I had woken up to a horrific storm. Wind howling. Sheets of rain. Booming thunder. The storm outside passed, but I couldn’t sleep. Another storm, the one affecting us all, the condition of our world, was on my mind. In Luke 8, Jesus is exhausted from his busy ministry. He tells his disciples to getContinue reading “Peace, be still!”
Tag Archives: eternal focus
Hard things, but God.
Right now, so many I love are facing what seems like a pile on of hard things. They love Jesus.They seek to follow Him.They are hurting. Really hurting over hard things. But again, and again, I’ve heard each of them talk of their hope. One by one they have each arrived at almost the exactContinue reading “Hard things, but God.”
Last Days? Do this first…
I can’t read these words and not wonder if we are living in the last days— “But know this, in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors,Continue reading “Last Days? Do this first…”
Keep it up…
Do you take your faith “way too seriously”? Have you been left out or scorned because of it? Have others deliberately tried to hurt you because of the Name of Christ you wear? We need only look at our society to know the winds of persecution are fiercely gathering against those who honor Christ andContinue reading “Keep it up…”
Hope when you feel like you have none….
Yesterday, we had an unexpected death in our family. I had to tell my mom, who only lost my Daddy a few weeks ago, that her dear brother had passed away. Tears filled my eyes.I fumbled for words.I prayed. And my mind tried to make sense of it all. And this morning, I was remindedContinue reading “Hope when you feel like you have none….”
God is at work. How are you responding?
It was certainly no accident that Jesus was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah when he stood up to read in his hometown synagogue that day. (Luke 4:16) It was supernatural. Can you imagine hearing the voice of the Promised One reading these words? “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He hasContinue reading “God is at work. How are you responding?”
I want to be like THIS!
“None of us live on an island.” (Well, some of you may actually live on an island . But you know what I mean.) Our lives impact each other. And I am so thankful for the people, over the years, whose deep love for Jesus has so greatly impacted my life. They have caused meContinue reading “I want to be like THIS!”
Be BOLD in a GOOD way!
I suppose we all have our own list of reasons we fail to talk about Jesus and what the Bible says is true when we could. Maybe we don’t feel prepared. Maybe we leave it up to the preachers. Maybe we hate conflict and want everyone to like us. Maybe we are afraid our businessesContinue reading “Be BOLD in a GOOD way!”
Bigger-than-I-know…and PEACE.
Do I want the things God wants, or do I still want my way just a little bit more? Am I really making EVERY effort to be fruitful in my faith? Inspired by God, Peter said to “make every effort” to possess things like faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness , kindness, and loveContinue reading “Bigger-than-I-know…and PEACE.”
When they call you names…
A while back, a young, full of himself and this world person, called me “”Karen” after I had written something he didn’t like. While he meant it in a derogatory way, I smiled because one of the most godly women I have ever known was named “Karen”. She is with Jesus now, and she wasContinue reading “When they call you names…”
Chasing Contentment
Great gain.We want that.We all want that. Paul said, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain”. (I Tim 6:6) How true.Godliness with contentment. “So, I’ll follow God and be content with where He leads and what He gives.” But, that’s easier said than done for our flesh-filled wandering hearts who are constantly chasing contentment. SoContinue reading “Chasing Contentment”
It’s HARD to die to self!
It’s far from easy.It’s stinking hard. It’s a hard and holy thing to die to self.And you aren’t the only one struggling with it. For many, who walk with Jesus, it’s a slow thing as we learn little by little, year after year, to die to things that don’t really matter and hold on toContinue reading “It’s HARD to die to self!”
He will do us no wrong
These words came back to mind today. My spirit needs to remember…maybe yours does as well. God is asking me to trust Him a little more, open my hands a little wider, further peal back my fingers, lay down my desires once again, and place my eyes squarely on Him. But that’s a scary place.Continue reading “He will do us no wrong”
When the Hard Things Pile Up
Sometimes, the hard things pile up, and we can feel like Job. Even those who don’t read the Bible know about the tragedies of Job. In the midst of it all, the Bible tells us, Job walked forward, but could not see God. He looked backward, but could not perceive Him. (Job 23:8) Where wasContinue reading “When the Hard Things Pile Up”
Is God shaking us?
As craziness and immorality continues to be justified and celebrated in this country, and scary things continue to happen around us, I’ve wondered if God is shaking us. There’s part of me that still holds out hope that better days will come through the election of God-fearing leaders. But that hope has continued to dwindle.Continue reading “Is God shaking us?”
Fool-Proof Exercise
About this time every year, I start thinking about diet and exercise. Anybody else? But you know, the Bible says strenuous spiritual exercise is better than physical exercise. And if ever we need to be spiritually strong, it’s now, in these crazy times we are living. Paul says to “exercise yourself toward godliness” (4:7). TheContinue reading “Fool-Proof Exercise”
Have you felt alone? Have you wished God’s will had been different?
Have you ever felt so very alone? Jesus knew what it felt to be alone. No one cheering Him on. No one walking with Him. No one holding His hand or even his closet friends staying awake while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matt 26:36) And have you ever wished God’s will wouldContinue reading “Have you felt alone? Have you wished God’s will had been different?”
I don’t want it to end…
The Christmas tree lights sparkle in the early morning dark. The candle flame dances. The smell of pine and cinnamon fill my home. I sit snuggled under a red Christmas blanket, piping hot coffee in my mug, my Bible in my lap. Sweet moments to savor. Christmas is almost here. Once again, it has comeContinue reading “I don’t want it to end…”
Keep Asking
No doubt, this Christmas, many of us will see, or think about, friends and family for whom we have prayed for years. Many of us are facing situations that threaten to steal our joy. Honestly, I’ve grown tired of my own asking about some things in my life. I’ve prayed and asked and, at times,Continue reading “Keep Asking”
Was it Christmas when they did what they did?
I think of this story every Christmas. I guess I wonder if it was Christmas-time when they did what they did. I am forever thankful. How I wish I knew their names. I’m sure they are walking the streets of glory now with the Savior, but I wonder if they know how very much theyContinue reading “Was it Christmas when they did what they did?”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 