Life has indeed been hard lately. Stress and worry have been as a thick cloud consuming my energy and robbing my sleep. I’ve ran to God. I’ve pleaded for Him to pull us out of this pit of problems. But we’re still in the “not yet”. But this season of trouble, is only a seasonContinue reading “Hope for these hard days!”
Tag Archives: hold on
Not impossible for God!
There it is. Hope for my sleepy eyes! With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26) Jesus had been talking about the greatest miracle of all—salvation. He was referring to those (like the rich young ruler) who place hope in everything else but God to save them—material possessions, politicalContinue reading “Not impossible for God!”
Even this?
The rich young ruler walked away, sorrowful, but unwilling to part with his great possessions to follow Jesus.(Matt 19:26-26) I’ve wondered again and again if I’m holding anything too tightly or counting on anything more than I count on Jesus. Jesus explains to His disciples how difficult the path will be for those who chooseContinue reading “Even this?”
Louder Lies
Have you ever noticed the enemy’s lies get louder as the trial gets harder? Somehow in the midst of most every trial there seems to be temptation to go our own way and fall prey to sin and its’ consequences. Our enemy, the devil, does not fight fair. In fact, when trials consume us, heContinue reading “Louder Lies”
We need THIS for all our lives.
As the world continues to slide into chaos, I pick up my Bible and open back to Matthew. Forgiveness, and now divorce. Couldn’t Matthew record some easier teachings of Jesus about now? But I guess I know. It’s actually really clear. Jesus spent His very short time on earth telling us the truth because weContinue reading “We need THIS for all our lives.”
Pain Places
I originally shared this several years ago, but felt led to share it again for myself, and maybe for someone else who stumbles across it today. I still live in the same town where my first husband took his life. My life still takes me to the place where the detectives told me they hadContinue reading “Pain Places”
A caution for those with lost sheep.
Jesus talks about the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matt 18:12-14) just after talking about quickly addressing our own sin (Matt 18:8-9). The Enduring Word commentary quotes Spurgeon about this passage who says, “perhaps the most dangerous, form of the temptation, is to despise one, because that one has gone astray.” And if you’ve beenContinue reading “A caution for those with lost sheep.”
Hard things
There are just some things that happen so we can know the Lord in a way we never knew Him before. And sometimes, that way comes through a circumstance we would likely never choose. Often our gut reaction is to resist it with all we have and to do all we can to fix it.Continue reading “Hard things”
Not everyday is a hallelujah moment. Oh, but there are those days…🙌🏻
Jesus gives Peter, James and John a supernatural peak into His deity. Oh, they had seen miracles but what they were about to see and hear would cause them to fall flat on their faces ( Matt 17:1-9). The face of Jesus shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as light!Long dead,Continue reading “Not everyday is a hallelujah moment. Oh, but there are those days…🙌🏻”
One day our faith will see what our minds can barely imagine!
Jesus talks about eternal rewards for works done in this life and then He says, “Thereare some standing here that shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom” (Matt 16:27-28). What does this mean? Many scholars believe Jesus is talking about the disciples who will witness the transfigurationContinue reading “One day our faith will see what our minds can barely imagine!”
Peace for the dying
I think we sanitize this verse.We pretty it up.We water it down. We think denying ourselves and taking up our crosses is only putting up with the occasional annoyance or criticism of being called a Christian. We need to soberly understand what Jesus is saying when He says, “If anyone desires to come after Me,Continue reading “Peace for the dying”
When God does something, or allows something, you don’t like or understand…
Peter gets it. Then he doesn’t. He rightly states that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. (Matt 16:16). He then rebukes the Christ, the Son of the Living God, after Jesus tells the disciples He will suffer many things, be killed and rise on the third day (Matt 16:21-22). Can youContinue reading “When God does something, or allows something, you don’t like or understand…”
Because of Who He is – All of the Word…
As Jesus stands in a city surrounded by throngs of idols, He asks His disciples who others say that He is (Matt 16:13) to which they give various answers. Jesus presses further and says, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt 16:15) Peter famously replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of theContinue reading “Because of Who He is – All of the Word…”
Is that You?
For so many, for me, there have been things that have happened in our lives that shook us to the core but ended up helping us see Jesus walking closer to us. I think about the disciples who were afraid as Jesus walked toward them on the water. They initially thought He was a ghostContinue reading “Is that You?”
For the HARD thing you are facing…
Jesus loves us so very much that He didn’t keep Himself from the Cross or from feeling our hard, human emotions. In Matthew 13, Jesus talks about the kingdom of Heaven being like a treasure to be found, and a Pearl of great price worthy of the giving of all. (Matt 13:44-46) In these parables,Continue reading “For the HARD thing you are facing…”
When the answers aren’t clear…
Well, I’ve come to a portion of scripture where theologians disagree—the two parables – about mustard seed and leaven (Matt 13:31-35). Most believe these refer to Christianity spreading; but some argue these are a warning about evil mixing in when the church grows unusually large. Those who believe this passage is a warning point toContinue reading “When the answers aren’t clear…”
HE came for Ordinary People with Humble Hearts
Why did Jesus use parables? Jesus tells the Parable of the Soils (Matt 13) about a sower sowing seed and its propensity to come up based on the condition of the soil where the seed fell. The disciples ask Jesus why He speaks in parables and He explains that it has been given to themContinue reading “HE came for Ordinary People with Humble Hearts”
Knowing this, is your heart compelled?
The poor guy was demon-possessed, blind, and mute, and Jesus heals him (Matt 12:22). The crowds begin to wonder if Jesus could actually be the Son of David (the Messiah). But the Pharisees accused Jesus of having demonic power to which Jesus logically reasoned, “If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself. HowContinue reading “Knowing this, is your heart compelled?”
One day will be too late for those who thought they had more time.
The prophets said Jesus was coming, John the Baptist proclaimed He was here! The Kingdom of Heaven was powerfully advancing and those who have ears should listen! (Matt 11:15) As Jesus continues His earthly ministry, he warns those who had heard both he and John the Baptist offer them the chance to repent and chooseContinue reading “One day will be too late for those who thought they had more time.”
Sometimes, even the faithful feel faithless.
Even those who’ve walked closely with God, who’ve so clearly heard His voice, who’ve served Him faithfully for years, will face circumstances where they need to be encouraged to remember what they’ve seen and heard. Years of serving does not make those of us, who still live in this world full of trouble, immune fromContinue reading “Sometimes, even the faithful feel faithless.”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 