Monthly Archives: April 2014

Pray Before You Leap

Posted April 28, 2014 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Luke 6:12-13 (New Living Translation)

One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles.

Consider

Jesus spent a lot of time praying. Especially before making a decision or facing a specific task, he readied himself by seeking intimate company with his Father. The above passage tells us that Jesus prayed all night before choosing the twelve men who would become his inner circle of disciples.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Book Review: I Choose to Forgive

Posted April 22, 2014 | Judith Ingram

I Choose to Forgive: An Intimate Journey with God. By Dianne B. Collard. Forward by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos

The Collards were serving as missionaries in Vienna, Austria, when the phone call came, announcing that their eldest son had been murdered in Concord, California. Timothy Collard, age 23, had been shot at least three times in the back of the head and his body subsequently mutilated.

The newspapers smeared his reputation, but eventually the truth emerged, and the murder was determined to be a case of mistaken identity. The killer was convicted and sentenced to prison.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Don’t Hurt As You’ve Been Hurt

Posted April 21, 2014 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Matthew 5:38-39 (New Living Translation)

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”

Consider

Jesus taught his disciples to treat others as they would wish to be treated. Another way to phrase this Golden Rule might be, If someone slaps you on the right cheek, don’t slap him back. Don’t hurt others just because they have hurt you.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Only God Is Big Enough

Posted April 14, 2014 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Psalm 18:2 (New International Version)

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Consider

We get into trouble when we make another human being our refuge. We can and should turn to others for comfort and help and support, but even those who love us best will fail us because they are not God. We often saddle them with burdens they cannot possibly bear. We set up expectations that they fail to meet because they are humans like us with limited abilities, resources, and patience.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Unrighteous Judges

Posted April 7, 2014 | Judith Ingram

Scripture

Luke 6:37 (New Living Translation)

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

Consider

Judgment is a tricky subject for Christians. On the one hand, we are told to be wise to the ways of evil and mindful of how our hearts can be influenced by false teachings and cultural values that lead us away from God. On the other hand, we are not to put ourselves in the place of God and judge one another.

Continue reading >>

Share
Comment

Subscribe!

Want my free resource,  “Ten Do’s and Don’ts for Healthy Relationships,” plus my latest posts, delivered to your email inbox?

Judith’s Books