consider the lilies,” He said, and then reminded people that even though flowers do no work at all, God dresses them in splendor. His conclusion? If God clothes something temporary in such glory, He surely will do much more for us (Matt. 6:28-34).
Discover how God often works outside the box of predictability
Are you a person of routine? Do you find stability in established processes? More from our study in Mark chapter 8.
keep your guard up
A young man and several friends drove to a ski resort, went through a gate that contained warning signs about the dangerous condition of the slopes, and started snowboarding. On the second trip down the mountain, someone shouted, “Avalanche!” but the young man couldn’t escape and perished in the cascading …
A blind man’s interaction with Jesus, and the healing he found at Christ’s hands
Pain often takes us out of our comfort zone. But what if God’s answer to our problem lies in those unwanted places?
joy in the journey
The announcement of a family road trip is the quickest way to get our eager 6-year-old twins packed and in the car. As we drive down our road, around the corner and onto the highway, however, the standard travel refrain is soon heard from the little voices in the backseat: “Are we there yet?” It’s a question that’s often repeated, and although as parents we might tire of it, the children never contemplate giving up on the journey and heading home. They might get impatient, but they want to press on to reach the destination.
The Power Of Love
Books on leadership often appear on best-seller lists. Most of them tell how to become a powerful and effective leader. But Henri Nouwen’s book In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership is written from a different perspective. The former university professor who spent many years serving in a community…
How Jesus answered the prayer of a blind man in an unexpected way
Faced with a difficult problem, we analyze all the possible solutions and formulate how to achieve the best result. But God has a habit of working outside our confined expectations! We’re studying Mark chapter 8.
“Lie Down”
Our golden retriever can get so overly excited that he will go into a seizure. To prevent that from happening, we try to calm him. We stroke him, speak to him in a soothing voice, and tell him to lie down. But when he hears “lie down,” he avoids eye contact with us and starts complaining. Finally, with a dramatic sigh of resignation, he gives in and plops to the floor.
Me And Dad
A friend once spent a day installing large stone steps in his backyard. When his 5-year-old daughter begged to help, he suggested she just sing to encourage him in his work. She said no. She wanted to help. Carefully, when it would not endanger her, he let her place her hands on the rocks as he moved them.
