Duct Tape for the Soul

Are we excited about our home in Heaven? A family I know was moving to a new home, and they expressed how excited their boys were. The boys were telling their school friends about it, and what they were planning to do, and all the fun they would have, to the point that their friends wanted to see it too! God has promised a home in Heaven through Jesus. Are we excited to tell others? Are we ready to show them the way? Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Do our life’s goals, actions, responses, love, and kindness stir their interest so they also want to learn more about Jesus and our heavenly home? “Always be prepared to answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” I Peter 3:15 - Ernie Zimmerman, ...

I was looking ahead into 2024 at this time last year, knowing what the upcoming year had in store for my family. We were anticipating the opening and closing of life’s chapters along with the normal daily grind. Chapters such as a graduation from college, one from high school, and another preparation for college, including athletics. We also faced hosting out-of-country family members for 6 weeks, which included graduation parties and remaining school activities and sports. Yet another chapter was my wife and I celebrating a silver wedding anniversary in the month of October. Add in other family, church, and work dynamics, and it all can be a melting pot for emotional and physical fallout. I have only scratched the surface. After the deluge of life's many chapters, I’m reminded; that Jesus gives true rest.

In Matthew 11:28-29 He says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden...

It was a late summer evening when a young lady’s car came to a sputtering stop in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. Confused, she looked at the fuel gauge and saw it was clearly on “E.” Frustrated and unsure of what to do, she began to dial a close friend to pick her up. But before she could hit call, she was startled by a pounding on the window. It was a rough looking man who was pounding, and now yelling at her. She couldn’t understand what he was saying, so she panicked and dialed 911. The man then smashed through the window, grabbed the young lady and yanked her out of the car just before a train smashed it and pushed it down the tracks! Many times in life it can feel like God doesn’t have our best interest in mind. We can begin to doubt God’s goodness when the trials of life are weighing us down. But just like the lady on the railroad tracks, we can be completely unaware of  the...

One day I realized I was missing a credit card I rarely use. After searching for the card to no avail, I called the provider to cancel it. To my surprise, the customer service representative informed me that the card had been reported lost several weeks prior and was put on hold. Someone had found the card and taken the time to make a phone call for the good of a stranger. Choosing to do the right thing often requires more effort than choosing the easiest thing. However, Jesus reminds us to treat others the way we want to be treated, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Mathew 7:12. May we be encouraged to choose the right way over the easy way, and receive the blessings that come from honoring the Lord with our choices. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not...

Summer Solstice (saal-stuhs) in Pennsylvania on June 20, 2024, will give us 5 hours 41 minutes more daylight than Winter Solstice on December 21, 2024. On that day in June, the sun is allotted the most time in a single 24-hour period to have its tremendous impact on the created world. When considering God's purpose for your life, when do you have the most positive impact on the people you influence? Jesus calls us to be His light: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Matt 5:14-15. May we take this day of opportunity and consider Christ's warning: "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light...

Do you ever find yourself worrying about the future? Jesus spoke about this in the Sermon on the Mount recorded in the Bible. He understood that we would be tempted to fear the unknown, so He used a beautiful illustration in nature to remind us that He cares deeply about each of us. Flowers are lovely; however, they do nothing to care for their food or beauty. Although flowers are beautiful, they have a short life; they wither and are gone. We are precious in the eyes of our Creator. As you enjoy the beautiful flowers on cool morning and evening walks this summer, may you be reminded of how much Jesus cares about you! 

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6: 28-29

Phil Groff...

In life, we use many filters in order to remove contaminants and deliver a clean product. HVAC systems use air filters to clean the air we breathe. Water systems have filters to purify the water we drink. Vehicles have fuel and air filters to deliver clean fuel & air to the engine. Internet filters block/remove inappropriate and immoral content. Proverbs 4:23 says: “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”  If the issues of life “spring” from our hearts and minds, then wouldn't it be important to use heart and mind “filters” to prevent contaminants from entering, and also to filter what is inside to filter out contaminants? Philippians 4:8: says “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, … noble, … just, … pure, … lovely, … of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” If we ask God...