Sticking to the Main Thing
For the first two years of Payton's life, Steve and his wife, Melanie, chased the right diagnosis for her. But then their focus changed, as he describes in this tender video segment.
For the first two years of Payton's life, Steve and his wife, Melanie, chased the right diagnosis for her. But then their focus changed, as he describes in this tender video segment.
Well, I did (do) have a problem with procrastination, and I waited too long to start studying for this final. It was the night before and I literally had to learn an entire semester worth of work in one night.
Steve Fischer, Pastor of Biblical Counseling, tells the story about how his daughter Payton's illnesses and life struggles affected him and his wife.
Chuck Swindoll introduces his daughter, Colleen, and Steve Fischer. He explains how their discussions of the heartaches they have faced match the themes covered in the What If . . . ? series.
While our impersonal world makes us wonder if we really matter, Psalm 139 tells us that we do matter—we matter to God. The Lord watches over us intently, He probes the deepest recesses of our hearts, and His love always reaches us no matter how far we stray. As we prepare to learn this last song in our study, let’s quiet our minds and silence the messages from the world that tell us we don’t matter.
For some, devotions are like a placebo. People go through the motions but since there are no active ingredients, the effect is minimal.
Psalms 127 and 128 provide the encouragement we need to put the Lord at the helm of our families, and they show that blessings come if we keep Him at the centre of our lives and endeavours.
I always thought I spent my 24 hours per day pretty well—I took time for work, play, friends and family, and had enough left for rest. So of course just as I was feeling proud of my time-keeping abilities, I got a new job.
This psalm provides help for the helpless. No matter how bad life may seem, God is in control. And because He’s sovereign, He’s a perfect refuge and place to hide when life comes unglued. Why is God’s sovereignty such a help to us? We’ll see in Psalm 46 how the Lord’s sovereign power puts our fears to rest and instils triumphant confidence.
Who hasn’t felt alone and abandoned? Who cannot remember times when God seemed far away? Who doesn’t understand when a friend suffers a “panic attack”? Who hasn’t asked, “O Lord, how long?” If those four questions strike a note of relevance, you’ll have no difficulty identifying with David’s feelings as he composed Psalm 13. The psalmist may have begun on his face, but he wound up on his feet. Let’s find out what made the difference.