In any struggle we face, praise can provide a path to victory. When problems are viewed as opportunities to praise God and see Him go to work, amazing things can happen. Perhaps no record shows this greater than 2 Chronicles 20:1-26—the story of King Jehoshaphat, who encountered a big problem and praised his way to victory. Here’s a quick paraphrase of the story: A great multitude of the enemy was readying themselves for battle against the King and his people. With no obvious solution in sight, Jehoshaphat ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting and coming together to seek the…
One of the highlights of my week is Tuesday mornings, when I talk and pray with my dear friend K. from Michigan. In prayer, we commit each of our loved ones to God’s care. We lay our concerns at His feet. And we always end the call encouraged in our faith and expecting great things from God. I love how K. begins her prayers by praising the awesome God of the universe—the One who created the stars, knows every hair upon our heads, and holds our lives in the palms of His hands. As together we turn our hearts to…
Rays of dawning sunlight burst through the small aircraft window, awakening me from a deep sleep. As my groggy eyes adjusted, I gazed out and caught the first glimpses of land far below. Finally, we were over Scotland, gradually beginning descent toward the Glasgow airport. As views of land crystallized, rolling green pastures appeared, covered with randomly spaced small white dots. What were these? As we steadily moved closer, it became clear—sheep! While visiting Scotland, I delighted in seeing so many sheep. In the countryside, they seemed to be everywhere. And it was during this trip Psalm Twenty-Three, beginning with…
Deep within the heart of every man and woman is a longing to know the Creator. Each heart and soul yearns for meaning, purpose, and peace. C.S. Lewis called it a “God-shaped hole.” We try to fill it with many things, yet always come up short. Only our loving Creator can fill the void. What’s at the center of your life? Is it something temporal—or eternal? Please enjoy this short film: Produced, directed, and edited by Matthew Elton. Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton
We’ve seen the pictures . . . Jesus, the Good Shepherd, serenely walking along a lush green meadow carrying a young lamb, sheep leisurely following behind. Jesus, walking through crowds, people thronging to be near Him. Jesus . . . always calm, caring, in control. But did He ever get upset? Angry? Sad? Stressed? Yes! Gospel records show us Jesus got angry at injustice. He wept and grieved when His friend Lazarus died. He had to contend with the Pharisees, constantly berating Him for healing people on Sabbath, the “wrong” day of the week. The Son of God was a…
