. . . your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! (Matthew 6:8) When Mom asked me to take her to a dear friend’s memorial service (I’ll call her Janie), I groaned inwardly. Spending time with people I didn’t know and would never meet again was not my idea of how to spend a glorious summer...
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8-9) