Jesus Never Fails.

When our faith is strong, Jesus is there. When we fall apart, He is still there. Jesus had just finished teaching the famous parable about building our houses on the rock (Matt 7:24-27), heals a leper,(Matt 8:1-4) and then walks into Capernaum. He is quickly met by Jewish elders requesting help for a Centurion—a RomanContinue reading “Jesus Never Fails.”

I know you can. But God, will you?

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?”

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!”

Are you discouraged in this crazy world?

Broad is the way that leads to destruction” (Matt 7:13) It seems that way more than ever. So many seem to be running away from Christ and His ways rather than toward Him. Few find the narrow gate that leads to life. (Matt 7:14) And so many of us who have found life in Christ,Continue reading “Are you discouraged in this crazy world?”

God, please make them mercifully miserable.

I used to think if I just tried really hard to obey God, things would go well with me. You know, circumstantially, this world, well. But it seems there is a longer, eternal, better view. And when God says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the wayContinue reading “God, please make them mercifully miserable.”

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.”

Want some peace? Do this.

Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 7:12) This is often called the Golden Rule. Jesus is summing up the Law and Prophets, in that, if we simply treated others in the way we want to be treated, weContinue reading “Want some peace? Do this.”

Because of our faith, expect this…

I want everyone I know to come to know Jesus. I tend to see everyone I meet with this in mind. But there are some people who treat Christianity, Christians, and the gospel with contempt and ridicule. Jesus said, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs nor cast your pearls before swine lestContinue reading “Because of our faith, expect this…”

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…”

How come just a little bit more is never enough?

Eternal or temporary? Am I storing up treasure in heaven or spinning my wheels collecting what will never last? What’s on your agenda for this new week? In talking about this, in Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus is asking us to examine our hearts. The One who knows us better than we know ourselves tells us weContinue reading “How come just a little bit more is never enough?”

Does God REALLY answer when you pray?

Jesus talks about how to fast and pray and emphasizes to do so in a way where it’s not obvious to others -just to God. (Matt 6:6-18) Jesus is pointing to a real, intimate relationship that He made possible between people and God. This was radical to the Jews of the day to think theyContinue reading “Does God REALLY answer when you pray?”

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.”

Need peace and wisdom? Pray.

If you are a child of God, the sovereign God of the Universe, the Creator of Heaven and earth, the God who commands angels armies, and owns the cattle on a thousand hills, is your Father and most certainly hears your prayers. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, he began by using theContinue reading “Need peace and wisdom? Pray.”

When you pray…wow!

One of my sons met his girlfriend’s parents for the first time last week. I was joking with him, and said if the dad asks you your intentions for his daughter, you should say, “I plan to kiss her well and often!” 🤣 I was joking! But as I read about prayer…we really should endeavorContinue reading “When you pray…wow!”

I need it just as much today as I did then…

In the years after my first husband took his life, I began to heal. Good days were still coupled with days when I just wanted to cry. And sometimes a good, snot-making cry seemed to help. I tried to hide my tears from my boys, but sometimes their sweet little hugs would bring on moreContinue reading “I need it just as much today as I did then…”

Hope for our TROUBLES

We’ve all seen the seeds of sin left to grow into a raging inferno that destroys people, and families, and communities. As a people, we’ve argued about just what laws we need as a society. As Christians, we believe those laws should be biblically based. But let’s remember, unless hearts change, laws can only everContinue reading “Hope for our TROUBLES”

Societies who forsake righteousness are doomed. But there’s an even greater problem.

Jesus hears John the Baptist has been arrested and leaves Nazareth, to live in Capernaum (fulfilling yet more prophecy, see Matt 4:12-16). He then begins His earthly ministry with the word, “Repent.” “”And from then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of Heaven has come near.”” (Matt 4:17) Let’s understand this —hisContinue reading “Societies who forsake righteousness are doomed. But there’s an even greater problem.”

The enemy promises freedom but delivers slavery. Test everything.

The enemy is always tempting us and sometimes he will even use God’s Word in his attempts to get us off track. The enemy tempted Jesus in the wilderness to take things in his own hands for his own satisfaction (you’re hungry, turn these stones to bread) (Matt 4:3) Jesus’ human belly was surely growlingContinue reading “The enemy promises freedom but delivers slavery. Test everything.”

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!”