I love to learn new words. I especially love new words from other languages because they often combine meanings in a way that English does not.
My latest “find” is the Hebrew word “tov.”
What is tov?
The Stench of a Small Dead Mouse
My husband and I own a farmhouse outside a small town. Whenever we leave how for a few days and then return, one of the first things we do is check the mouse traps to see if there are any dead mice. Most of the time, we don’t really have to examine the traps. Even the tiniest of dead mice, if dead for a number of hours, give off a distinct odor. Left for days at a time, they become so putrid that you can hardly enter the room.
This was the case about a month ago when we returned to our home and found—through the distinct “dead mouse” smell—the tiniest of dead mouse that had met its demise while we were gone.
We had arrived late in the night, so my husband put the dead mouse—trap and all—outside to dispose of later. The problem is, he forgot about it.
What the Bible Teaches Us About Surviving Tough Times
It seems that nearly all of the stories on the news today are bad. From weather to politics, from rioting to murder, it seems the news stations can pick from a wide range of heartache and terror to hold our attention, amping up our anxiety levels.
And, it does seem that the whole world is experiencing an increase in troubling times.
From an assassination in Japan to church burnings and murders in Nicaragua, from skyrocketing gas prices to mass shootings at town parades, what are we to do to face these times—and to find joy while we endure them?
Here are just a few things the Bible tells us:
When a Door Opens....
Why are we so often a people without praise on our lips?
I include myself in this category.
God opens a door—and what do I do?
I question it first.
“Did God open the door? Is it safe to go through? What would happen if I went through?”
Now, all of this is highly logical.
Martha—not Mary.
God does tell us to “seek” before we “find”.
But, once we have explored the option and believe it is God’s doing, what do we do then?
Mid-Year Resolutions—Time to Push Ahead
In a survey completed by US News and World Report, by mid-February, 80 percent of new year’s resolutions have been shelved. Goals are tough to achieve. Most require marathons—not sprints—and marathons take endurance.
So, what do we do when we find ourselves mid-year with shelved goals and stale dreams.
Here are some steps to help you jumpstart your plans and to finish this year with the satisfaction of having achieved what brings fulfillment and joy: