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September 19...

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...