Category Archives: Materialism

An Insight from the Past to Help in the Present

Have the inequalities of life ever dragged you to the depths?  Are you ever tempted to compare your life to someone else’s?  I am.  In that disturbed state one day I came across Psalm 73 in the Bible and was … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Adversity, Appreciation, Belief, Bible, Choices, Contentment, Disappointment, Faith, Feelings, Happiness, Materialism, Money, Peace, Perspective, Priorities, Self-Worth, Social Pressure, Spiritual, Thankfulness, Values, Wisdom, Worship | Leave a comment

Cleaning Up The Place of Worship

What’s happening:  It’s now Monday.  He is walking back to Jerusalem, this time traveling the few miles on foot.  No crowds are waiting, so he makes His way inside the city to the Temple.  The sprawling edifice is still under construction, … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Belief, Bible, Christ, Courage, Holy Week, Humanity, Love of Money, Materialism, Meditation, Money, Passion, Prayer, Priorities, relationships, Religion, Repentance, Spirituality, Values, Word of God, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Position

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/19) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations: Commenting on Nicodemus’s visit to Jesus, Alfred Edersheim (The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah) wrote: “It must … Continue reading

Posted in Adaptability, Courage, Faithfulness, Job, Materialism, Peer Pressure, Priorities, Reality, relationships, Religion, Social Pressure, Status, Values, Witnessing, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Pandemic

Part of a daily devotional series at Words of Hope (https://woh.org/word/devotionals/2013/03/13) looking at how people in the Bible handled tough situations: Read 2 Kings 23:1-25 In the 21st century the world has learned a new term: pandemic. A virus that … Continue reading

Posted in Adaptability, Adversity, Belief, Country, Courage, Darkness, Evil, Faithfulness, Fear, Life, Materialism, Morale, Morals, Patriotism, Peace, Prayer, Priorities, Spirituality, Values | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Best Gifts I Already Have

Lessons from Life:  There is a proverb which says “the best things in life are free.”  Actually that is the title to a song.  These are some of the words in the song recorded by Frank Sinatra. The moon belongs … Continue reading

Posted in Acceptance, Appreciation, Christmas, Creation, Enjoyment, Focus, Happiness, Holidays, Life, Materialism, Money, Nature, Peace, Perspective, Pleasure, Praise, Priorities, Relaxation, Thankfulness, Weather, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Loving that Polka-Dotted Tie

  Lessons I Have Learned:  As I mature, I have noticed my priorities changing from gadgets to relationships.  When I was very young, at this time of year, my focus was on what I was going to get for Christmas.  … Continue reading

Posted in Adaptability, Aging, Children, Contentment, Enjoyment, Feelings, Grand children, Happiness, Laughter, Life, love, Materialism, Old Age, Peace, Perspective, Priorities, relationships, Retirement, Thankfulness, Wisdom, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Short Life of Pleasure

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT LIFE:  An important lesson for me over my years has been realizing that purchases only give pleasure  for a short time. When I was quite young with a paper-route income, I became a member of a record … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Bondage, Children, Contentment, Feelings, Food, Grand children, Happiness, Health, Life, Love of Money, Materialism, Money, Music, Peace, Perspective, Pleasure, relationships, Sex | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The gods of the peoples are idols

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.  (Psalm 96:5 NRSV) What a world of truth this little verse contains.  In the first reference to higher power, the writer uses the word elohim, … Continue reading

Posted in Creation, Eternity, Faithfulness, Guidance, Heaven, Love of Money, Materialism, Meditation, Nature, Night, Perseverance, Politics, Praise, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Religion, Salvation, Stress, Trust, Weather, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where Am I Going?

14Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Eternity, Faith, Fear, Guidance, Heaven, love, Love of Money, Materialism, Perseverance, Quiet Time, Salvation, Sleeplessness, Trust, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peer Pressure Made Me Do It

As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites relapsed and prostituted themselves with the Baals, making Baal-berith their god. The Israelites did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every … Continue reading

Posted in Bondage, Country, Courage, Creation, Eternity, Faithfulness, Fear, Guidance, Heaven, Love of Money, Materialism, Meditation, Nature, Patriotism, Perseverance, Perspective, Politics, Prayer, Quiet Time, relationships, Repentance, Stress, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment