Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” Imagine Zacchaeus. As a Jewish tax collector for the Romans, he lived on the lowest rung of Israel’s social Continue Reading…
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. “ Quinn, my ten-month old grandson, and I recently had a delightful conversation. Of course, it was in blowing-raspberries-ish so you might not have understood it. He Continue Reading…
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. God has designed us to connect with other people. He blesses us and asks us to pour out that blessing on others. A recently reported Harvard study on longevity shows relationships help us live longer Continue Reading…
Ephesians 5:31-32 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Do you enjoy mysteries? How about profound mysteries? Profound mysteries involving love? Continue Reading…
Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. I thought of the scripture about how the birth of a new believer triggers widespread joy in heaven. Of course, I was holding my Continue Reading…
Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.” [AMP] My husband and I celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary this week. Hopeless romantic that I am, I couldn’t help but reminisce about our unlikely story…. As many of you know, Chip Continue Reading…
Matthew 20:34 “Jesus had compassion on them….” In 1956, Elvis Presley recorded his most iconic hit, Love Me Tender. Funny I would recall those lyrics as I think of broken people still asking, “Does anyone love me?” Are we reflecting the compassion of Jesus? Tenderheartedness has staying power. The memory Continue Reading…
1 Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” One thing I think most Americans can agree upon: this Continue Reading…
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” “Friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them…” A lot of truth in those Michael W. Smith lyrics. It’s hard to overestimate the value of spiritual friendship. When I think Continue Reading…
1 John 4:8 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Words from this sonnet written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning for her husband popped into my head this morning. Love. Who but a God of love Continue Reading…