Grains of Sand

Pixabay Some people are under the mistaken impression (though there may not be as many of them as I think) that, just because I am older and have had some experience with life, I have wisdom to offer. There are times that I am even prone to believing that myself. The truth of the matter? Yes, I am older. Yes, I have had some experiences in life that others might not have gotten around to yet. Hopefully I have learned some lessons from those experiences. Hopefully I am the wiser for them—otherwise God’s efforts in bringing them into my life might have been wasted. But whatever wisdom that has been acquired does not ultimately reside in me—I’m still frail and sometimes foolish though, hopefully, less so than once I was. The truth is, as Job 12:13 says: “ To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his .” I am reminded that one of the characteristics of a good listening ear is humility—the recognition that I come from the same messiness that the person to whom I am l...

womansheart.org Is there anything worse than giving love without getting love back? While we are to offer love without reservation and without the expectation of anything in return, to give without receiving is a painful thing. It's hard to imagine that even God would feel such pain. He gives—abundantly and without reservation—but often doesn't get a whole lot in return. As Moses continues to instruct the nation of Israel as it anticipates finally going into the land that God had promised to Abraham, he gets down to matters of the heart. " Circumcise your heart… " (Deuteronomy 10:16, NIV). The Israelites were familiar with circumcision. It was that permanent physical sign of the covenant they had made with God. The truth was that it meant nothing unless the heart of the person who bore the mark was committed to the covenant that the mark represented. Perhaps a modern day example can be found in many church directories or on most church membership rolls....

My friend, Joanne, calls him "Freaky Zieky" and he certainly is! As I was reading more of Ezekiel's story this morning, I really felt for the man. He's packing bags to go nowhere, digging holes in walls and then crawling through them. He's trembling and shuddering without the aid of zero degree temperatures. I wonder how many laughed at him right to his face? You have to give the man credit for humble and persistent obedience. It's not everyone who can make a fool of himself on purpose. In the midst of all the dire predictions of murder, mayhem and mass destruction, all ably illustrated by Ezekiel, the Lord sends an absolute ray of sunshine. Seemingly out of nowhere Almighty God chooses to encourage the people upon whom his judgment has fallen. He took pity on his prophet. Ezekiel was overcome with grief, and God reached down to minister to him (Ezekiel 11:13). The Lord says: " I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries...