Stemkoski.com

Category: Inspiration

  • Pray to God not to Humans

    Pray to God not to Humans

    “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray…

  • It is in Death that New Life is Born

    It is in Death that New Life is Born

    “Autumn is a season of great beauty, but it is also a season of decline: the days grow shorter, the light is suffused, and summer’s abundance decays toward winter’s death… In my own experience of autumn, I am rarely aware that seeds are being planted… But as I explore autumn’s paradox of dying and seeding,…

  • Pray for the Winning Team

    Pray for the Winning Team

    The passage 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness…

  • Avoid the Shipwreck

    Avoid the Shipwreck

    1 Timothy 1:19 says: 19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. What powerful advice this is. I also find the words to be compelling. Cling, violate, and shipwreck are all very strong words. As…

  • Eradicate Idols and Idleness

    Eradicate Idols and Idleness

     2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 says: 6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not…

  • No ‘Roll’ is Too Small

    No ‘Roll’ is Too Small

    William Barclay said, “Jesus needs what we can bring him. It may not be much but he needs it. It may well be that the world is denied miracle after miracle and triumph after triumph because we will not bring to Jesus what we have and what we are. If we would lay ourselves on…

  • Embrace the Darkness

    Embrace the Darkness

    Yesterday, I saw a quote from Mother Teresa. It said, “When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven — there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. Love — the word — it brings nothing. I am told God loves me — and yet…

  • I don’t have time is not an excuse. Do it now.

    I don’t have time is not an excuse. Do it now.

    Life is short, don’t wait for it to happen around you. I constantly encounter people who tell me they “don’t have the time”. Sometimes it’s colleagues who don’t have time to look for a better job or start a business. Often it is my students who can’t find the time to study or put in…

  • A single mom sets a new standard for what a real “man” is

    A single mom sets a new standard for what a real “man” is

    This isn’t something I wrote. Once you read it, that will be fairly obvious since I am neither single, or a mom. This post was actually written by Tiffany, a girl that I went to school with. She has such great take on life and motherhood that I have republished it here to make it…