A Time for Reflection

Psalm 77:11-12 (NIV) “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

In a few days, we will be saying goodbye to the year 2023 and welcoming the year 2024. Perhaps this was a relatively good year for you as things go and you are hopeful for continued blessings in the new year. But maybe 2023 was a particularly trying year for you, where you faced a lot of trouble a

'Twas the Night After Christmas

Luke 2:15-20 (NIV) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured

He Came for You and Me

Luke 2:8-12 (NIV) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby

The Blessing of Being the Lord's Servant

Luke 1:38 (NIV) “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Christmas is near and as we read the story of Christmas in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we are inspired all over again by how wonderfully and gloriously God laid out His plan of salvation for us. I can’t even imagine the frightful yet exhilarating experience that Mary had of having God's messenger, Gabriel, appear to her to share the most impossible and

Words of Life

Deuteronomy 32:45-47 (NIV) When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

After wandering around the desert for forty years, the Israelites were finally abou

A Different Jesus

2 Corinthians 11:4 (NIV) For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

Many people in the world today insist that truth is relative to their perception of reality. If that were true, there would be no truth and the world would descend into chaos. It's already chaotic enough because of sin b

It's Totally Safe Now

Hebrews 12:18, 22-23a (NIV) You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm… But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all...

I believe that we, as followers of Christ living in the age of grace

The Wrong Time to be Fainthearted

Deuteronomy 20:8 (NIV) Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too.”

Just before the Israelites were finally going to cross the Jordan River to begin to possess the Promised Land, they were given many instructions of what to do and what not to do once they entered the land. When it came time to give them instructions about going to war, there was a list of circumstances that wou

Doing Right Always

2 Kings 12:2 (NIV) Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

The story of King Joash is an interesting but tragic one. Having been hidden from his grandmother, Athaliah, he became king at seven years of old. When his father, King Ahaziah was killed, Athaliah proceeded to kill all the royal princes (her own grandchildren) so that she could reign as queen over Judah. But Joash was hidden away by his father's sister Jeho

Our God of Wonders

Psalm 77:14 (NLT) You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.

When things get really difficult in life and when it looks like there is no way out of the ominous situation that I am facing, I remember who it is that I belong to and what He is capable of doing. It is something that I didn't used to consider when trouble came my way, so the solution was to worry myself into oblivion and lose my peace. It is very difficult for us to f

Thanksgiving Expected

Luke 17:15-19 (NIV) One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

At this time when we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, it's good to know why we celebrate it and who we are than

The Power of Praise

Psalm 34:1-2 (NIV) I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

It is so good to praise the Lord and it is good for a host of reasons. The first reason is that the Lord is worthy of all our praise and in praising Him, you are joining in with the rest of creation in the divine order of acknowledging the greatness and the goodness of God. In addition to that, praising Him draws you near

Spying on God

Deuteronomy 1:21-22 (NIV) “See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Then all of you came to me and said, “Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.”

As the Israelites were finally just about ready to go into the Promised Land after wandering around the de

A Debt that Can't Be Cancelled

Romans 13:8 (NIV) Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Whenever you are in debt, the normal thing is to try to get out of debt as soon as you can. Owing something to someone, whether it is owed to another person or to a company that you purchased something from, feels like there is something hanging over your head (not a comfortable feeling). The Bible warns us about getting into debt

Teaching God a Lesson

1 Chronicles 13:11-14 (NIV) Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his house