For years, a little girl lived and thrived in the care of her Israeli parents, who taught her the word of God. But then the Arameans came. They abducted her, ripping her away from her family and the only home she had ever known.
She became a slave in a foreign land. Her master: an Aramean army commander.
Had she seen her parents (more…)
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.—1 Peter 3:8
God has given each one of us a unique makeup and unique experiences. You may come from a background similar to mine, but you may not be able to relate to something with which I struggle, and likewise.
Empathy and compassion are two very different things. (more…)
Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. – Luke 6:36
An old friend and I stood side by side in her kitchen preparing lunch for our mixed brood. We laughed as we shared stories about ways our children tried to garner our sympathy.
“My children should know better. Mercy is just not my gift,” my friend laughed.
And? So? I wanted to (more…)
Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. – James 1:19-20
I walked in the door one day to find a family friend visiting my son. It was a work day, and I had been away from my desk for an hour, so I checked (more…)
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” —Matthew 25:40
Tens of millions of babies will never know a mother’s love. They will never experience childhood milestones. They will never open a present at a birthday party. They will never meet (more…)