Clash of Good and Evil and The Eerie Silence of Christians

The clash between good and evil has never been more apparent in my lifetime, nor has silence of those who call themselves, Christians, been more eerie. Like many of you, I want to look away. I want to think about Thanksgiving menus and Christmas decorating. I want to pretend that this world, that my kidsContinue reading “Clash of Good and Evil and The Eerie Silence of Christians”

Hope for these hard days!

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!”

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!”

Undo YEARS of pain and problems.

As we hear the news of the atrocities committed in Israel, it’s hard for me to think about something like forgiveness. But, I know, it is historically true that unforgiveness that has grown and multiplied, and been passed from one generation to the next, has played a role in these horrific events. For the peaceContinue reading “Undo YEARS of pain and problems.”

Are there EVIL forces at work among us?

Joe Biden called the horrific actions of Hamas (including the decapitation of babies, the rape of women, the burning alive of entire families) sheer evil. Sheer EVIL.Joe Biden is right. However, this statement is, at its heart, not a political one, but a theological one. Now whether Mr. Biden meant this in this sense —whoContinue reading “Are there EVIL forces at work among us?”

Are you hiding too?

Someone recently told me to “Stop hiding behind your God” when I would not agree with them, that something God clearly calls sin in His Word, was not actually sin. I know this person intended to insult me with the choice of words, but oddly, I felt myself almost smiling at the thought. For IContinue reading “Are you hiding too?”

Are we seeing birth pains?

As world events unfold, I can’t help but notice the countries involved, and am reminded of the alliances and events described in Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation. Are we seeing the “birth pains” of our Savior’s return? Are we approaching the End Days? I don’t know. But I know Jesus is coming back. Do you knowContinue reading “Are we seeing birth pains?”

Evil among us.

My heart is broken for Israel. What is happening there is nothing less than demonic. My eyes cannot unsee the horrific videos on Twitter. Our mainstream media has sanitized and politicized their reporting, but the reports and videos being posted on Twitter are gruesome. Oh friends, we have to pray. We have to understand thatContinue reading “Evil among us.”

Are you tortured by emotions while those who hurt you just move on.

Dealing with people is hard. We will eventually be offended, hurt and feel all the emotions of being sinned against. And this will come from those we love—family, friends, coworkers and fellow believers. But we can’t read Matthew 18:21-35 and think we have any loophole to hold on to unforgiveness. The debtor in this passageContinue reading “Are you tortured by emotions while those who hurt you just move on.”

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…”

Stepping in sin or practicing it?

There is a difference between stepping in sin and walking in it—practicing it as a habit or lifestyle. And those who walk in it, with no desire or effort to walk away from it, should be warned. Jesus said, “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of HisContinue reading “Stepping in sin or practicing it?”

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”

The Unpardonable Sin

As a little girl, I remember sitting at my grandparent’s house hearing the grown ups talk of the “unpardonable sin”. I would plug my ears as tight as I could with my fingers, knowing if I heard what it was, I’d surely do it. Even back then, I knew what a wandering, sin-prone, rebellious heartContinue reading “The Unpardonable Sin”

With Him or against Him?

Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me,” (Matt 12:30) Jesus is being exclusive here. He is deliberately being very, very clear. Every person needs to understand the magnitude of what He is saying here. It’s a matter of life and death. There is no middle ground. There is no way toContinue reading “With Him or against Him?”

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?”

Only a cup of water?

Jesus says, “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Matt 10:42) A cup of water.Only a cup of water.That’s not much. As humans, we are tempted to think those small things, those things notContinue reading “Only a cup of water?”

It’s so very difficult, but we know the way we should take.

Jesus speaks encouraging then sobering words—“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 10:32-33) Jesus goes on to explain how His coming will impact the world—Continue reading “It’s so very difficult, but we know the way we should take.”

When we keep our Christianity to ourselves, we miss the peace!

As Jesus sends out His disciples, He tells them, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to theContinue reading “When we keep our Christianity to ourselves, we miss the peace!”

Evil doers will not get away with their evil.

Jesus has been talking about persecution when He says, “Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known”. (Matt 10:26) And for those of us who feel like there are persecutors who have gotten away with their wrong-doing, we can rest knowingContinue reading “Evil doers will not get away with their evil.”

When Persecution Comes

Jesus gives His followers insight into sharing the gospel. He tells them to evaluate the receptiveness of the hearers. “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.” (Matt 10:14) The truth is, not everyone who hears the messageContinue reading “When Persecution Comes”