LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND
Even today, there are still “tax collectors” among us who hear Jesus say, “Follow Me.” and, by grace, they leave it all behind to follow the One, True Savior.
LORD LORD
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46) It was customary in Jesus’ day to address a man of stature as ‘lord’. The bible versions often differentiate respected men from Jesus by the use of ‘lord’ vs. ‘LORD’ (or, Lord). However, in this verse Jesus is quoted …
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE NEW YEAR!
Before delving into my thoughts for this new year, I strongly urge you to read this passage (Luke 8:36-50) carefully and consider what is being said and all that transpires. The story, in brief: – Jesus is invited to dine with one of the Pharisees. – A woman sits at Jesus’ feet, weeping. = She …
COURAGE IN THE FACE OF ________
Sadly it’s too easy for us to think of Jesus as a ‘superman’ of sorts (which is a terrible analogy any way you cut it!). When it comes to some of His miraculous works and His encounters with demons, we readily label Him “fully God”; whereas, other times, when He is troubled, or pensive, we see Him as “fully man”.
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS
AUDIO VERSION for your convenience CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS The virgin birth of the child known as Jesus is, without a doubt, one of the monumental pivot points in all of human history. Prophesies of the Messiah’s birth are recorded long before His arrival. Despite His humble beginnings, born in a manger, surrounded by shepherds, …
PONDERED IN HER HEART
Luke’s gospel account is unique from the other 3 gospels in that it expresses the emotional depth surrounding Christ’s incarnation. So many people were directly affected by His birth: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Anna the prophetess, and Simeon the Godly priest who served at Jesus’ dedication, and they all show up in Luke’s account. One …
PEACE, a biblical perspective for Christmas
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14 Boy, do we love the words of the heralding angels on the night of our Savior’s birth! Peace on earth! Peace. We all need it, want it, and desire it deeply. Regardless of who we are, …
BIND MY HEART
Our hearts are not to be trusted. I am well aware that many, many people—Christians included—are prone to rely on their own hearts to guide them through the situations, trials, and perils of daily living. But, God’s word warns us that this should not be so.
TOGETHER, AS ONE
It wasn’t that God thought the Jews better than the gentiles (non-Jews); in fact, God’s intent from the very beginning was for the Jews to carry His message to the entire world. As the Jews failed to follow through on their calling, Jesus–being Jewish–served to fulfill God’s intent. Like the Jews, we–living in the present day–were also far off. We were separated from God by our sinful natures. We could not approach God on our own. Thanks be to God that we live in an age when Salvation (Yeshua) has come to all.
GOD ‘PROVES’ HIMSELF
God doesn’t need to “prove” Himself to anyone. God is Who He is. It is WE who need to discover how God’s love is steadfast, how He is always trustworthy, and the myriad of ways in which we can rely upon Him, regardless of the situation.
REACHING THE EARS OF GOD
I do believe the “secret” to quick prayers is being “prayed up”, having been before our God in daily conversant, earnest prayer. God is ever attentive to the prayers of His righteous ones.
NEVER UPENDED
Anyone who lives righteously and with integrity, who thinks of others before themselves, and seeks to honor God in all of their day to day dealings – that person will not be upended, they will not be defeated spiritually and they will live in God’s house for eternity.
ANYTHING BUT FAITHFUL
As we become more enlightened to God’s Word and begin to see Who God is, and we ourselves experience the faithfulness of God of which the Bible speaks, our hearts desire to be faithful to Him grows. For most it is a gradual process.
IF HAMAN AIN’T HAPPY…
Positive emotions are so easily derailed by things that grate us the wrong way. Much of the time the reason our happiness is stolen is due to our expectations not being fulfilled. In order to have spiritual happiness we must acknowledge and fully depend upon our God. Without a permanent relationship with God we can never be eternally happy.
FREE TO PRAISE
Despite Israel’s incessant rebellion, chasing after foreign gods, disregarding of God’s laws, disgracing His name among the people of the earth, and forgetting all of His promises, and disregarding all of His warnings, God’s grace remains.
The same holds true for us!