Nehemiah 13:2 “(Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing).” [NIV] It has to be the most un-parenthesis worthy statement in the Bible. Maybe that’s why other versions use a simple period or dash. But my NIV version puts a parenthetical around the fact that God turned a curse Continue Reading…
Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him….” Waiting. For most of us, waiting is not our favorite past time. We rarely see it as valuable or instrumental in our spiritual growth. We’re more likely to view it as something to endure, a harbinger for worry Continue Reading…
Luke 9:26 “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Fat-shaming. You’ve no doubt heard of it. It’s when people are mocked or Continue Reading…
Matthew 10:8 “…Freely you have received; freely give.” No Strings Attached. That’s the name of the ministry the ladies in our church embarked upon a few years ago. We made trays of goodies for the local librarians and police department. We gave out water bottles at a Fourth of July Continue Reading…
2 Chronicles 33: 12-13 “In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea.” [NIV] Are there people you see as being so corrupt and godless Continue Reading…
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Events have a way of resurfacing in my memory around the same time every year. It was a year ago this month that Continue Reading…
2 Corinthians 6:1 “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” How could we forget to access something so powerful? Why do we struggle far longer than we need to? Where did we get the idea that our need for grace stopped at the cross? Continue Reading…
2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” How we see ourselves affects our influence in the world. Do we view ourselves as someone through whom God makes his appeal? As envoys sent by God to represent him? As those who Continue Reading…
Hebrews 12:12-13 “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” How often, if ever, do you think about your legacy? Are you aware of the consequences of your choices? You may not think your Continue Reading…
Hebrews 1:14 “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” I’m not sure whether I’ve ever seen an angel, but one experience has caused me to wonder. Chip and I were students in Switzerland at L’Abri studying under Francis Schaeffer. We didn’t have much Continue Reading…