I sit thinking of friend after friend.Story after story.Every one of them.Not one of them came another way. Those I know well, who love God so deeply, whose trust is rock-solid, who possess the sweetest peace and unshakable hope…they each have this in common—they came the way of suffering. I bet you know them too.Continue reading “In the Midst of Suffering, seeing God…”
Tag Archives: light in the darkness
Do they know why we celebrate?
The Messiah sat surrounded by the Pharisees and teachers of the law. The crowd surrounded the place and pushed in. I wonder if the buttoned-up religious leaders had to dust off their shoulders as debris surely began to fall from the ceiling as the tiles in the ceiling were removed. Did Jesus chuckle to HimselfContinue reading “Do they know why we celebrate?”
She only ever lost two bar fights…
She was a drug dealer. So, how could we have possibly imagined what happened? Everyone in her small town knew just how bad she had wrecked her life. She had even lost her kids. Many, probably thought her addictions too strong, and that she was a lost cause. TooFarGone But as she walked about town,Continue reading “She only ever lost two bar fights…”
All of us…
I’m up early. The lights of the Christmas tree glow and the smell of a cinnamon candle fills the room. But, as I open my Bible back to Matthew, I’m reminded once again that this is not my home. As comfortable as it can feel sometimes, this is not our home. Across the street, myContinue reading “All of us…”
Be Ready and He Will.
Jesus continues in His talk about the End of Days, not with a specific date, or hidden calculator as some are inclined to hope, but with parables about being ready (Matt 24:52-Matt 25:13). He says, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (MattContinue reading “Be Ready and He Will.”
The Encouragement of Prophecy in Matthew 24
I’ve been pondering it for days. Years really. For every time I read Matthew 24, I come away thinking, I don’t clearly understand. But this time, as I work through commentaries and pray through it all, one suggestion strikes me as certainly plausible. Perhaps the Word, Jesus, in talking about the Second Coming is intentionallyContinue reading “The Encouragement of Prophecy in Matthew 24”
Whose SON is HE?
“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Matt 22:42) Friend, we can’t just move past those words. Slow down. Pay attention. What do you really think? “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” (Matt 22:42) For if the Christ, the Christ of this Christmas we are aboutContinue reading “Whose SON is HE?”
Let’s remember and let’s encourage one another!
It’s sad and scary. The Parable of the Marriage Feast. Jesus has told several parables about His coming to earth to save sinners (Matt 21-22), when we come to this one about a King preparing a great marriage feast for his son and sending out invitations. But the people, “they made light of it.” (MattContinue reading “Let’s remember and let’s encourage one another!”
When His Love Overflows
I love God. I need Him every day. I’ve seen Him be faithful. He’s used His Word to lift my head, direct my steps, and comfort my heart. One day, I just started sharing what the Lord is teaching me on my Facebook page. Today, there are almost 9,000 that follow along there and othersContinue reading “When His Love Overflows”
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?”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 