Have you ever heard someone say… “Let me tell you, when I get to Heaven, I’m going to have some serious questions for God! Like why did He do __________ or why didn’t He prevent __________.” And I’ll be honest, I think everyone has moments when they don’t understand God’s sovereign decisions after a devastating…
Can you imagine asking how to become a follower of Jesus and hearing the follower complicated reply: “Well . . . first you read the Bible. You DO have a Bible, don’t you? No? Well . . . you need to get one right away! Then, you should definitely receive instruction from a pastor or…
The truth is . . . There is no such thing as do it yourself salvation! And it’s also true . . . that is a hard truth for us to accept. Pride is our #1 weakness. Whether it is manifested as arrogance or insecurity . . . we all, like two year olds, have…
My favorite chapter of the Bible is John 17. It blesses my faith every time I read I read Jesus prayer for His followers to be safe, strong, and united. Rev’s favorite chapter is Romans 8, and honestly it is a close second for me . . . a chapter full of God’s promises to…
Have you noticed culture is trying to eliminate the word “sin” from the public forum? There appears to be an effort to remove the idea of an absolute religious or moral law; therefore, making it possible for everyone to determine for themselves what is right or wrong. And many Christians avoid talking about sin for…
When was the last time you said… “Well, that’s easier said than done?” Okay, maybe you haven’t said the words out loud but I’ll bet you’ve thought them. Especially when you’ve gotten advice like: “I know you’re hurt but God wants you to just forgive and forget.” “You know you need to find a higher…
I love the first two verses of Romans 5… Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and…
Have you ever wondered if you have enough faith? Have you ever asked the question, “Is my faith strong enough to save me?” If you’re like me, you have days when the Lord seems near and my faith feels strong. Then there are the other days. Those are the days the enemy uses to tempt…
What’s the best news you’ve ever gotten? A dream job offer? A marriage proposal? A positive pregnancy test? A call from the adoption agency? An accepted home offer? A college admission letter? __________? There are two main teachings in the Bible. And Paul uses the early chapters of Romans to emphasize both. Yesterday we focused…
This morning, my devotion invited me to ask: Have we been selfish? Have we been more jealous of our own reputation than of the honor of God? God nudged me to personalize it . . . so, I wrote in my journal: Have I been selfish . . . more concerned about my reputation than…
I love Paul’s opening words to the Romans . . . especially this verse: I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. Romans 1:7 We don’t know how the church in Rome started. None of the Apostles had been there…
When’s the last time you came to the end of a book, TV show, or movie and you were frustrated because you wanted more? You’re sure there must be a sequel but the sequel never shows up. And the story just doesn’t seem complete. That’s how many of us feel when we get to the…
How do you respond to snarky comments on social media? How do you handle harsh criticism about your faith? I’ve had several opportunities lately to think about and figure out how to deal with each of those scenarios and I pray that I have been able to be just a bit like Paul. When the…
Do you have a loved one, a friend or neighbor who is not a believer? Have you have carefully looked for openings to share your faith? Perhaps, many times . . . over many years. You wait and pray and wait some more. It would be great if a single, gentle nudge from you led…
Do you feel trapped? Stuck in your circumstances? Unsure of what to do next? Does life feel hard? Do the days seem long? Picture Paul… Two years have passed since: A group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. Acts 23:12 Nothing much…
How often does you pastor preach about the consequences of sin and the importance of obedience? When I was growing up, our pastor used to preach long messages. At one point, my dad, who was a personal friend of his, teased him about the fact that they seemed to be getting even longer. Our pastor…
Do you know anyone who has been rejected by family or friends because of their faith? Maybe you’re the one who is considered “weird” or overboard because you take God at His Word and trust His promises. Do you feel forsaken Alone? Many Bible scholars believe that when Paul, a Pharisee and “Jew among Jews,”…
At the top of a list of “worst things to discuss in public” you’ll find, money, religion, sex, and politics And in our current politically correct society some would say that even mentioning those topics is argumentative and hateful. If we’re to avoid talking about religion . . . what about faith? Everyone has faith in something…
You remember Mnason, right? Okay. The truth is, I don’t remember him either. In fact, I had to look up the meaning of his name just to see how to pronounce it. So, if he’s new to you too, Mnason is pronounced (m)na-son (with a silent m), and… The following verse is the only time…
I hate “good-byes.” They can be horribly painful especially if we believe we may never see that person again. The Apostle Paul told the people in Ephesus: Now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail…
We celebrate Jesus. And we should! We pray to “our Father.” As Jesus taught us. But the Holy Spirit… I wonder if we have a harder time talking about the Spirit because we can’t picture Him. We have many images of Jesus and we can visualize entering throne room and approaching the Father of grace…
