Posts by Ken
A Hope that defies the storm
Imagine this with me… A great galleon has battened down and stowed its sails amidst the tearing winds and driving rain of a raging storm. As the winds roar and the ship rises and falls upon the heavy seas, a stout chain of impressive length glimmers in the spray as it vanishes beneath the angry…
Read MoreI want a new meme
I’ve heard it said that courage is not a lack of fear, but is carrying on despite our fears. Many variations of this quote have been attributed to Mark Twain, Nelson Mandela, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bruce Lee (among others). I particularly like the version attributed to John Wayne: “Courage is being scared to death,…
Read MoreA Contrast to Keep in mind for the New Year
As you begin the year 2018, encourage yourself with the wonderful contrast found in Psalm 147! The psalmist wrote in verse 3 that the LORD “heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (or literally, “their sorrows”), and then immediately added that God also “counts the number of stars; He gives names to all of them” (verse 4). Tenderness and…
Read MoreThe Excitement of the Angels
Across the lofty unbridged void, At God’s great Throne above, A host of angels were convened To hear God’s plan of love. They heard how He would save the world By sending His own Son. They’d been called to speak of it, And they must leave at once! These mighty angels felt great joy To…
Read MoreWho's Steering this Ship?
Do you ever wonder if you could do a better job of running this tumultuous world than God is doing? Or if that seems too vast, perhaps simply your own life? I definitely have moments when I struggle to believe that God is as concerned as I am about some of the more difficult details…
Read MoreLift the Heavy Burden of Shame
How to Care for Parents of Prodigals A very helpful article by Dave Harvey from Desiring God Prodigal kids: the gaping wound for many Christian parents. A child, whether adolescent or adult, is living out their worst nightmare by charting a course away from God. They may be a people-pleasing prodigal, whose good appearance masks a…
Read MoreGod, Are You Still Listening?
…Hope For Imperfect Prayers (This post first appeared as an article at desiringGod.org) Does God really listen to our prayers? Does he really hear us when we cry out to him? Sometimes we pray for a long time about big things, like a health issue or a prodigal child or a difficult work situation, and things don’t get better.…
Read MoreIt's all in a Name
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle to trust God – especially when things aren’t going very well. That’s why I was so encouraged when I found in Psalm 9 a beautiful summary of the secret to trusting God. In this psalm of praise to God, King David wrote that “those who know your name put…
Read MoreKnowing your Place
Today as I read Psalm 99, I felt like God gently put me in my place. Verse five says, “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool; Holy is He.” Sometimes I come to God like I know better than Him. Sometimes I come to God like I know exactly what He ought to…
Read MoreDwelling on the good stuff
I’m pretty excited. I just got a reminder that God doesn’t want us brooding over our failings. C’mon. How many of us find our failures distracting, playing them over and over in our minds like some kind of masochistic looping video? But it’s totally clear that God doesn’t want sinners who follow Jesus to worry…
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