As we look into the unknown territory of hearing God’s voice, we discover a keyed entry through which we must pass. It is a singular narrow gate, accessed one way and one way only. A writer in the New Testament explains this succinctly: “God…spoke long ago..in many ways, (but) in these last days He has spoken to us in His …
“Pain became the pathway by which He drew near. And as I saw Him, my faith enlarged, knowing that this same Presence and Comfort would be available each day anew. The power of His personal appearance transforms us from within, resulting in a greater change than merely removing unpleasant circumstances. Faith grows as I see Him. Sometimes only tears can wash my eyes …
Without remorse, she scooped the last of the cosmetics into the waste urn. The rose-petal rouge, the lead-sulfide eye shadow, and the chalky face whitener would no longer be needed. Yesterday, these products seemed essential for an aging woman in her line of work. Today, she cast them aside without value onto the layers of scented fabrics that she had …
As she stared at the eBay site, the antique shop owner pondered how to value the weathered baseball card. Seventy-two-year-old Bernice Gallego had never heard of the team, so assigning a value to the Cincinnati Red Stocking B. B. Club was near impossible. Ten dollars was the minimum bid, so she chose that valuation and dismissed it in her mind. …
By Kandy Persall I hate waste. I’m not sure if it stems from a childhood of pinching pennies or adulthood of recycling in Asia. Anyway, if something seems wasteful, it bothers me. The caveat is that what I consider waste is someone else’s need. I feel that buying tickets to a sporting event is an extravagance, but my husband swears …
Dear Mentor, The endless reading of devotional books has left my spirit cold. Isn’t there more to this life than the well-written, well-worded thoughts of man? Signed, Searching Dear Searching, Yes. As a matter of fact, there …
Jesus, I’ve been thinking about the alabaster vial from which you were anointed (Matthew 26:7). Doubtless, the flask itself was ornately carved and had traveled from a great distance, as alabaster was native to Egypt not Israel. A calcite formation, ancient alabaster was usually from caves of stalagmitic limestone. Easily carved with a knife, how amazing it …
“Everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean, but it shall be purified with water for impurity. But whatever cannot stand the fire you shall pass through the water” (Numbers 31:23). You can stand the fire, not just the washing of water. You have been crushed and …
