"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see..." This is one of the most recognized songs in the English speaking Christian world. These lyrics, which were written by John Newton in 1779, describe his journey through life's ups and downs. His early years were filled with bad choices and a horrible attitude to match. As a sailor, he was noted as the most profane sailor his captain had ever met! His insubordination later caused him to desert the Royal Navy, for which he was punished, and at one point, almost caused him to starve to death due to being locked up like the slaves the ship was carrying. It w
How many friends do you have? We sometimes measure ourselves by the number of friends we can count. Some of us have numerous friends, especially with the advent of social media. Others find themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum with very few people they can call "friend". In fact, some of us artificially place so many restrictions on who can be a friend that we actually keep everyone out. Determining which end of the spectrum is correct is not a matter for me to judge but for you to know what is right for you. Sometime during the course of our lives, we run across a speed bump with our friendships. Sooner or later, someone who we thought was our friend, maybe even a close frie
As we encounter people throughout our lives, some people stand out in our minds as people who seem to have it all. Cars, homes, clothing, the perfect job and much more. Believe it or not, there are people who look at you and are convinced you have it made! Whether it be the clothes you wear, the vehicle you drive, your house, your job or something else. You are the one they desire to emulate. Even though you may not look at yourself in that manner, others do. What others do not see is the battle of the mind. In most cases, no one knows about the battle that rages inside of you. While others see order and a role model, you may struggle with self-esteem issues or guilt. In fact, many p
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit." - Luke 6:43 In our constantly connected society, all of us have the opportunity to engage in conversations every minute of the day and night. Distance no longer matter. As long as you have a computer or mobile device and access to the internet, you are set. Years ago, I remember having a conversation with a friend and former coworker about being connected to her device seven days a week. My friend is the ultimate perfectionist and completely relies on her devices to function on a daily basis. I asked her if she could enjoy herself on a Caribbean island for a week without any devices and without connectivity
