John 3:16 “For God so loved the world….” We are told words have power. Some words step right into the darkness and alter the trajectory of life. When Nicodemus slipped in to see Jesus in the dead of night he found the sun at noonday. He came with honest questions. Continue Reading…
1 Chronicles 19:3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” Have you ever found 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…
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…
Psalm 90: 14, 17 “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love….establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” My friend Frank liked to say everyone in the world is searching for two things: to know someone loves them and that their life has Continue Reading…
1 Corinthians 13:13 “But the greatest of these is love.” Author Bob Goff writes, “The way we love the people we don’t agree with is the best evidence that the tomb is really empty.” Ouch! It doesn’t take much insight to see how division is running rampant in our country Continue Reading…
Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” We show intolerance to those who are intolerant. We judge those who are judgmental. We readily dismiss the ideas of Continue Reading…
Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” While waiting for my flight to board, the couple sitting next to me at the airport caught my attention. They had in hand a recent purchase from Starbucks. A Caramel Macchiato? Skinny Continue Reading…
Revelation 2:4 “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” They worked tirelessly without growing weary. They endured hardship after hardship for the sake of Christ. They persevered when others folded. They fearlessly exposed hypocrisy in the church, unswerving in their dedication to Continue Reading…
Psalm 139:1 “O Lord, you have searched me and known me!” [ESV] Our daughter Bethany sought to learn Mandarin when she was dating her husband (who is of Asian descent). My friend Theresa wants to learn Spanish so she can better help Spanish-speaking people who apply for mortgage loans at her Continue Reading…