“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NLT). Have you ever heard of the “Urgent-Important Matrix?” It is a time management system made popular by Stephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” The matrix teaches that every task can be placed in
“While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins” (Luke 21:1-2 NLT). As Jesus watched the people putting their gifts into the Temple offering, He offered several insights. One insight is that God sees
“No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie: His dynasty will go on forever; his kingdom will endure as the sun” (Psalms 89:34-36 NLT). Men may break their covenants, but God never
“They were not able to catch Him in what He said in public, and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.” (Luke 20:26 NLT). The Jewish leaders sent spies to entrap Jesus with what they thought was an unanswerable question. They asked Jesus, “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12 NLT). Having to wait for any expected good certainly affects our attitude. In this sense, the writer of the proverb accurately observed the growing despondency of the heart that waits unfulfilled. Yet, it is even more intense in
“Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’” (Luke 19:13 NLT). As Jesus and His disciples were traveling to Jerusalem, He told them a parable. The Scripture says that He did this to help them understand
“Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help” (Psalm 86:1 NLT). David sought the Lord in prayer. He cried out to God like a child to his father, asking Him to bend down His ear to hear his prayer. He admitted his need for help, expecting God to
“Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven” (Psalm 85:10-11 NLT). Personifying the divine attributes, the psalmist wrote of a day when unfailing love and truth would finally join together and righteousness and peace would embrace. “Unfailing love” is
“For the Kingdom of God is already among you” (Luke 17:21 NLT). Where is the Kingdom of God? And when will it come? The Pharisees asked Jesus to show them the kingdom. But He warned them that it was not yet something they could observe. They were looking for the outward evidence of pomp and
“… but they did not consult the Lord” (Joshua 9:14 NLT). The Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the Israelite leaders and persuaded them to make a covenant with them. The leaders, fresh from a victory, examined the condition of the men’s clothes and food and believed their story. However, once again, they proceeded without counsel from