When newscasters are reporting a tragic accident, crime, or storm, they will often end the segment by assuring all those affected that they are “in our thoughts and prayers.” Sometimes they will also add a website address to which viewers can go to find out how they can help those in need. Here […]
3257) Thoughts and Prayers Read More »
By Charles Colson (1931-2012) Memorial Day is when we honor the men and women of our Armed Services who have made ‘the supreme sacrifice,’ giving their lives for their country. Especially these days, when Memorial Day seems nothing more than a time for cookouts and swim parties, we cannot be reminded often enough
3255) Memorial Day Meditation Read More »
From The Exile, by Pearl S. Buck, 1936; as quoted in Stories of Faith, by Ruth Tucker, 1989. ——————————- Pearl Buck at home in Zhenxiang, China as a child (on left): Spending time in prayer each day is a discipline that is often difficult to maintain, and missionaries sometimes struggle more with time
3238) “Somebody Has to Do the Work” Read More »
(…continued) Jesus calls ‘blessed’ those who serve him in this life. Look at Jesus’ examples of serving others: giving a thirsty person something to drink, offering food to a hungry person, giving clothes to the needy, and visiting the sick and those in prison. Simple things. Common, everyday acts of kindness. People do them
3218) Something Beautiful for God (2/2) Read More »
Matthew 25:31-46: 31 (Jesus said), “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on
3217) Something Beautiful for God (1/2) Read More »
Pictured above: Jean Valjean and the Bishop in the 2012 movie Les Miserables ——————— From the 1862 novel Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (1802-1885); as adapted in The Book of Virtues by William Bennett, 1993. ———————— Jean Valjean was a wood-chopper’s son, who, while very young, was left an orphan. His older sister brought him up, but when
3216) Another Chance at Life Read More »
Above: Mohandis Gandhi (1869-1948) as a young lawyer in South Africa ******************************* The first petition of the Lord’s Prayer (after the introduction) is perhaps the most difficult to understand. We know what the other petitions mean when they ask for things like daily bread or forgiveness or help in times of temptation. These
3194) Hallowed Be Thy Name Read More »
My good friend Chris Brekke does a thrice-weekly on-line meditation, similar to these EmailMeditations. His blog is called “Seasoned Hope” and can be seen at: https://pcbrek2020.wordpress.com/ . Today’s meditation is a repost of his March 2 posting. Thanks, Chris! —————————————– Hypothetically, in some dark reality, if you were a villain out to ruin
3174) How to Ruin the World Read More »
During the American Revolution a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them. The man on the horse asked the man shouting orders why he was not helping his men. He retorted with
3172) True Greatness Read More »
By Millard Fuller (1935-2009), founder of Habitat for Humanity, in Building Materials for Life, page 91-93. —————————– Recently, a dear friend had unexpected surgery. During the time of convalescence, Linda and I sent her a small bouquet of roses. She called when the roses arrived, exclaiming that the roses were precisely the color
3170) Little Things Mean a Lot Read More »
