Pathways Press.com

Written by Joel Caldwell, a contemporary clinical psychologist, counselor, and writer.

I used to pass him everyday on my way to work.  He stood at the corner of one of the busiest intersections in the city.  He always held a sign about a desire to work for food.  On my best days, I would give him a few dollars.  Every other day, I would just drive on by pretending not to notice him.  I always felt a twinge of guilt. Steve was a successful chef in that same city.  He was known for his innovative cuisine and in-demand restaurant. Steve passed through that same intersection each day.  Occasionally, he would bring the man food.  But over time, Steve had other ideas.  He wanted to make a real difference in not only this man’s life, but also in the lives of those like this man. So Steve took the dramatic step of leaving his restaurant to open a non-profit cafe that catered to the homeless.  He also used this cafe to introduce Jesus to those who did not know Him.  While I was busy feeling guilty over someone’s suffering, Steve wanted to utilize his own gifts to help change someone’s life.  Steve understood that investing in people is the best kind of investment.  It can change the lives of those we help, but also our own in the process. Steve decided to change his own life significantly in order to best help those who needed it.  He understood the concept in 2 Corinthians 9:6 about sowing and reaping.  Steve sowed heavily in the lives of others and he reaped many rewards. Steve’s cafe attracted the homeless in the city but also those in more fortunate situations.  On any given weekday, you could find professionals dining in the presence of those who struggled with the basics of life.  They were all drawn to Steve’s food but even more so to his heart. His generosity was returned in spades. 

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. [2 Corinthians 9:6]

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Written by Billy Graham (1918-2018), an American evangelist, minister, author, and broadcaster.

To appreciate art, one must either be born with an artistic sense or develop it by training. Only a relatively few people have an innate sense of color, form, and harmony. To such, a love for art comes naturally. Without an artistic appreciation in one’s soul, visiting an art gallery can be a boring affair. Likewise, to appreciate good music one must have music “in him” or develop it. Without a sense of music appreciation, it is possible to sleep through a symphony concert or a performance of the Metropolitan Opera. So it is with the things of God. Talk about God can become dreary and lackluster if God isn’t in you. Church can become a drab thing and the Bible an irksome Book if the Holy Spirit does not illuminate your soul with His indwelling presence. The wonderful thing about it all is that God has planned life so that if our hearts are dead to spiritual things, something can be done about it.

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  [Ephesians 3:19]

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Written by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), an English preacher and author.

Famine pinched all the nations, and it seemed inevitable that Jacob and his family should suffer great want; but the God of providence, who never forgets the objects of electing love, had stored a granary for his people by giving the Egyptians warning of the scarcity, and leading them to treasure up the grain of the years of plenty. Little did Jacob expect deliverance from Egypt, but there was the corn in store for him. Believer, though all things are apparently against thee, rest assured that God has made a reservation on thy behalf; in the roll of thy griefs there is a saving clause. Somehow, he will deliver thee, and somewhere he will provide for thee. The quarter from which thy rescue shall arise may be a very unexpected one, but help will assuredly come in thine extremity, and thou shalt magnify the name of the Lord. If men do not feed thee, ravens shall; and if earth yield not wheat, heaven shall drop with manna. Therefore, be of good courage, and rest quietly in the Lord. God can make the sun rise in the west if he pleases and make the source of distress the channel of delight. The corn in Egypt was all in the hands of the beloved Joseph; he opened or closed the granaries at will. And so, the riches of providence are all in the absolute power of our Lord Jesus, who will dispense them liberally to his people. Joseph was abundantly ready to succor his own family; and Jesus is unceasing in his faithful care for his brethren. Our business is to go after the help which is provided for us: we must not sit still in despondency but bestir ourselves. Prayer will bear us soon into the presence of our royal Brother: once before his throne we have only to ask and have: his stores are not exhausted; there is corn still: his heart is not hard, he will give the corn to us. Lord, forgive our unbelief, and this evening constrain us to draw largely from thy fulness and receive grace for grace.

I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die. [Genesis 42:2]

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Written by Jim Coakley, a contemporary professor and author.

