Shall we just destroy them all?

I laughed out loud as I read this passage in my Bible. This doesn’t usually happen, but sometimes, I find myself chuckling. Luke describes the time Jesus healed a boy possessed by a demon after His disciples failed to do so. He, then, prophesies His coming death and steadfastly sets His face to go toContinue reading “Shall we just destroy them all?”

When you need to remember again…

In the middle of the night, I confess, I have sometimes laid awake with worry. Should I have done things differently? Did I make the right decisions? Did I say the right things? In the dark of night, I feel myself tempted to believe it’s all up to me. Fear begins to surround me asContinue reading “When you need to remember again…”

Still, this Monday after Easter

Easter Sunday’s church songs are already growing faint in my ears. I find myself busy and distracted this Monday morning. But my busy, distracted heart longs to see Jesus. I long to behold the glory of the One who died for us. When I slow down and turn my eyes to Him, I stand inContinue reading “Still, this Monday after Easter”

HE IS RISEN!

The ground shook.The angel appeared.The stone rolled away.The soldiers fell like dead men. The grave empty.Death defeated!The Way Made!Victory complete. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND DEFEATED SIN AND DEATH! This changed everything! When Christians say, “He is Risen”, it’s not that we are saying Christianity is useful. We are saying that it is TRUE!Continue reading “HE IS RISEN!”

SILENCE

Silence. That day after the Savior had died. The pounding of the nails,the jeers of the crowd,His cries of pain. Now Silent. His body in the tomb. What now? They surely longed to hear His comforting voice. But Silence. They had left jobs, families, everything to follow Him. Now what? Silence. Nothing.But.Silence. Confused, afraid, everyContinue reading “SILENCE”

Tuesday of Holy Week

Jesus spends most of Tuesday of Holy Week teaching and being questioned by the religious leaders in order that they might trap Him somehow. Were they jealous of His following? Did they feel threatened by the authority with which He taught? Or did they reason, if they could trip Him up, they might surely proveContinue reading “Tuesday of Holy Week”

Hope. But not in the way they were thinking…

I wonder about that morning after Jesus had rode in on the donkey, after the crowd had cheered and waved palm branches…I wonder, did He look around at His disciples? I wonder, as the disciples still celebrated over breakfast, did he wonder if they remembered what He had told them just a few days before?Continue reading “Hope. But not in the way they were thinking…”

Thoughts on Holy Week

I can only imagine the spiritual battle being waged in the heavenlies as Jesus headed toward Jerusalem and what we call the Triumphal Entry and Holy Week. Surely, the demons seethed and swarmed. And while we prepare our hearts this week to celebrate the fact that Satan and his minions were eternally defeated with theContinue reading “Thoughts on Holy Week”

Because of Jesus

Do you need some confidence to face tomorrow? Then focus on your sin for a moment. Here’s why —If we don’t understand the depths of our sin, we won’t understand the great love of our Savior enough to be able to confidently trust Him with our tomorrows.Let me explain… Luke tells us, the Pharisees andContinue reading “Because of Jesus”

Don’t change the message!

These words were written to those who would seek to follow the Lord, those suffering for the faith, those not yet born, and those who would live in the End of Days. These were the last words of a dying saint who knew his time was short. Don’t miss this! Paul uses STRONG words whenContinue reading “Don’t change the message!”

End of Days?

The disciples wanted to know when the End of Days would come. (Luke 21:7) I want to know, too. In Luke 21, Jesus gives what is commonly called the Olivet Discourse (Jesus was at the Mount of Olives when He said these things. Matthew 24 also records, in greater detail, the Olivet Discourse, and isContinue reading “End of Days?”

No turning away. Even when we don’t understand.

To watch someone suffer pain and hold on to God, knowing He could’ve stopped it, but chose not to, is truly a holy thing to witness. My words don’t seem worthy to even attempt to describe such. Yet, little has encouraged my faith as much as this story has. It’s one I’ve closely watched unfoldContinue reading “No turning away. Even when we don’t understand.”

I’m not sure if I should talk about this…

I’m not sure if I should talk about this. I don’t want anyone to feel bad, because I truly wouldn’t trade a thing. But it’s hard. Middle age. Being in the middle of your adult kids and your aging loved ones. Trying to rejoice, and help, and encourage, while all the while watching your ownContinue reading “I’m not sure if I should talk about this…”

God knew we’d want to stop.

Paul ends this letter to the church at Colosse by calling out fellow brothers, beloved friends, fellow servants of God who labor for each other and the cause of Christ and who are “a great comfort” to Paul. He says this just before he closes with the words, “Take heed to the ministry you haveContinue reading “God knew we’d want to stop.”

God can do so much with our simple acts of obedience.

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (Col 3:18) Why didn’t Paul start with the next verse about husbands loving their wives? (Col 3:19) Does he have to be so direct? And aren’t words like “submit” out of style? Can’t we just ignore this? Not only is the call forContinue reading “God can do so much with our simple acts of obedience.”

Are you one of these?

We are all tempted to sin, but we don’t have to give in to that temptation. In chapter 3 of Colossians, Paul offers wisdom for living out our lives in obedience to Christ – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right handContinue reading “Are you one of these?”

How on earth do you do THIS?

As I come to the end of Chapter 2 of Colossians, I’m struck by Paul’s last sentence. “These things have the appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” If I don’t want to indulge my flesh, I can’t relyContinue reading “How on earth do you do THIS?”

Have you had this happen?

Beware. Paul said, “Beware”. “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Col 2:8) The false teachers of Paul’s day were combining worldly philosophies with the gospel and people were being deceived. This deceitContinue reading “Have you had this happen?”

Don’t give up!

Spurgeon said, “Spiritual ignorance is the constant source of error, instability, and sorrow.” The Apostle Paul would agree as he sets out to convey the truth of the riches of God’s glory in this letter to the Colossians that he has penned. He knew hearts would be encouraged and knit together by the treasures ofContinue reading “Don’t give up!”

More Prophecies about this than His birth!

Do you know these prophetic words from the Isaiah were written 700 years before Jesus was born?? Isaiah 9:2The people walking in darknesshave seen a great light;on those living in the land of the shadow of deatha light has dawned.Isaiah 9:6-7For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,and the government willContinue reading “More Prophecies about this than His birth!”