Year of the Bible

By clinging to 1 John 4:16, and reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice—love’s ultimate expression—my faith strengthened. May yours too.

When you feel you aren’t good enough, smart enough or just enough, know that this is when God is getting ready to show up big time, and you’ll be more than enough for whatever the situation.

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible because of the comfort it has brought me. In my life, I have struggled with mental health issues. These struggles can vary from mild anxiety and discomfort to full-on breakdowns and fearing for what the future holds.

Early in his childhood, my friend Igor was often corrected for his inability to name colors. It wasn’t until elementary school that he learned he was color blind, a condition that affects one in 12 men and one in 200 women in the world. However, on June 8, 2020, Igor’s life forever changed.

The question for us is, are we learning to look to the future? Or are we allowing the trappings of this world to linger in our rear view?

I greatly appreciate the words of Psalm 46:1 that promise that our God is a very present help in times of trouble. We think in terms of being present or absent. Here we are reminded that God is very present in those times when we have no other hope.

Whenever I feel like I’m losing control, I need to remember His promise: “Let not your heart be troubled.” Do I always remember? No. But He who has promised will indeed never leave me nor forsake me.

As I look back over my 70 years, I cannot say that I have always been a good neighbor. My obedience to the second of the great commandments is constantly evolving because I want to love my neighbors by the Master’s standards, not my own.

It happened in the summer on a Sunday morning. I was awakened by my wife who said, “Wake up, the babies are here!” This was no dream; this was reality. This was the day. You see, we were expecting the surprise of our lives: three babies. Yes, triplets!