Posted in Christianity, Devotional Thoughts, Productivity, Religion, Selah - Think About It, Vibrance in Ministry, Walk with God, pastoral ministry, worship, tagged compliments, LinkedIn, Mark Twain on May 14, 2009 | 1 Comment »
My sister Jonell quoted Mark Twain in a recent e-mail:
I can live two months on a good compliment.
.
There’s remarkable power in genuine praise, isn’t there? When someone we respect compliments us with real sincerity, we can run a long time on that affirmation. It breathes energy into us, motivating us to keep doing excellent [...]
Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Job Search, Selah - Think About It, Walk with God on May 9, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Don’t you just love it when you can see the Word of God in action? I do.
My last two weeks are about as different from each other as I can imagine. Two weeks ago mine was one-foot-in-front-of-the other kind of living, doing what was right because it’s the right thing to do and I reminded [...]
Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Productivity, Selah - Think About It, Vibrance in Ministry, discipleship, tagged encouragement, excellence, LinkedIn, techniques on April 30, 2009 | 2 Comments »
It occurred to me last evening as I was driving home; If nothing else, I’m going to have quite the vocabulary when all this is done! With twenty-five years in ministry (teaching, discipleship, worship, etc.), experience in agriculture, manufacturing, consulting and hospitality, I should do just FINE next time I play SCRABBLE!
I attended a meeting [...]
Posted in Christian Authenticity, Christianity, Devotional Thoughts, God, Seasonal, Selah - Think About It, Walk with God on April 25, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Pictures of pine trees taken June of 2008 on Jonell’s back property in Michigan
Look at the picture of the pine trees above and picture it as a group of people in your church. Pretend they are standing at the back of the sanctuary talking about anything from the travel their job will require this [...]
Posted in Devotional Thoughts, Story-Telling, Vibrance in Ministry, Walk with God, worship, tagged confidence, loved, Safe, struggle, suffering on March 27, 2009 | 4 Comments »
There’s a quiet, indescribable confidence sweeps over you when you know
I’m Safe!
Life is often uncertain, its path is strewn with obstacles and potholes, the valleys are deep and life’s hillsides can be steep and rocky, but if you’re safe and know it, your soul can be confident.
Born in 1842 Glasgow, George Matheson was the eldest [...]
Posted in Christianity, Devotional Thoughts, God, Religion, Selah - Think About It, Walk with God, church, worship, worship team, tagged current hymn, hymn on February 28, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Would that I could let you see these lines in beautiful calligraphy. The beauty of pen and ink slowing our eyes so these rich, rich words by Stuart Townend could soak in like a gentle summer rain:
How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure
That he should give his only son, to [...]
Posted in Christianity, Devotional Thoughts, Family, God, Prayer, Selah - Think About It, Walk with God, tagged change, Daily Life, disappointment, encouragement, faithfulness, thankfulness, trials on February 16, 2009 | 4 Comments »
I’ve been playing on the piano here at our house an old song written by Gordon Jensen, “Tears Are A Language God Understands”.
I have in my home a daily calendar called “The Grace of Encouragement” by Charles Swindoll. I’ve used this calendar for over 10 years now, and love the quotes and the verses it [...]
Posted in Christian Authenticity, Devotional Thoughts, Discussions, Selah - Think About It, Walk with God, worship, tagged attitude, character, gratitude, thankfulness, virtue on January 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
… and it’s not even Thanksgiving!
Gratitude can be hard to come by.
When we’ve more than enough it’s easy to forget leaner times and consider our opulence to be – well, normal. Arrogance likes to pal around with Plenty and the two can be rather obnoxious when they strut their stuff.
Conversely, when we don’t know [...]
Posted in Christian Authenticity, Devotional Thoughts, Religion, Selah - Think About It, Vibrance in Ministry, tagged confidence, inadequacy, self-confidence, trust on January 5, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Last week as I prepared to launch into 1 Peter, our new study in “Joint Heirs” life group, feelings kept washing over me, I’m not qualified to teach this – I’m not worthy. But Sunday was coming so I kept studying, reading up on 1 Peter’s background and place in history.
With a brief birds-eye-view [...]
Phil
Jonell