Are you feeling overwhelmed by guilt? This is a safe place,talk to us.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (Psalm 37:5-6).

When we read about all the injustice in the world, it can get to the point that we ask, “Where is God in all of this?” The Hebrews asked that while enslaved in Egypt, then while being sent off to exile, while under the clutch of the Roman Empire and during the Holocaust. Slaves in the South asked it, as did the soldiers in the Civil War. Some asked it in the aftermath of 911. Some ask it as they hold their deceased loved one who was a victim of random violence, or intentional harm.  Others question as they hold their not perfectly formed child, like I did.

The answer is simple – God is in our midst. Instead of asking where He is, ask Him to draw nearer.  Ask Him to show you rays of sunlight in the dark gloominess, to feel His warmth around your cold shoulders, to hear birds singing in spite of the deafening silence of grief.  Ask him to help you laugh again, even if just for a moment.  It is a matter of faith, but you can ask for that as well.

The verse right before this says if we draw near to God He will give us the desires of our heart.  That doesn’t mean wealth or fame, it means Him. He truly is all we need, and like the lilies of the field and the birds in the air, He will provide if we seek Him and His righteousness first.

So seek. As I said, it’s so simple, yet it can be so very hard, can’t it? Hard because our viewpoint is so limited to the here and now. God, on the other hand, sees all and knows all.  He has the timing worked out. We just need to hang on, trust and draw near to Him for comfort. Countless believers have. The Psalmist knew to do that. The next time you feel wronged or think that life is just not fair (guess what, it isn’t) read this Psalm 37 and take it to heart. It is soothing balm for a hurting soul.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself (vs. 7) . . .  For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake his saints. (vs.28)

Questions: When you are losing your grip on trust and feel life is not fair, what Scripture verse, hymn or poem do you cling to?

Related:
Has Your World Been Turned Upside Down?

Are you feeling overwhelmed by guilt? This is a safe place, talk to us.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday”  (Psalm  37:5-6).

When we read about all the injustice in the world, it can get to the point that we ask, “Where is God in all of this?” The Hebrews asked that while enslaved in Egypt, then while being sent off to exile, while under the clutch of the Roman Empire and during the Holocaust. Slaves in the South asked it, as did the soldiers in the Civil War. Some asked it in the aftermath of 911. Some ask it as they hold their deceased loved one who was a victim of random violence, or intentional harm.  Others question as they hold their not perfectly formed child, like I did.

The answer is simple – God is in our midst. Instead of asking where He is, ask Him to draw nearer.  Ask Him to show you rays of sunlight in the dark gloominess, to feel His warmth around your cold shoulders, to hear birds singing in spite of the deafening silence of grief.  Ask him to help you laugh again, even if just for a moment.  It is a matter of faith, but you can ask for that as well.

The verse right before this says if we draw near to God He will give us the desires of our heart.  That doesn’t mean wealth or fame, it means Him. He truly is all we need, and like the lilies of the field and the birds in the air, He will provide if we seek Him and His righteousness first.

So seek. As I said, it’s so simple, yet it can be so very hard, can’t it? Hard because our viewpoint is so limited to the here and now. God, on the other hand, sees all and knows all.  He has the timing worked out. We just need to hang on, trust and draw near to Him for comfort. Countless believers have. The Psalmist knew to do that. The next time you feel wronged or think that life is just not fair (guess what, it isn’t) read this Psalm 37 and take it to heart. It is soothing balm for a hurting soul.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself (vs. 7) . . .  For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake his saints. (vs.28)

Questions: When you are losing your grip on trust and feel life is not fair, what Scripture verse, hymn or poem do you cling to?

About the Author Julie Cosgrove

V for Vendetta is a 2005 action/thriller movie based on a comic book. It received generally good reviews from critics, but since it’s rated “R”, it’s not intended for anyone under 18 years old. That’s why, when one of the deacons from my church popped it into the DVD player on the bus filled with church members (including a dozen or more kids under 18) on the way to our fall church retreat, I was a bit surprised. As you might expect from a movie with the word “vendetta” in the title, it contains many violent scenes, not to mention anarchist ideology and other scenes inappropriate for children.

