My Thoughts and Reflections

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Psalm 86:5 (NRSV) If you are ever finding that you are in need of encouragement, begin with this verse in the Psalms!  It is so easy to get down on ourselves and to view life negatively.  Just when we are seeing success, "life" throws us the proverbial curve-ball and we are left to pick up the pieces or figure out how to live life with that new set of circumstances.   This verse tells reminds us of who God is.   The Lord, our God, is good!   How often do we blame God for the bad things that happen in our life?  We look up to heaven and shake our fists at God the moment we get a bill in the mail that is much higher than we were expecting or when someone dings our door in the parking lot and leaves without leaving a note.  God is not a God who takes delight in our suffering or in causing harm to us.  God is good and that is something...

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 15:5-6 (NIV) After Jesus sent the Holy Spirit into each of his disciples at Pentecost, he expected his followers to not only spread the good news of the gospel to those in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, but he also expected them to model the same lifestyle as he did while he was on earth. Part of that modeling included maintaining the same attitude that Jesus had, an attitude of endurance and encouragement. During Jesus' ministry, he commanded his disciples to love each other with the same love that he showed for them. Part of loving each other with the same love of Christ includes lots of encouragement. It is hard to go through the day without either needing some encouragement or seeing the need in those wh...

“For the word of the L ORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The L ORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”  - Psalm 33:4-5 (NIV) Have you noticed how it seems that our world is full of people that can never seem to tell it to you straight?  We live in a world full of liars, cheaters, two-faced people, injustice, and evil.  Does anyone tell the truth anymore?  Does anyone care about the lack of justice around the world?  Who can you rely on anymore in this messed up world?   The writer of this psalm tells us that, “the word of the L ORD is right and true.”  How refreshing it is to know that we still have one who is full of the truth and who speaks what is right!  God’s words never fail and he speaks only the truth.  We never have to worry about whether or not God’s word is reliable because we know that he only speaks the truth. The psalmist continues and tells us that God is ...