Tag Archives: trials

There’s Always a Benefit

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Pete

Nobody’s looking for troubles. To avoid sorrow and suffering, if it were possible, might well be on everyone’s to do list. Hardship and hurt aren’t things we pencil into our calendars — rarely are they predictable, never do they wait … Continue reading →

Posted in Psalms | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Manifested

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Pete

Since reading Rankin Wilbourne’ book, Union with Christ, I have been more mindful of the implications of “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). That not only am I “in Christ”, but … Continue reading →

Posted in 2Corinthians | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Joseph and His Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Pete

It’s easy, especially when it comes to well known stories we’ve heard since Sunday School, to read them again with the end in mind. To skim over details until we get to “the lesson.” To rush through the “back story” … Continue reading →

Posted in Genesis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not a Dumb Bird

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Pete

I’m two chapters into God’s Twenty Questions session with Job (actually, I have no idea how many questions God has peppered Job with over these 70+ verses — but it’s a lot). But I think there’s only a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Job | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The How of Suffering

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Pete

Not to oversimplify, and not to be overly influenced by the ways of our current culture, but it seems to me that Job and his friends had become quite polarized in there back and forth, round-and-round-we-go debate. Though they at … Continue reading →

Posted in Job | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Bottom-Line Advice from a Miserable Comforter

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Pete

I think for many years, when I read Job, I didn’t really read, or at least try to listen too closely, to chapters 4 thru 37. Influenced by the big idea that Job’s friends were “miserable comforters,” while Job himself … Continue reading →

Posted in Job | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

While Doing Good

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Pete

A quick thought this morning from Peter’s concluding exhortation to those who were going through a season of suffering. Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1Peter 4:19 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1Peter | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be Holy

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Pete

I don’t how many times I’ve read this passage, but this morning it struck me as an odd thing to say. Perhaps the last thing I’d think of saying, given the situation. Yet, among the first things God would say. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1Peter | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Genuine Faith

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Pete

It’s the real thing! 2020 proves it! Hovering over Peter’s opening words to the “elect exiles of the Dispersion.” While they many not have been “sheltered in place,” they had been “scattered to places.” Like us, their “normal” way of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1Peter | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Consider

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Pete

Talking to a brother after church yesterday morning, we managed to linger together long enough to get past the “How are you?” pleasantries and go a bit deeper into the “How ARE you?” realities. We talked about how this season … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecclesiastes | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment