Matthew 7:11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Sometimes I get overwhelmed with God’s good gifts. About 17 years ago, a friend asked if our Continue Reading…
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” I need God. And the more I sense my spiritual poverty, the richer I become. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, my lack always leads me to his abundance. As some of Continue Reading…
Luke 15:24 “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Prodigals. They can be found in every spectrum of Christianity. They flee from religious establishment congregations as well as free-in-the-spirit flocks. Kids raised on the Donut Man, Veggie Tales and Jesus Continue Reading…
Psalm 18:2-3 “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.” Do you see God as your deliverer, the one who Continue Reading…
Mark 2:4-5 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are Continue Reading…
Acts 20:35 “…remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Do you ever think about how you posture yourself for the day? I whispered a quick prayer the other morning before I left for my meeting. “Lord, please change my mindset Continue Reading…
Psalm 71:14 “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” The culture tries to paint a picture of hope. But I’m afraid it often seems more like hype. How many times we’ve been at a Penn State football game, we’re behind, and the Continue Reading…
James 4:2-3 “…You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.…” During the presidency of George W. Bush, he challenged educators to avoid the “soft bigotry of low expectations.” He wanted schools to stop subtle discrimination by expecting Continue Reading…
John 11:21-22 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” “Yet Lord, I know even now you can deliver her.” I was surprised to find myself writing those words while praying Continue Reading…
Job 42:7-9 “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Now…go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his Continue Reading…