Was it wrong to show this movie to teens? Was it wrong to show it at all on a church sponsored excursion? And how should Christians decide what we should and shouldn’t watch? That’s the topic of a thoughtful article at Relevant Magazine titled “When Is Watching a Movie Wrong?” Here are some highlights:

In the Bible, Christians are instructed to dwell on things that are excellent and worthy of praise – “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable …” (Philippians 4:8, TNIV). We should pay attention to this instruction, but what does it all mean? Who defines “true,” “noble,” “right,” “pure,” “lovely” and “admirable”? What does it mean for something to be edifying? Can something painful and disturbing be as edifying as something innocent and joyful?

Is it a coincidence that, in the list of things “to dwell on” that Paul outlines in Philippians 4, “whatever is true” comes first? I don’t think so.

One of the crucial functions of art is certainly the way it captures, frames and confronts us with truth in all of its messy glory. But some will protest: Do we really need to be reminded of life’s most disturbing truths through art?

How do you make decisions about what is and isn’t okay to watch in a movie? What kinds of violence, sex, etc are acceptable (if any) and why?

Related: Love doesn’t often work out like in the movies, and is often misrepresented. Learn How you can Love by Faith

Awhile back, I watched with shock as countless cars drove right by my stranded vehicle.

Later, safe at home I realized that if I see someone on the side of the road with car trouble, often I drive past, hoping that the next person will help them.  I know someone should help, I’m just not sure that person should be me.  What if I’m late? What if they ask me for something I don’t have? What if they are dangerous? It’s so much easier not to risk it and just keep driving.

The world is filled with apathy and hardship. When someone returns a wallet or does a good deed, it seems incredibly abnormal.  Sometimes it is even newsworthy.  It takes so little to make a difference in someone’s life and in their perspective of mankind as a whole.  Why do we shy away from  making a difference more often? Do you believe the world can become a better place?

If you have questions, we’d love to hear from you.  Use this form to  be matched with one of our mentors. Mentors are trained volunteers with real life experience.  They can answer questions, point you to other resources or just listen when you have something to say.

Your mentor will email you using our secure system, The Mentor Center (TMC).  TMC ensures your privacy by protecting your information.  If you want to keep talking, just hit reply.  The conversation is free, confidential and non-judgmental.   You can keep talking to your mentor as long as you like and there is never a fee.   If you’re curious, start a conversation.  We’re ready when you are.

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The shooting began at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical centre at Fort Hood – the largest US military base in the world, home to about 40,000 troops.

The commander of the base, Lt Gen Robert Cone, told NBC News that, according to eyewitnesses, Mr Hasan had shouted the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar!” [God is great] before opening fire.

He was shot four times during the attack and is currently being treated in hospital under armed guard.

Reports suggested that he had been increasingly unhappy in the military and that his work at his previous post – Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC – had been the subject of concern.

The New York Times said the FBI had been investigating internet postings by a man called Nidal Hasan that appeared to back suicide bombings – but said it was not clear whether it was the suspect.

How can we respond to such acts of terrible violence? Recently, Gary, a young man with a family living in Canada, faced an attack of his own: A package bomb left on the back steps of his home. Not knowing what the package was, he picked it up, and it exploded in his hands. Read Gary’s story of his survival, and how he was able to respond to an act of senseless violence.

If you are grieving or dealing with disappointment or despair, please contact us today to talk about it, we’re always here to listen.

Image credit: Daniel Greene, used with permission, Creative Commons 2.0 License.

“The world is watching. And how they approach and deal with people who are, through peaceful means, trying to be heard will, I think, send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is and is not. … This is not an issue of the United States or the West versus Iran. This is an issue of the Iranian people.”

The election in Iran, where previous president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was retained power in the country, have resulted in calls for a recount, protests, and violence in the country. Threats (and acts) of violence against protesters of which Mr Obama elsewhere said “We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people,” Obama said in a written statement. “Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.” (CTV)

Recently, “Iran expelled the BBC’s correspondent in Tehran yesterday and accused Britain of pouring agents into the country to sabotage the election.” This came after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called “Britain the “most treacherous” of the Western powers that were fomenting unrest in Iran.” (Times Online)

As the unrest and violence in Iran continues, what role should other countries play? What response should we have as individuals and nations when we hear about injustices in the world?

Image credit: marctonysmith

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30am EDT.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

When we look at the world news, our hearts tend to get frightened. So much unrest, violence, fear! Jesus predicted it would be this way. “In this world you will have trouble,” He said. “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

How can we as Christians make a difference in our world? Paul gives us some practical steps in Colossians 4:2: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

1.  Devote yourselves to prayer for your families, church leaders, and governments. Is there a friend or neighbor you could team up with for prayer on a weekly basis?

