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…”
Tag Archives: hope in Jesus
Let’s read Matthew
I’m not sure what led me to the book of Matthew but I’m drawn there. I shared a few posts, then turned to Easter and some other subjects for awhile. But I find myself again holding the words from the tax collector Jesus called friend and made His disciple. I’m excited to pick up theContinue reading “Let’s read Matthew”
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…”
Worrying?
There it is again. The Mary/Martha passage. I know it.You probably know it too.I’m tempted to move right past it. Except. I know it is meant for me.Again.😳 “Kim, Kim, you are (still) worried about many things.” Still. How I wish I was more like Mary, and less like Martha, in this encounter with JesusContinue reading “Worrying?”
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!”
We’ve got to stop asking the world to do for us what only God can.
We’ve got to stop asking the world to do for us what only God can. Those little screams. I still remember them. Those tears still puddling in his sweet, little eyes, and his tiny lip still quivering as they handed my infant son back to me. I tenderly cradled him against my chest trying toContinue reading “We’ve got to stop asking the world to do for us what only God can.”
Don’t run away in your DOUBTS!
Have you thought about the eight long days after Easter? Have you thought about Thomas? A Risen Jesus appeared to the disciples in the locked room (seemingly walking through a wall). Thomas missed that and utters the words he is famous for, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and placeContinue reading “Don’t run away in your DOUBTS!”
What truly divides us.
The biblical account of Ruth and Naomi has so much for us as we face such division in our world. This unlikely bond between these two women (mother-in-law and daughter-in-law) was uniquely deep, and special, and crossed strong cultural barriers. As Naomi pleaded for Ruth to leave her and go back to her family, RuthContinue reading “What truly divides us.”
Don’t trust yourself
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31) God is for us, not against us. I recently heard a pastor say, “Don’t you think if God we’re out to get you, He would have gotten you by now?!” We laugh. We say weContinue reading “Don’t trust yourself”
The Question No One Can Answer For You
As the religious leaders and the crowd cheered for His crucifixion, Jesus was brought before Pilate, who finding no fault in Him, asked the question we all ultimately must ask ourselves— “What then shall I do with this Jesus who is called Christ?” Matt 27:22 The question is meant to be personal. No one couldContinue reading “The Question No One Can Answer For You”
The Two Beside Him
Those two criminals.Bleeding.Bruised.Guilty. In the Savior’s final moments, one criminal hung on each side of Him. Those two represent all of us. We are each likeoneor the otherof them. It’s no accident, this true picture. There they were.So close to Jesus.Can you imagine? They both knew who He was.But only one of them would beContinue reading “The Two Beside Him”
Do you hear His words?
I wonder about that morning after the Triumphant entry, 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 the over breakfast, did he wonder if they remembered what He had told themContinue reading “Do you hear His words?”
Hold on!
I have shaken my head so much my neck hurts. I’ve tried to convince myself things aren’t as bad as they seem, but I’m secretly thinking they are worse than we all know. Yes, the world is a dark place, but we, who call ourselves believers, need to diligently remind ourselves of what we believe.Continue reading “Hold on!”
“Well, what if the dollar collapses?”
Our family had been talking about news story after news story, hard things, when one of us remarked,, “Well, what if the dollar collapses?” To which my son, Ben, said, “Well that might be a good thing as it would surely bring revival to this country as hard days often do.” And, honestly, I thoughtContinue reading ““Well, what if the dollar collapses?””
When we don’t understand.
I sat crying yesterday as the news of the Nashville school shooting came, not just from my television, but from family and friends. My brother-in-law grew up with the dad of one of the little girls who was killed. My sister-in-law had gone to college with him when he started a ministry there. My husbandContinue reading “When we don’t understand.”
Are you worried and doubting?
You realize, The Almighty God (El Shaddai) , the God Who Sees (El- Roi) knows our doubts and our worries. God knows what it is we think is too hard for Him. Here’s one reason we can know this— In Genesis 17, God makes the covenant with Abram to multiply him exceedingly and give himContinue reading “Are you worried and doubting?”
Our hope was NEVER meant to be in ourselves.
Did you blow it yesterday? Did sin raise it’s ugly head in you again? Did something you thought you had mastered, master you? Are you disappointed in yourself? Friend, it’s a great date for a clean slate. And this day IS a clean slate, brand new, a blank page, a total do-over for those whoContinue reading “Our hope was NEVER meant to be in ourselves.”
When you don’t understand the hard things happening in this world
Matthew 2 has always bothered me. I don’t like the fulfillment of the prophecy of “Rachel weeping for her children” as Herod slaughters countless male babies under two years old. Babies. I’ve wondered why God would let this bloody, horrific event take place. But to stay stuck in this is to have my theology offContinue reading “When you don’t understand the hard things happening in this world”
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”
I woke up early thinking of those I love in this hard world…
I woke up early thinking about my young adults, and several others that I love like my own. They are trying to make big decisions in a hard world. They are fighting discouragement as many of the normal things, we who are older, took for granted, now seem so very far out of reach. TheyContinue reading “I woke up early thinking of those I love in this hard world…”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 