I’ll never forget the Sunday before Rev’s heart surgery in 2007. Pastor Greg invited everyone attending the service to come forward and lay their hands on Rev as he prepared to pray for Jesus to protect him through surgery and heal his heart. More than a hundred people approached the front, each placing their hands…
Do you love to tell your friends about a new business or product you’ve tried that enhanced and enriched your life? Maybe you’re a professional marketer or someone who can’t keep yourself from sharing wonderful news because you love helping people. But what about the person who avoids people? Imagine being someone who hates engaging…
Did you know the word worship is used 496 times in the NLT version of the Bible? What do you think, is worship important to God? I believe you and I were created to KNOW, LOVE, and yes, WORSHIP God. He spoke about it often because He wants us to understand its importance. The who,…
Have you ever avoided people because you don’t want to discuss the complete truth about your life? Are there details that shame you? Are you concerned that if people knew everything about you, they would ridicule and reject you? Welcome to the world of the Samaritan woman at the well who talked with Jesus! No,…
What do you think? Is it possible to be popular and humble? Ariana Grande was darling as Glinda in Wicked. I especially enjoyed her performance of the song Popular! The last line of the song always invites a smile… You’ll be popular –Just not as quite as popularAs me! Because it’s true, isn’t it? Those…
Can you relate to Nicodemus? He was a Pharisee who grew up in the faith and became a church leader who knew God’s Laws backward and forwards. Jesus often criticized Pharisees for being hypocrites who cared more about their authority and power than obeying and glorifying God from their hearts. But Nicodemus was different. He…
It’s hard for us to imagine Jesus being angry, isn’t it? We all prefer the message of Jesus the open and accepting friend who affirms everything about us. But that is not true about God’s Son and our Savior. Jesus loves us too much to let us follow our own foolishness by worshipping and glorifying…
Do you believe in miracles? Miracles are defined as… ♥ Events that appear inexplicable by the laws of nature and are believed to be supernatural in origin or an act of God. Something that causes wonder and astonishment, being extraordinary in itself and amazing or inexplicable by normal standards. So, do you believe in miracles?…
Have you ever wondered what inspired the disciples to follow Jesus’ invitation immediately? Have you thought about how their families and friends reacted? Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen, and Matthew was a tax collector. We don’t know about the professions of the others but we are told that they all left everything to…
Jesus said… “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 Jesus is the Light of the World who gives us hope and joy. Without light, we’re left living in the dark. Bleakness, despair, despondency, gloom, and misery are just…
What does knowing Jesus, the Word Made Flesh, have to do with self-sufficiency? I sometimes wonder if I would have been a follower of Jesus 2,000 years ago or if I would have aligned with the self-sufficient self-righteous Pharisees. John’s words challenge me and make me suspect the latter… He came into the very world…
Who is Jesus? A great teacher? A popular religious leader? A godly man? A prophet? A moral influencer? Mark began his book about Jesus like this… This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Mark 1:1 Jesus the Messiah was promised, God ordained, and proclaimed by prophets to be the…
How often do you focus on the simple truth of God’s love in the Bible? It’s one of the reasons I write. I used to treat the Bible as a manual full of dos and don’ts until God showed me its truly transformative message. Because I love sharing His love in this space and want…
Happy New Year! It’s January 1st and my primary goal is to make 2025 a year filled with prayer and peace. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write… Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything…
Are you making New Year’s Resolutions this year? Are they new for 2025 or the same resolutions you’ve started on January 1st every year for as long as you can remember? Ten years ago, the Most Common New Year’s Resolutions were: 1. Quit Smoking2. Exercise3. Lose Weight4. Enjoy Life More5. Quit Drinking6. Organize7. Learn Something…
I once read the following words written by Louie Giglio… “Jesus doesn’t just give you what you need; Jesus is what you need. Your heart was created by Him and for Him. You can fight and claw to gain the world, but without Jesus, you will never be completely satisfied. If there is a growing…
Christmas Blessings, Friends!! It’s time to celebrate Jesus, the best gift ever given. May these verses, quotes, and prayers encourage you and help you remember that even if your day doesn’t look like you wanted … the Lord of the universe left the glories of heaven because He loves you more than you can imagine….
Are you someone who believes it’s important to prepare in advance? Are you ready for the days ahead? Are you patting yourself on the back because your organizing skills have enabled you to enjoy a calm and relaxing week? No! Me either. I admit I can get so busy preparing for the physical celebration of Christmas…
I’m not a fan of cold weather, but one thing I love about a cold winter night is the stillness and peace. It’s hard to find a moment of either at this time of year. Between shopping, wrapping, cooking, church and school activities, holiday get-togethers, and random unexpected appointments … oh my, stillness and peace…
Who’s the person with whom you’d most like to spend an afternoon? Are they full of joy? I’m guessing you didn’t choose the grumpiest most miserable person you know. I’m not talking about your grieving friend or the person who’s going through a difficult struggle. I’m thinking about the consistently cranky one. Nope! Most of us want…
Everyone has them. These are the hard questions that are difficult to answer. Inquiries that most people answer easily but that you find personally painful. Questions like… The Christmas season is called the most wonderful time of the year, but many find that these inquiring conversation starters are painful reminders of someone or something they lost or long…
