2025-10-23
Psalm 23:4 NKJV
A pastor writes: “The great preacher Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, whose first wife died, was driving his kids from the funeral. One of the kids said, ‘Daddy… where did Mommy go? I don’t understand what it means that she died.’… Just then, a truck passed by and cast a shadow over the car. He… said, ‘Kids, would you have rather been hit by the truck or hit by the shadow?’… Then he said, ‘Kids, when you die without Christ, you are hit by the truck. When you die with Christ, you are only hit by the shadow.'”
Paul writes: “We want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT).
Soul food: Ezra 6-8; John 6:52-71; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
2025-10-22
Genesis 2:24 NIV
In Eight Ways In-laws Can Break Up a Marriage it offers examples that should make every in-law stop and think.
“(1) When your child decides to marry, show hostility toward the person they chose. After all, it means less love for you, so you have a right to resent them.
(2) Expect them to spend weekends and holidays with you, and act hurt if they don’t.
(3) If they have problems with their mate, encourage them to come home. And when they do, listen to their complaints, and point out other shortcomings they may have missed. Remember, one drop of water after another can wear away a rock.
(4) If they’re having financial problems, rescue them. Beg, borrow, or steal, but let them know that as long as you’re around, they’ll never go without.
(5) If they have a drinking or drug problem, tell them their mate drove them to it. After all, everybody needs someone to blame.
(6) If they have an opportunity for career advancement that takes them to another city, tell them ‘family’ is more important than money and God will punish them for not honouring the commandment ‘honour thy father and thy mother.’
(7) If there are grandchildren involved, spoil them. And if the parents object, tell them to stay out of it; after all, what are grandkids for?
(8) If your child has an argument with their mate, fan the flames. Family loyalty is a beautiful thing; with a little work, you can turn a minor argument into a major hassle and break up a marriage.”
Soul food: Ezra 3-5; John 6:35-51; Ps 127; Prov 24:19-22
2025-10-21
Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Dr. D. James Kennedy wrote: “A proper epitaph for most people… today would be ‘Hurried, worried, buried’… Many times we wish we could wash our hands of all our responsibilities and worries. The executive of one small company decided he would. Even though his company was headed for bankruptcy, he decided to quit worrying about it. So [he] called in his first vice-president and said, ‘I have had it with worrying about this company. If you’ll take over and handle all my worrying for me, I’ll add $50,000 to your salary.’ Startled and perplexed by this generous offer (and knowing the financial condition of the company), the vice-president asked, ‘But where are you going to get an extra $50,000?’ The boss replied, ‘That’s your first worry!’
William Gladstone, [one of England’s] greatest prime minister[s], was a fine Christian man who served the Lord. On the wall of his bedroom hung a plaque embroidered with this text: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.’ It was the first thing Gladstone saw when he awoke in the morning and the last thing he saw before retiring at night. There is the secret of peace!
We can have this peace because we know that the One upon whom we’ve stayed our minds is the One who works all things together for our good. Is the frantic pace of modern life robbing you of peace today? If so, slow down and refocus on the Lord. Realize He’s with you and He’s in control no matter what comes your way. Stay your mind on Him and let Him grant you, His peace.”
Soul food: Ezra 1-2; John 6:25-34; Ps 98; Prov 24:15-18
2025-10-20
Proverbs 15:15 AMPC
One Christian author writes: “I once went through a period… when I was plagued by anxiety. I was filled with fear and dread for no particular reason. I kept feeling something terrible was going to happen. Finally, I went to the Lord and asked Him what was troubling me. He told me it was ‘evil forebodings.’ At the time I didn’t even know what that phrase meant or where it came from. Sometime later I came across Proverbs 15:15: ‘All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]’ (AMPC)…
I was like so many other people. I was looking for some ‘monster problem’ that was keeping me from enjoying life. I was so intense about everything; I was creating problems for myself where none really existed.
Once in a meeting, the Lord told me to speak out something. Apparently, someone needed to hear this: ‘Stop making a big deal out of nothing.’ I used to be the type of person who needed to hear directions like that. I could make mountains out of molehills. I had to learn to just let some things go – forget them and go on. Some of us become upset over things that are just not worth becoming upset over – those ‘little foxes, that spoil the vines’ (Song of Songs 2:15 KJV). If our lives consist of becoming upset over one little thing after another… we won’t have much peace or joy.”
So, the word for you today is – cultivate a happy heart and start enjoying the life God has given you!
Soul food: Zeph 1-3; John 6:1-24; Ps 85; Prov 24:11-14
2025-10-19
Matthew 11:28 NIV
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the nation. That was never part of God’s plan. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are… burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (NIV).
When oxen work side by side in the fields, they are yoked together and share the workload. That’s what Jesus wants you to do: work in harness with Him. Can you think of anyone better to share your load? It makes you wonder why we wait so long to take Him up on His offer!
He then goes on to say, “Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried… your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:29, 30-31 ESV). Jesus gives us the perfect perspective on life. You can’t add one day to your life span by worrying, but you can certainly shorten it through stress and anxiety.
Think about it: The birds don’t sit around in the trees and worry about what they will eat tomorrow. No, they sing without a care in the world. And the lilies don’t sweat about how they will grow or if they will get enough rain to survive. All of God’s creation except man does not have a care in the world. And since your heavenly Father cares even more for His people, you can be sure He will take care of you.
Soul food: Exo 20:1-17; Matt 5:1-12
2025-10-18
Philippians 4:6 AMPC
Anxiety is the curse of the modern era, but it’s not a new trend. Throughout Scripture, Jesus talked a lot about anxiety, stress, and fear. In fact, He mentioned them repeatedly in His teachings. In Matthew 6:25-27, He said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or… what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (NIV).
Now, Jesus didn’t say these words just to relieve our fears and worries. What He was doing was commanding us not to be anxious because it demonstrates a lack of faith in God’s faithfulness to us. Paul writes: “Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition… with thanksgiving… make your wants known to God. And God’s peace… which transcends all understanding shall garrison… your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 AMPC).
Instead of letting fear and anxiety control you, you can have peace by bringing your worries to God in prayer, thanking Him by faith for the answer, and trusting Him to work things out as only He can. So, what are you going to do? Worry and fret, or pray and have peace? The choice is yours.
Soul food: 1 Tim 4-6; John 5:31-47; Ps 126; Prov 24:10
