I recently came across an illustration about patience and long-suffering that gave me great pause. According to a supposedly traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when a weary old traveler walked by. The old man looked tired and hungry from a long journey. Abraham rushed out to help the stranger, inviting him into his tent. There he washed the man’s feet and gave him food and drink. Without hesitation, the old traveler began eating his food before Continue Reading
Allow God to Handle Your Battles {Column for the Atlanta Journal Constitution}
“Fight your battles on your knees.” I have been privileged to sit under Dr. Charles Stanley’s teaching at First Baptist Atlanta for the past 16 years. This quote is one of "30 Life Principles" that he wrote, all based on Scriptures and his life experiences as a Christian for over 70 years. I was reminded of that principle this morning during my morning walk. Both my children have recently had some bad experiences with friends who have proven to be unfaithful. As my teenage daughter shared Continue Reading
Strive to Be Wise With Money {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
According to the most recent data from the Survey of Consumer Finances by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the credit card debt of American households is approximately $5,700. When a financial institute performed a research study earlier this year to determine the average debt of households that did not pay their balance in full on a monthly basis, the numbers were even more staggering. The average credit card debt for those households increased to an average of $16,048. College debt is another Continue Reading
Recognize When Your Faith Is Flawed {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
When I was in the process of writing my first book, I signed up to attend a writer’s conference, where I would meet with publishers to present my book proposal. After presenting my book idea to the first two publishers, neither requested a copy of the proposal that I had worked so hard to put together. After those two first appointments, discouragement started to weigh me down. That’s when I decided to retreat to the conference’s prayer room. In the darkness and silence of that room, a Continue Reading
Avoiding Difficult Conversations Can Be Costly {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” These words, spoken by Jesus and recorded in the gospel of Matthew, were in the heart of my decision, as I recently chose to confront someone close to me. I had spent the weekend wallowing in sadness and confusion, trying to understand the rudeness and anger that had come out of the mouth of someone I love like family. As I prayed about it, I felt God pressing me to do the easiest, Continue Reading
Friends Are a Blessing in Troubled Times {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
It was the son’s birthday. He was turning 21 and hoped to throw a big party and invite all his friends. Since this was an important mile marker in the life of his son, the father decided to teach his boy a lesson on friendship. He asked the son to put together a list of his closest friends to invite to the big celebration. Later that day, the young man handed his dad a list containing the names of 50 of his best friends. His father nodded and told him that he would take care of the Continue Reading