If you’ve ever gone on a hike through a state park, you know that the way can sometimes be unclear. You come to a fork in the trail and wonder if you should head left or right. Maybe you consult your trail guide or look for a marker that will indicate the right direction. As we come to the end of Matthew’s Gospel, we see the resurrected Jesus gather His disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Here He delivers what has been called the Great Commission. This was a significant crossroad for the disciples, and they would rely on Jesus to help them with their next steps. Jesus challenges them to step out of their comfort zone, to “go and make disciples of all nations,”, and then, He gives them the assurance they need. He promises His presence…Jesus’ promise brings both comfort and strength to His disciples. He assures them, and us by extension, that no matter what challenges we face in following Him, we are not alone. Matthew at the beginning of the Gospel stated that Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us.” Now in the last verse we come full circle. This last chapter about Jesus’ death and resurrection echoes many of the themes that were introduced in Jesus’ birth narrative—not only that God is with us, but that Gentiles would be included in God’s plan. As Christ’s followers, we are to venture out into the world, to make disciples and to baptize in His name, all with the comfort of the Lord’s unending presence. As we step out in obedience, let us take to heart the blessing of the Lord’s presence “with us” not only for today but for all our tomorrows as well.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. [Matthew 28:20]

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Written by the Lead Like Jesus team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus.

Jesus, I hear You ask me the same question You asked Simon Peter, “Do you love me?” Let Your love be my heartbeat, so transforming me that I willingly pour myself out for the benefit of others. I pray in Your name today, amen.

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love
you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep. [John 21:16]

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Written by Travis Greene, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “Are You Praying for the Wrong Thing?”

We’re all heroes of our own stories. We’re the stars of our own lifelong movies. When something happens, it happens to us. And when people hurt us, they’re the villains, right? But here’s the thing we forget:  Our stories — as much as it might seem like they revolve around us — are actually part of a much, much bigger story. We’re all characters in God’s own book. And each one of us plays a part in that book. That includes you. And me. And the guy who cut you off in traffic. And the friend who stopped calling. And the son or daughter who cut off all contact with you. They might’ve done terrible things. They might even seem, right now, to be terrible people. But God still loves them — loves them in ways you can’t even imagine. And He still has a place for them in His story — a part that He wants them to play… Peter, who denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed twice, became the leader of the early church — the “rock” that Jesus said he’d become (Matthew 16:18)…Christian tradition tells us that, outside Judas, all of Jesus’ disciples made mighty contributions to the Kingdom of God. They might’ve failed Jesus at a crucial moment. But God wasn’t done with them. God used them. And He can do the same for the people in our lives. The people who walk away. The people who leave us. The people who hurt us. God’s not done with them either.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and
pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [Matthew 5:44–45].

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Written by L.B. Cowman (1870-1960), an American writer and author.

Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length;
Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.

Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.

I was crushed…so much so that I despaired even of life, but that was to make me rely not on myself,
but on the God who raises the dead. [2 Corinthians 1:8-9]

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Written by Michelle Lazurek, a contemporary writer and speaker.

We say we want to hear from God. But we often try to pull our lives in our direction, hoping the things we want will come true and that God will bless our wishes. We often pull to the point of physical and emotional exhaustion, trying to make life go the way we want it to. We seek to lean on our own understanding of life, rather than leaning on God. However, God ordained a specific direction for our lives. When we choose to follow him, the burden of this life will become much easier to bear. The common tension for believers is choosing our own will versus allowing God to direct our paths. We often don’t want to give God control because we’re afraid that our lives will go in a direction that is undesirable for us. Our human nature pulls us in the direction of things that pull us away from worshipping God. While we desire fame, fortune, and wealth, God may desire a bigger purpose for our lives. When we pull our lives in a certain direction toward worldly desires, we will often fail. But when our desires align with God’s will for our lives, God will faithfully open doors that are nearly impossible for us to open in our own strength…Pulling the way we want to in our lives is futile. However, when we choose to let God lead, and don’t lean on our own minds or desires to guide our lives, we will find ourselves in new and exciting places and our lives will become more fruitful than we ever dreamed possible.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. [Philippians 4:13]

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Written by the Lead Like Jesus team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus.

Jesus, thank You that I don’t have to remain mired in failure, but that I can humbly come to You to find forgiveness and grace. Help me take responsibility for my failures, seek forgiveness from those who are affected, and find ways to restore trust with them. I ask in Your name, amen.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1 John 1:9]

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Written by Christopher Eyte, a contemporary writer.

It’s really quite something – a love which goes far beyond our understanding. How can we comprehend it? But it’s a love nonetheless that we are compelled to remember again and again, every single day. Jesus died for people of darkness like me, to rescue us from evil. God the Father sacrificed God the Son, to adopt us as his children! … What does the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ really mean to you? Can you think of ‘tools’ to remember his love throughout the busyness of life? If God the Father loved you so much that he gave his one and only son – how do you respond to that? How can you get others to respond to such love? … Let’s remember his sacrifice every day, in any way we can. Perhaps more than anything by showing love to others.

Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order
to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.  [Deuteronomy 8:18]

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