2.  Being watchful–instead of looking at the problems, keep your eyes on Jesus. As long as Peter kept looking at the Lord Jesus, he walked on water. The moment he focused on the waves, he began to sink. Readjusting our focus may mean cutting back on news watching. Smile.

3.  Be thankful for your blessings–for the things that are going right. Write them down in a gratitude journal. Pray them out loud in thanksgiving.

No matter what happens in the world, Jesus Christ is still the victorious One and Our Sovereign Lord. “I know that you can do all things,” says Job. “No plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2 ).

Remembering this, we can have the peace Jesus spoke about.

Father, I thank you that You are working out your good plan in my life and in our world.

Questions: What steps can you take to put your heart at ease about the future?

About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid

Daily audio podcast: Hear today’s daily devotional, Peace in a World of Turmoil, read aloud, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Love isn’t an unattainable mystery. The Bible tells us clearly: “God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:8 – 10).

God Himself is the definition of love. He demonstrated His love to us by sending Jesus to take the penalty for our sins, making us righteous and giving us life.

There are no qualifications we must submit; no requirements we need to fulfill. Regardless of who you are or what you have done, God loves you

Maybe you have abandoned or perpetrated violence against someone in your life. Perhaps malicious words are your habit, or anger your constant companion. None of these or any other sins disqualify you from receiving God’s love. In fact, our sinfulness proves that God’s love comes without conditions. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

You don’t have to wonder if anyone loves you. You can know. The knowledge that we are loved by God frees us from our past. His love gives us power to overcome obstacles, refreshes us when we are weary and fills us with hope.

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us” (1 John 4:16).

Dear God, Thank you that You love me so much. Please make it real in my heart. Where there have been lies told to me that I am not worthy or that I cannot be forgiven make Your truth known to me. Thank you that I can know and rely on Your love. Amen.

Questions: How has God been the definition of love in your life? Does it free you to know that God loved you first?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Strength and Endurance, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back taillights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

Last night I attended a personal safety workshop and it jolted me. It was given by an amazing man, Pat Malone, who has been a bodyguard for famous figures like Farrah Fawcett and Sylvester Stallone. He works for the FBI and teaches police officers and Navy SEALS hand-to-hand combat.

This man has seen it all, and knows a lot. He focused his teachings to us on how to avoid being the victim of a violent crime. He gave us some statistics about how much the occurrences of random violence have escalated over the recent years and it’s terrible. Something like 99% of us will be exposed to, or become a victim of, a violent crime.

Here are some of the most important points that I got out of his presentation:

The three reasons women are easy targets for random acts of violence are:

• Lack of awareness
  You must know where you are and what’s going on around you.
• Body language
  Keep your head up, swing your arms, stand straight up.
• Wrong place, wrong time
  Don’t walk alone in an alley, or drive in a bad neighborhood at night.

Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.). Don’t do this! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. As soon as you get into your car, lock the doors and leave.

A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

• Be aware – look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor and in the back seat.
• If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
• Look at the cars parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall or work and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. It is always better to be safe than sorry. (And better paranoid than dead.)
• Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.)

RUN!

If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, always run! The predator will only hit you (a running target) four in 100 times. And even then, it most likely will not be a vital organ. Run!

Sympathy – stop it!

As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: stop it! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good looking, well educated man, who always played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane or a limp, and often asked “for help” into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

Pat Malone told us the story of his daughter who came out of the mall and was walking to her car when she noticed two older ladies in front of her. Then she saw a police car come toward her with cops who said hello. She also noticed that all eight handicap spots in the area were empty.

As she neared her car she saw a man a few rows over calling to her for help. He wanted her to close his passenger side door. He was sitting in the back on the driver’s side and said he was handicapped. He continued calling, until she turned and headed back to the mall and then he began cursing at her.

In the meantime, she wondered why he didn’t ask the two older ladies or the policeman for help, and why he was not parked in any of the empty handicap spots.

As she got back to the mall, two male friends of hers were exiting and as she told them the story and turned to point at the car, the man was getting out of the back seat into the front and the car sped away. Don’t get caught in this trap.

Please be safe and not sorry! Just a warning to always be alert and use your head!