Mercy

By definition, mercy is something that is not guaranteed.  The American Heritage Dictionary explains mercy like this:

Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one’s power; clemency.
A disposition to be kind and forgiving: a heart full of mercy.

So when it is clearly possible to get something else, and we get mercy instead – compassionate treatment, kindness, forgiveness – we tend [...]

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Reaching Forward

One sure sign of stagnation in the Christian walk is a deepening desire for nostalgia – that sick sense of longing for the good old days.  Solomon reminds us that dwelling on an idealistic view of the past is pointless:
Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’
For you do not inquire wisely [...]

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Grace Full, Truth Full, Joy Full

The glory of God is revealed to us in Jesus.  How can we describe it?  John was one of those who beheld it, and he put it like this:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and [...]

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Thanks → Peace → Perseverance

A thankful heart is a valuable asset.  The New Testament reminds us to thank God “always for all things” (Ephesians 5:20) and to “in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  That’s a pretty tall order for most of us.  Yet even in the midst of prayer about things that would otherwise make us anxious, the reminder [...]

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