The Rev. Alexander Whyte was a Scottish minister and author of the 19th century known by his congregation as a man of an unwavering grateful spirit. Regardless of the circumstances, he seemed always to find something for which to be thankful. One of his parishioners told a story about a gloomy Sunday morning when a friend commented, just before the service started: “Certainly the preacher won’t think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this.” However, no sooner had the Continue Reading
Anne Frank: Finding Gratitude During Quarantine {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
“I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever-approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions, and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.” ― Anne Frank, “The Diary of a Young Girl” I was 14 years old when our school Continue Reading
The sermon of the Mount and the heart of Christmas {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
The year is not certain, but because we know Jesus Christ’s ministry lasted approximately three years, it is fair to say that the sermon took place around 30 A.D. The very Man whose birth established the beginning of the calendar as we know it today, sat on top of a mountain in Galilee to preach the longest and fullest continued discourse recorded in the Gospels. The Sermon of the Mount is believed to have been delivered in the beginning of Christ’s ministry, after His baptism by John the Continue Reading
Stop Allowing Your Past to Define Your Present {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP}
I spotted her on the first row, eyes filled with tears as I spoke about God’s healing of emotional wounds. Once the assembly dismissed, she was the first to come to my table, where she started sharing her burdens. She struggled with insecurities, addictions and broken relationships. She nodded in agreement as I spoke of God’s faithfulness and unconditional love. And yes, she agreed that he has the power to set anyone free. But when I started talking about freedom from past experiences, she Continue Reading
Welcome the Valley {It’s where you will grow} – The Atlanta Journal Constitution
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” King David – Psalm 23 There are no official records of when King David wrote the most quoted Psalm in Scriptures, but the depth of its metaphorical language suggests the writings of an older, seasoned man. There is a tone of submissive, quiet confidence which suggests a heart that has been tested by many trials and proven the faithfulness of God, time Continue Reading
Don ‘t Try to Run Someone Else’s Race {The Atlanta Journal Constitution}
I watched the scene from a distance, fully aware that I was invisible to the group of teenagers standing in front of me. It’s amazing how parents disappear whenever teens get together. As an avid observer, I sat back to pay attention to the scene unfolding before me. A group of beautiful girls and dazzled boys conversed animatedly, talking about the day at school, while planning their next big thing. Two girls stood out. Tall, skinny and blond, every boy and girl in the group seemed hypnotized Continue Reading
