Matthew chapter 8 opens with a leper kneeling at Jesus’ feet and saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus replies, “I am willing; be made clean.” (8:3) And the Enduring Word quotes an old Scottish theologian, known to have wrestled in his early years through trials and doubts, who says,Continue reading “I know you can. But God, will you?”
Tag Archives: hold on
You can stand on SOLID ground!
You can hear the Word of God and not do it. You can nod yes with your head and walk the opposite way with your feet. But Jesus told us, “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”Continue reading “You can stand on SOLID ground!”
Following Jesus. It’s so very worth it.
Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way”. (see Matt 7:14) Makes you want to sign right up doesn’t it? 😳 When we choose to follow Christ, we are, in fact, choosing that which the world mocks. We are opting for a hard road full of trouble in this life. Jesus has always beenContinue reading “Following Jesus. It’s so very worth it.”
I know you get weary…
Jesus has already talked a lot about prayer then famously says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7) This is not prosperity preaching. This is encouraging instruction on the perseverance and power of prayer! Jesus is telling us thatContinue reading “I know you get weary…”
On JUDGING
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Heb 5:14 ESV If we want to grow in spiritual maturity, we are supposed to constantly practice discerning good from evil. Wouldn’t that require us to call some things “good” andContinue reading “On JUDGING”
You don’t have to worry…
It’s one of the most beautiful, comforting, quoted parts of the Bible —“ Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”(Matt 6:23-25)Continue reading “You don’t have to worry…”
This verse can be confusing…
This particular verse can be confusing- “And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matt 6:13) We know God would not tempt us to sin or lead us into temptation as we think of temptation (James 1:13) Remember, we read the Word with the Word and James 1:13 says,Continue reading “This verse can be confusing…”
We got in a fight right after I snapped this snugly pic…
About five minutes after I snapped this snuggly pic , we got into a fight. A fight. Yep. Us. And, this fight will likely not be the last. Oh, our disagreements come less often, but even after all these years together, we still have them. I expect, being the two flesh-filled sinners that we are,Continue reading “We got in a fight right after I snapped this snugly pic…”
When you love a lost sheep…
It’s easy to feel forgotten. It’s easy to think God does not care about what our weary worn hearts care about. But He does. He cares about the one.The each one.The lost onesand the messed-up ones. In Luke 15, Jesus was eating with sinners and the religious leaders are shocked. Jesus then tells the famousContinue reading “When you love a lost sheep…”
God can bring good in ways you’ve never even considered.
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”. (Matt 6:10) And with those words, my prayers seem quite lacking. For so often, I’ve prayed for my will to be done without giving enough thought to if what I’m asking for is His will. Honestly, I’ve spent way too muchContinue reading “God can bring good in ways you’ve never even considered.”
Fearful? Not fearful? What’s the difference?
It has to be strange, curious, and honestly, a little absurd, for those who do not fear the Lord, to watch those who do, deal with hard things. What those, who do not fear the Lord, or perhaps have only dabbled in a secular religion, do not understand, is that to fear God, more thanContinue reading “Fearful? Not fearful? What’s the difference?”
Where Progressives Get It Wrong
Many, who like to think themselves progressive, suggest the New Testament is all about love not about rules or law. But in Matthew 5:17, Jesus made it clear that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He asserted that God’s laws should be followed as evidence of a changed heart.Continue reading “Where Progressives Get It Wrong”
We can be still. This helps me know that.
I wrote this two years a ago.It’s true again.I’m just so tired…. Maybe you are too. I wanted to study and write, but, instead, I felt the Lord asking me to just be still. To be still and know what I know… or rather …remember WHO I know. I love God’s Word, I love studyingContinue reading “We can be still. This helps me know that.”
Hold On! Encouragement for the Persecuted!
Matthew 5 records Jesus preaching the most famous sermon ever preached. It’s familiar-“Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the humble, ….those who are persecuted for righteousness” (Matt 5:2-10). But there’s something I never noticed before- He seems to pause to especially encourage those who are persecuted because of righteousness —not the poor,Continue reading “Hold On! Encouragement for the Persecuted!”
Do we walk past people with demons inside of them?
Matt 4:23-25 Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons and crowds began to follow Him. He healed the sick AND cast out demons Demons. And I wonder, I know we have the sick among us today, but what about the demon-possessed? Do we walk past those who are carrying demons inside of them? Are thoseContinue reading “Do we walk past people with demons inside of them?”
Evil will not win!
I see it. Evil seems to be winning all around us. It’s hard. I don’t understand it. But it’s not something new with our culture. Evil has been with us for a long time. Matthew 2 details the fulfillment of the prophecy of “Rachel weeping for her children” as Herod slaughters countless male babies underContinue reading “Evil will not win!”
Just do the next right thing…
Something I notice as I read Matthew 1 and 2 is that God didn’t give Joseph all the steps at once—just the next one. But all the while, God was accomplishing His perfect will and working in ways Joseph couldn’t see. Joseph didn’t know the wise men were on their way with gifts. But theyContinue reading “Just do the next right thing…”
Just not THAT God…
Matthew’s gospel records the miraculous birth of the Savior. (Matt 1:18-25) The oh-so familiar story has been the subject of countless movies, books and church programs. And we often, breeze past these verses. But Jesus did come.Prophecy was fulfilled.God sent His Son to us! And if this were not true, there would be no pointContinue reading “Just not THAT God…”
First, this…
I can’t turn on the TV, pick up my phone or hit the gym. I wake up early to avoid even those I love. My wandering heart wanders too much to do anything else before I pick up my Bible. It is not that I’m trying harder to be a better Christian or check offContinue reading “First, this…”
When your MOOD SWINGS!
Have you ever had a mood swing? Have your emotions ever flip-flopped? Mine sure have! And Naomi seems to be able to relate as well! After Ruth meets Boaz, she goes home and tells Naomi all that has happened (see Ruth 2). Naomi says, “Blessed be the name of the LORD, who has not forsakenContinue reading “When your MOOD SWINGS!”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 