From My Heart

Well, we are at it again. The social media wars are in full swing. Everybody is mad... or at least upset. The memes are flying both ways. Is this really the most productive way to handle a conflict? In Luke 10:25-37, we find the story that has come to be known as the Good Samaritan. In the story, a man is beaten, stripped and robbed while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He is left for dead alongside the road. Other than that, we know absolutely NOTHING about this man. (But that's a story for another day...) As he is laying there, not one but two religious leaders pass him by. Not only do they not help him, they cross the street to get away from him.  We live in a nation of people who for one reason or another, have been beaten, stripped, and robbed of their faith in God. Other than that, for the most part we know little to nothing about them. We don't know how they have been hurt, how they were raised, who taught them what to believe. This is not a random act of v...

Some days, you just need to look across the table into the face of someone older and wiser. Some days, you just need the tender touch of a hand and a word of encouragement over a mug of strong Irish tea. Some days, you just need to be reminded.... I have been having some areas of dread lately. Things in my life that are making me feel anxious and overwhelmed. It occurred to me, after having a talk with a wonderful mentor in my life, that dread is just another word for apprehension and fear. Fear of the unknown mostly. 2 Timothy 1:7 says God did not give me this spirit of fear - He gave me a sound mind. What I needed to be reminded of is that I am a child of hope. In Ephesians 1, Paul prays for his fellow believers and asks that they will KNOW the HOPE to which they are called. I am CALLED to hope! One of the most inspirational passages on hope for me is in Lamentations chapter 3. But to truly get the full impact of Jeremiah's words here, you must read the whole chapter...