Zephaniah was still looking ahead to a glorious day when God would bless His followers. All fear is gone! The instructed, “do not let your hands grow weak,” paints a unique picture. Have you ever thrown your hands in the air and declared, “I give up!” After those words, our…
HYMN DAY! Caroline W. Sandell Berg is known as the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden.” She wrote hymns partly to cope with seeing her beloved father, who was a Lutheran pastor, die in a drowning accident. The hymn, “Children of the Heavenly Father,” speaks of her trust in the Father she…
Even though the events mentioned in verse 15 hadn’t yet happened, they’re presented in the past tense. When it comes to God’s promises, they are so certain, it’s as if they’ve already occurred. We can trust Him to come through. The judgment sentence the Lord passed on the nation is…
Zephaniah is considered one of the minor prophets—“minor” because the book presents a brief message, but it’s certainly not minor in importance! Zephaniah delivered a message of judgment, but some passages carry hopeful optimism that speak of God’s great ability to forgive and restore. Zephaniah speaks of “the day of…
I confess, there are some days I don’t much feel like praising. When disappointment or discouragement or heartache strikes, praise is the last thing on my mind or heart. But you know something? When I begin lifting His name, my dark mood lifts. My situation might not change, but my…
Humility is recognizing we aren’t “all that and a bag of chips.” It isn’t self-criticism but self-awareness. All of us have certain gifts and talents, and God expects us to use those gifts for HIS glory rather than our own. After all, He is our Creator. Why should the prairie…
HYMN DAY! When I was a child, I loved the flowing tune of “Wonderful Words of Life” by Philip P. Bliss. I still love the tune, but at my current age, the words are so meaningful. There are no more beautiful words than God’s words that lead us to life…
Are you a cloud-watcher? I can’t remember when a time when I wasn’t fascinated by clouds. I took this photo one evening when we were driving home from church. I couldn’t help being lost in the formation that seemed to form a frame for the tiny sliver of moon (look…
We’re called to be righteous, but there’s no way we can walk morally upright on our own. The world and its temptations constantly pull at our human minds. Good news? We don’t have to walk in our own strength. The Holy Spirit indwells us and gives us what we need…
The meaning of “making the most of the time” is kind of interesting. In the Greek, it refers to acts of commerce—actively buying up every available opportunity. “Time” points to suitable circumstances or opportunities. I don’t think I need to expound upon “because the days are evil.” We see evidence…
