To all my friends in the U.S.— HAPPY THANKSGIVING! The last couple of years have been full of challenges but when we pause and really think about it . . . we have so many reasons to thank God. I was so excited when I realized that our chapter today was 1 John 4. It…
My family loves to tease me about my ever-ready willingness to accept the blame and bear the guilt for just about anything that has ever gone wrong. Occasionally, when Rev and my daughter know that I couldn’t possibly have been at fault, they will grin and blame me anyway. How bad is it? My daughter…
It’s a familiar story… ‘If only I could accomplish this, do that, go there, or get what I want . . . then I will be happy.” Yet, when the desire is met or the goal achieved . . . the individual is not satisfied. They end up saying they feel disappointed, lacking, and the…
John is called the Apostle of love. When he wrote this letter “many believers were conforming to the world’s standards, failing to stand up for Christ and compromising their faith.” (LAB Notes) Sound familiar? He wanted to point people back to the truth . . . reminding readers of God’s love for them, he wanted…
I had two great aunts growing up who believed that Jesus’ return was imminent. As I look around, I believe we can make the case that we should be watching the sky and listening for the trumpet blast. Throughout history, Christians have shared this belief. Yet, year after year the world continues, and because it…
Peter was among the disciples who asked: “What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” The following is just a portion of Jesus reply: You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many…
The other day, I received the following comment on something I shared on Pinterest… “Reading about imaginary deities won’t add to your knowledge.” I get similar comments fairly often and honestly, although they sadden me they no longer surprise me. What does surprise me are the times when people who identify as Christians but don’t…
When life is comfortable it’s easy for us to get lazy. We love the thought of life being carefree but unfortunately, that’s when we’re tempted to get careless. Take a look at the typical wildlife documentary. The predators always stalk and wait for just the right unguarded moment to pounce on and devour their prey….
Our daughter’s family loves working on jigsaw puzzles. This particular puzzle was a Christmas gift. They were so excited about the design and couldn’t wait to mount, frame, and hang it. They were on that puzzle for weeks . . . it was complicated with many small pieces. But they were determined. Finally, they were…
I’ve been a member of two different churches during a time of disagreement that caused a split among the members. One split over worship style and the other over the pending location of the new worship center. Sadly, Christians have been disagreeing and separating since the early days of the church. Peter gave the following…
I love exploring local bookstores when we’re on vacation. I’ve found all kinds of treasures on their racks. One such treasure was the book, In His Steps by Charles Sheldon. Even if you’re not familiar with the book itself, which I highly recommend, you probably are well aware of the acronym that came from it….
A little over a year into our marriage, Rev was contacted by an attorney who said that his elderly great aunt had died and left him a $500 savings bond. We were both surprised and grateful. You see, Rev was a full-time student at the seminary and I was a parochial school teacher. That was…
We often talk about the “power of prayer” and it is Biblical. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 Prayer is powerful but it’s not powerful because of the one who prays . . . it is powerful because of the One to whom we pray….
It’s so much more fun to talk about grace than obedience but once again the words of James make us squirm, and today he has all of us in the crosshairs. Most of us have experienced the devastating pain of cruel words and they seem to be especially hurtful when they come from someone close…
It’s possible you can relate to my struggle… When someone says something that irritates or upsets me, I can quickly think of a response that is less than kind and compassionate. It’s easy to want to reply with something that “puts them back on their heels.” But the truth is that in those moments, we…
What is genuine faith? Jesus’ half-brother, James, didn’t have any trouble sharing his thoughts on the subject. The Bible is clear about the fact that everyone is saved by God’s grace… God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not…
I can remember sitting in our Sunday Morning Bible Class and hearing a friend say… “When life gets hard and troubles start piling up, I start to get excited because I know the Lord is about to show Himself. He is going to be there for me in an extraordinary way.” Wow! Please don’t tell…
Today’s chapter contains one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible. It’s one I cling to daily because it’s a promise that… gives me peace. removes my fear. fills me with hope. strengthens me when I feel weak. and provides a firm foundation for my faith. What is this powerful promise? Jesus Christ is…
Imagine the runners prepped at the starting line. The crowd cheers, shouting words of encouragement. The starting gun is fired and the race begins. The stadium erupts into a roar. Then when the finish line is crossed the sound is almost deafening. Now… Imagine you’re that runner and that the crowd is cheering for you!…
Hebrews 11 is called the Hall of Faith chapter. But before listing the names of many of the great people of faith, the writer begins with a wonderful description of faith. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Do you remember the feelings…
Because of Jesus sacrificial love you and I can: Boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place. (Hebrews 10:19) Go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts. (Hebrews 10:22) Prior to Jesus’ suffering and death, the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies, was kept separate by a heavy curtain. Only the High Priest was…
