“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, ESV) In 1822 Thomas Gillet published a collection of stories. One of them is titled “The Devil and the Doctor.”Continue reading “The Monkey on Your Back”
Tag Archives: hope
Our Pet Rocks
“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10, ESV) Many years ago, a man named Gary Dahl came up with an idea. He created a fad called the Pet Rock. These were being marketed and sold in retail stores in theContinue reading “Our Pet Rocks”
Shedding the Load
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV) When I lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I participated in an annual 5-K race on the fourth of July. Following the 5-K they had a 1-mile Survival Run where the participants ran in combatContinue reading “Shedding the Load”
Defeating the Blame Game
“So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12, ESV) When I was a boy, my brother and I used to get in trouble a lot. We would be doing something that we should not have and possibly break something. My mother would try to investigate the problem. However,Continue reading “Defeating the Blame Game”
When Others Hurt With You
“So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head . . . Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”” (Job 2:7-9, ESV) One evening as IContinue reading “When Others Hurt With You”
A Spiritual Training Center
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see theContinue reading “A Spiritual Training Center”
Spiritual Examination
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.” (2 Corinthians 13:5, CSB) With regards to our health, we often need to examine ourselves. We are told by doctors to be sensitive to changes in ourContinue reading “Spiritual Examination”
When Spiritual Illness Hits – 1 Jn 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV) I remember one time as a child that my day was at work, and I did something that I was not supposed to do. I played around with hisContinue reading “When Spiritual Illness Hits – 1 Jn 1:9”
A Chronic Condition Eph 2:1-2, 4-5
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—” (Ephesians 2:1–2, ESV) Anyone who has owned a car will realize that it hasContinue reading “A Chronic Condition Eph 2:1-2, 4-5”
The Prescription
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:13–14, ESV) When you go to a medical doctorContinue reading “The Prescription”
Renewing the Heart 