Posts with the tag “blessing”

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." - 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 Pain has a way of making you feel alone. When life hurts, it is easy to wonder if anyone understands or i...  Read More

"For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you." - Psalm 73:27 Envy has a way of making the temporary look permanent. It tricks you into thinking that people who seem to have more are better off, but the psalmist reminds us that what looks successful now may not last forever. Those who live far from God may appear to prosper for a moment, ...  Read More

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers." - Psalm 1:1 The people you surround yourself with will always shape the person you become. Whether you realize it or not, your closest relationships are steering your life in a direction. Psalm 1 opens with a clear reminder that who you walk with, stand with, and sit...  Read More

"But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." - Psalm 73:2-3 Envy is a quiet poison. It starts small, creeping into your thoughts before you even notice it. You see what someone else has, where they are in life, or how easily things seem to come together for them, and a thought slips in, “Why no...  Read More

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." - Psalm 1:1-2 It is easy to lose sight of what really matters. From the moment we are young, we are taught to chase things that do not last. We are told that success, wealth, and co...  Read More

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." – Proverbs 31:28 There is a kind of strength that never announces itself. It does not post about what it’s carrying. It just carries it. It keeps showing up. Keeps giving. Keeps praying. Keeps holding things together when no one even realizes they’re falling apart. That strength often has a name. And for many of us,...  Read More

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." - Matthew 5:10-11 No one enjoys being misunderstood, singled out, or pushed aside. Most of us spend years trying to fit in, blend in, or go unnoticed. But according to Jesus, stan...  Read More

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” – Psalm 127:1 Years ago in Ireland, a man named Castlereagh inherited a beautiful but abandoned family castle. To protect it from being dismantled by the locals, he hired a mason to build a protective wall around it. He gave the plans and paid the price, expecting the castle to be preserved. But when he returned years later, the...  Read More

“He blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” – Matthew 14:19 Most of us love the idea of being a blessing. We want to be used by God, to make a difference in someone’s life, to offer something that matters. But the part we usually overlook is that our blessings often have to be broken before they can be multiplied. That truth shows up...  Read More

“They said to him, ‘We have only five loaves here and two fish.’” – Matthew 14:17 When we hear the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, our attention usually lands on the miracle itself. We marvel at how so little became so much. We talk about Jesus’ compassion or the disciples’ doubts. But today, let’s zoom in on someone else. Someone easy to miss in the crowd. A boy. He was just one among t...  Read More