When someone difficult for me to appreciate entered my life, I was tempted, perhaps not to show, but to feel irritation. Then the Lord reminded me of Paul's words, "I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." Here was an opportunity for my focus to shift from her to Christ. I prayed, "Dear Lord, I desire that You be pleased with my thoughts about her." In response, God gave me a new attitude toward her.

"How did you keep from despairing during my two years of spiritual highs and lows? a friend asked. Through God's grace she had gained spiritual stability and now was trying to help another new Christian. Watching the new convert stumble, she wondered how to keep from despairing.

"My Father is always at his work" (John 5:17), Jesus assures us. What is His Father's work? I like to think that His continual work is to show us His love. Every moment, He continues to do what He did when He sent His son. "For God so loved that He gave...." He who is always the same is continually at this work of expressing His love for us.

When Queen Esther discovered her husband planned to annihilate the Jews, her Uncle Mordecai begged her to plead with the king. She knew, though, that she could be killed if she went before the king uninvited.

I heard someone tell of walking into his house to get a cup of coffee. Suddenly he had a strong impression to give the cup of coffee to an older man who was working outside.

When Ruth Graham was a student at Wheaton College, they had two dining rooms. One offered a sit-down meal that cost more than the lunchroom downstairs where students could just brown-bag it and not pay for a full meal.

Lee Stroble, author of A Case for Christ, felt compelled to go visit an old friend he once worked with and invite him to Easter service. He dreaded going. He knew the man to be hardened to the Gospel and an unlikely candidate for church attendance.

Our family was enjoying summer vacation at Philmont, a Boy Scout ranch where my husband was one of the doctors in the clinic. As usual, I was more comfortable reading in our room than visiting with the other wives. Yet, two weeks was long enough to get acquainted with others if only I weren't so shy!