How many of you remember reading The Prayer of Jabez, a small but important book that was published in 2000? This tiny volume got the attention of readers around the world. I was reminded of Jabez again on Christmas morning when reading from a devotional book that mentions his prayer. The name of Jabez is only recorded in the following two verses of the Bible: Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore h

When necessary, God works slowly, carefully, thoroughly and absolutely. His excellent work brings joy to Heaven and Earth. The Lord most often works in secret, with great respect for the human heart and the human will. His guidance is loaded with promise and revelation, designed to inspire the very best response. The Spirit leads us daily with whispers of love. We're serenaded by the sweet sound of Truth. Eventually, the transformation God works in us can no longer

I love the line in the 1991 movie, City Slickers, when Billy Crystal tells his downhearted friend, "Your life is a do-over. You've got a clean slate." A clean slate. Hmmm. That sounds like something from the heart of God. In fact, it is. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning - Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV. When we wake up each day, we get a "do-over." That's just how our Lord is. People may hold grudges, but the mercies of God are new every mor

A special "Hi" to all the baby-boomers reading this. I think we were privileged to be born at a wonderful time in history. Ours was a unique era when simplicity crashed head-on with industry and invention. I have vivid memories of my early years. Living on a 140-acre farm meant that Mama still churned butter, but she had the option of buying something new called "Oleo." Our family was fairly independent, and the farm was self-supporting—echoing the rural lifestyle of

We all want to be comfortable and content. It's simply human nature. Obtaining these things is a strong motivation for some and the only motivation for others. Advertisers target our desire for physical and emotional fulfillment. If we will only buy what they offer, then we'll be happy, relaxed, satisfied and safe. We'll also smell good and look like supermodels. In time, we find these products delivering much less than promised. Some work temporarily, and others don'