Who are you Imitating?

I'm sitting on my front porch this morning, writing this Food For Thought. The birds are singing, and a gentle breeze is refreshing. Just so you know, we're in the midst of golf season, which reminded me of an illustration I recently read.

A father who loved golf would practice in his backyard while his three-year-old daughter played nearby. Before taking a swing, he would glance to the left to aim and then to the right to ensure his daughter was safe. Only then would he h

...
read more

Surrendered Living

How many times have you thought that the answer to your problems, the remedy for your health issues, or the key to your happiness depends on someone or something outside of yourself?

Martha Washington, the first First Lady, remarked, “I have learned from experience that most of our happiness or misery is determined by our dispositions rather than our circumstances. We carry the seeds of these feelings within our minds, no matter where we go.” 

Consider for a moment how

...
read more

Your First Morning Cup

I serve a church that, without a doubt, loves its coffee. But it’s not just us who wouldn’t start the day without that first cup to wake up and clear away the cobwebs from a night's sleep—blame the Sandman!

For followers of Christ, a more meaningful start to the day—alongside their coffee—is morning prayer, which they do before their feet hit the floor. This prayer is spoken to the God of the Universe, whether it’s when you get out of bed, while making coffee, during your

...
read more

Armor Up!

The Sensitivity plant, found on Hawaii's Big Island, is named for its delicate reactions to nearby movement, including the wind. It closely resembles grass or weeds and is hard to tell apart unless you're directly over it, as it grows very low to the ground.

As the sun rises in the South Pacific, this plant opens as wide as possible, reaching up toward the warm early morning light. It has a built-in mechanism that causes it to quickly fold itself up and withdraw to avoid

...
read more

A Morning Cry!

The Psalmist David writes in Psalm 143:

8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, 

      for in you I trust. 

   Make me know the way I should go, 

      for to you I lift up my soul. 

As God’s children, we generally believe in maintaining a regular and frequent prayer life. It is said that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was deeply concerned about the “state of the soul.” Because of this, he prayed for two hours daily. Below are some of Wesley's prayers, sha

...
read more

Change It Up!

I found a devotional that I wanted to share with you, my readers, for today’s Food for Thought.

“Sometimes our daily routine seems more like a never-ending rut. The activities and responsibilities that were once fresh and new gradually become stale and old. What can you do to shake things up a bit?

A woman asked herself that question one morning. She had done all she needed to do to get her children off to school and her husband to work. Now she was home alone, looking for

...
read more

Growing Deep in Christ

A local newspaper spoke with a farmer regarding the impact of recent weather conditions on his crops. Thanks to ample rainfall, his soybean and corn fields flourished and appeared vibrant. “My crops are particularly susceptible right now," he said. This statement surprised the reporter, who originally intended to center the article on the beneficial harvest and the economic boost it would provide for the small town. The farmer elaborated, “Even a brief drought could sever

...
read more

Your Breakfast Invitation

In the early morning, as the sun began to rise, the fishermen returned from their overnight fishing trip with nothing to show for their efforts—not a single fish! As they rowed their boat to the shore, they heard a man calling to them. “Do you have any fish?” they replied, "No," feeling exhausted from their long night. The man on the shore then suggested that they cast their net on the right side of the boat, promising they would catch some fish. Following his advice, the

...
read more

Make It Count While You Can!

Jesus, in John 9, right before He’s about to heal the man born blind, says these words in verse 4:

 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

We all have good intentions—at least I know I do. Looking back, we can identify moments when we failed to follow through on our goals. Someone once remarked about good intentions: "Good intentions are the seldom-used exercise equipment that needs dusting.” Ouch!

I could mention

...
read more

Need a Boost?

Need a Boost?Rising in the morning is challenging, but being ready to tackle the day’s uncertainties is another. I came across research indicating that regular exercise—thirty minutes, three to four times weekly—enhances confidence in both men and women. This boost is attributed partly to exercise's role in strengthening, toning, and enhancing physical appearance and its impact on brain chemistry.When we exercise, endorphins are released, and individuals generally feel mo...
read more

How Content Are You?

Once, there was a wealthy man who spent his days fishing in the lake beside his mansion. Every day, he noticed a poor man living in a dilapidated old shack in the woods. While the rich man boasted the latest fishing gear, the poor man used only a string tied to a stick. He fished for about an hour, rarely catching more than two fish before returning home.

After many years, the wealthy man chose to approach the poor man. He remarked, “Please forgive me, but we’ve fished tog

...
read more

Commitment Has a Price

When I reflect on commitment, I frequently think of Old Testament prophets such as Jeremiah. His messages were so unpopular that some aimed to take his life, yet he continued to proclaim God’s words. As if that were not enough, others slandered him, while some ridiculed his faithfulness and commitment to God. The ridicule seems to have bothered Jeremiah most as he writes in Jeremiah 20:7-8;

7 O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and yo

...
read more

Listening With The Heart

I love this story about spending QUALITY time with God in His Word:

Like many Christians, Frank learned that to truly have God guide his daily steps, he needed to spend time with Him each morning. He found a plan titled “Through the Bible in One Year" and committed to reading three chapters in the morning and two at night.

However, the inspiration he anticipated eluded him. He discussed this issue with his friend Carl, mentioning, “I wasn’t sure how I could fit Bible readin

...
read more

The Offer Still Stands

Take some time this week to read Isaiah 65. Two main themes flow from the passage: Judgment and Salvation, along with when the Lord will bring about a New Heaven and a New Earth. I can’t escape the fact that hell is a real place that many do not believe is real. How many times have you heard the question: “How could a loving God send anyone to hell or, as Revelation calls it, the lake of fire, for all eternity?” In this chapter of Isaiah, he expresses a heartfelt plea for

...
read more

Take The Time

We mutter and sputter,

We fume and we spurt,

We mumble and grumble,

Our feelings get hurt.

We can’t understand things,

Our vision grows dim,

When all that we need is:

A moment with Him. ~  Author Unknown

Let's be honest for a moment: we get so caught up in our daily lives that we often neglect to carve out time for prayer, even just a brief thank-you. If I want to deepen my relationship with Him, it’s only logical that I need to dedicate time to Him. If I can easily spend hours o

...
read more