selfishness

“For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.” (2 Corinthians 12:20 NLT) What comes to mind when you think of selfishness? Do you see yourself asContinue reading “Selfishness”

Finish Strong!

“Then Jesus explained: ‘My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent Me, and from finishing His work.” (John 4:36 NLT) Regardless of our age none of us knows for sure how close to the finish line of our lives we are. One of my uncles died on a ship in Pearl HarborContinue reading “Finish Strong!”

We Cannot Afford the Luxury of Selfishness

“For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” (James 3:15-16 NLT) We may not realize it simply by reading the verses above, but these verses are a richContinue reading “We Cannot Afford the Luxury of Selfishness”

Ambition

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form,Continue reading “Ambition”

Same Mud, Same Blood

“Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names areContinue reading “Same Mud, Same Blood”

The Cramped World of Self

“The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment isContinue reading “The Cramped World of Self”

The Towel on the Floor

“They didn’t understand what He was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask Him what He meant.” (Mark 9:32 NLT) In our aging, my wife and I don’t remember things so well and, too often, disagree as to what we don’t remember. You know the drill: “Why’d you leave the door open? Don’t youContinue reading “The Towel on the Floor”

Be Careful What You Pray For

“When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to You and have served You single-mindedly, always doing what pleases You.’ Then he broke down and wept bitterly.” (2 Kings 20:2-3 NLT) Some of the most uplifting, encouraging, andContinue reading “Be Careful What You Pray For”

Reason or Revelation?

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10 NLT) Do you have money or does money have you? And please don’t misunderstand, you may not have a lot of money,Continue reading “Reason or Revelation?”

Pain and Suffering (Part 2)

“The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.” (Matthew 13:38 NLT) In yesterday’s post we looked at pain and suffering from the standpoint of our own responsibility. We considered that much of what we often tend toContinue reading “Pain and Suffering (Part 2)”