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…
Have you ever wondered what it must have been like for the Children of Israel when an illness or plague swept over them and thousands died? Their fear of death must have been unimaginable. Yet, in the past year and a half, we’ve had a bit of a sample as to what they may have…
Rev often smiles and says, “I sure am glad I was born in New Testament times.” I’m guessing you are too. I’m guessing most of us are glad we don’t have to take sheep or goats or doves to church as our weekly sacrifice. Or for that matter, see them sacrificed. I’d imagine our pastors…
Priests were designated by God to 1. offer sacrifices and be the mediators between God and His people 2. teach people God’s Law. You see, sinners could not go directly to a Holy God. But then, Holy God humbled Himself and came to us . . . Jesus came to live among us, died to…
“The greatest thing you have to offer is your word, but only if you plan on keeping it.” ~ Anonymous How good are you at keeping your promises? I think most of us want to be true to our word. We have good intentions when we make a promise but… And oh, how that word…
By God’s grace, the small church we were serving was growing. Many of the new members were also new to the faith. So, it was important to offer a way for these followers to learn the basic truths of their newfound belief. Rev felt it might be a blessing to everyone if he held this…
There’s an old saying that describes Christianity as simply having a “Pie in the sky by and by” attitude about life. The criticism is that believers are missing out on life right now just so that when they die, they will go to heaven. The good stuff of life. The “pie” . . . will…
Every once in a while there will be a headline that broadcasts the news of a famous Christian who has walked away from their faith. And I wonder if that isn’t a major goal of the enemy of our souls. Famous or not the enemy wants people to doubt and reject their faith in God….
Years ago, two teenage daughters of one of our neighbors became lost at sea and nearly lost their lives. The family was enjoying a beach vacation when these two teen sisters decided to do a little relaxing on a raft in the Gulf of Mexico. With the warmth of the sun and the gentle rocking…
What do you believe about Jesus? He once asked His disciples, “who do you say I am?” Who is Jesus to you? Jesus’ birth more than 2,000 years ago fundamentally changed the world. The majority of people believe that Jesus was a real person. Many also consider Him a highly influential historical figure. Some believe…
Have you ever run away? Has someone close to you run away from you? I think almost everyone has had a moment or several moments when they’ve wanted to run from the situation in which they find themselves. Some follow through . . . some don’t. In the last of Paul’s letters collected in Scripture,…
I was on a Christian Site recently and noticed that after a beautiful and encouraging devotion about the importance of finding ways to strengthen and build relationships with one another . . . several of the commenters had turned their interactions with others into ugly debates about a current political issue. I can’t help but…
