We understand the value of gratitude because it is talked about so often. Many non-believers in our culture talk about the “healing power of gratitude” and are dedicated to regularly giving thanks. Americans know that a posture of thankfulness helps us feel happier and more at peace. But there is another practice that may haveContinue reading “Praise and Thanksgiving: Two Keys to Mental Health. Psalm 46:9-10.”
Tag Archives: Attitude of Gratitude
“I’M NOT RELIGIOUS. I’M SPIRITUAL.” Colossians 2:3,8-9.
It’s the latest cliché: “I’m a spiritual person.” I’d like to ask, “How is your spirituality different from someone who reads poetry while sipping coffee and admiring nature? What is ‘spiritual’ about it?” Most who claim “spirituality,” focus on a mindset: they appreciate beauty, they think about gratitude, and they acknowledge there may or (mayContinue reading ““I’M NOT RELIGIOUS. I’M SPIRITUAL.” Colossians 2:3,8-9.”
IS THE WORLD MEDIOCRE? Romans 1:19-21.
Did God give us a hum-drum, mediocre world? Does He get an A or maybe a B or a C? Is our reaction to the world “meh”? Or have we grown accustomed to a world of STAGGERING beauty? I walked outside this morning at dawn. Golden sunlight was blazing sideways, setting on fire every bladeContinue reading “IS THE WORLD MEDIOCRE? Romans 1:19-21.”
ROSE-COLORED GLASSES. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
When I was a child, John Conlee sang a song about perspective: “But these rose-colored glasses that I’m looking through, Show only the beauty, ‘cause they hide all the truth.” I remember asking, “What are rose-colored glasses?” Mama told me it means you don’t see the negatives. That is not a bad thing. If youContinue reading “ROSE-COLORED GLASSES. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.”
AN ACCOUNTING LESSON. James 1:2-3
Since Adam began naming animals, humans have categorized everything in nature: evergreens and hardwoods, volcanic rock and sedimentary rock, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians. The 19th-century saw the world briefly explode with naturalists. Explorers and artists like John James Audubon traveled with sketch pads, measuring tools, and boxes of specimens, seeking undiscovered animals to name,Continue reading “AN ACCOUNTING LESSON. James 1:2-3”
The Sin of Comparison. Matthew 20:1-16.
My wife has a favorite sermon: Dave Edwards’ message “THE SIN OF COMPARISON.” Twenty years ago she bought a copy on cassette and played it for years.[1] Edward’s point was we need to stop comparing our lives to lives around us. Nothing will make you unhappy faster! We learn as children to measure ourselves byContinue reading “The Sin of Comparison. Matthew 20:1-16.”
EGYPT. Ezekiel chapters 29, 30, 31.
Egypt. How was the dynasty eclipsed by Greeks, Romans, and the British Empire? Today the Land of Pyramids is a has-been. But Egypt once ruled the world. Besides allowing transportation up and down the continent, the Nile’s seasonal flooding spread water and nutrients across the delta. Soon the plow was invented, allowing people to build housesContinue reading “EGYPT. Ezekiel chapters 29, 30, 31.”
EGYPT: AN INTERNATIONAL NOBODY. Ezekiel 29:15; James 1:17.
You don’t hear much about modern Egypt. The nation on the Nile once ruled the world. Through Joseph, Egypt saved the world from famine. The nation built the pyramids—glorified tombs listed among the Seven Wonders of the World. They built the Sphinx. They invented hieroglyphics. They filled King Tut’s tomb with a billion dollars inContinue reading “EGYPT: AN INTERNATIONAL NOBODY. Ezekiel 29:15; James 1:17.”
The Secret to Happiness.
What do you want? What does everyone really want? It’s not money, fame, success, or true love. Those are the means to achieve the goal of HAPPINESS. We want to be happy, though we each believe different things will help us reach that goal. God’s Word clears up the confusion. Though they may provide happinessContinue reading “The Secret to Happiness.”
Household Words: 