Psalm 36:1-2 There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. God takes sin very seriously. So should we. Throughout the Old Testament, God gave his people standards to live by. And consequences if they Continue Reading…
Jonah 4:9 “…. I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” Self-Pity. There’s nothing attractive about it. Like quicksand, it draws us in and pulls us down, down, down until we drown in SELF. Self-pity accepts no responsibility for our beleaguered state of mind and soothes our bruised egos Continue Reading…
Hosea 9:10 “…they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.” Be careful what you love…. I remember a song we used to sing in Sunday School. Oh be careful little ears what you hear….oh be careful little eyes what you see…oh be Continue Reading…
Matthew 19:17 “Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good.’” “Want some more coffee?” “No thanks, I’m good.” “Can I get you anything else?” “Nope, I’m good.” I’m good. It’s a common idiom we use these days. It’s not intended to say we possess a certain Continue Reading…
Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” “Little Bunny Foo Foo, hopping through the forest, scooping up the field mice and boppin’ them on the head…” If you’ve Continue Reading…
James 1:14-15 “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” When our son Josiah was young, he and his sister Bethany got into a Continue Reading…
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world….” The classic 1963 movie, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, featured more iconic comedians than any film that’s ever been produced. It also contained more adjectives in its title than most productions. It’s those four adjectives (the mads)that keep echoing in Continue Reading…
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 “…We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” If only I would have….or If only I wouldn’t have…. Ever wish life included a replay Continue Reading…
Romans 5:20 “…But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” “He was a great kid, always smiling…” These words describe Martin Richard, the 8-year old boy who died in the Boston Marathon bombing. His death captured for me, perhaps more than anything, the horrific nature of the tragedy. The Continue Reading…
Luke 22:51 “But Jesus answered, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” Sometimes our humanness just plain stinks—especially when we fail to recognize it. We think we are doing the “Lord’s will,” but our motivation is fueled more by our flesh than the Holy Spirit. It’s Continue Reading…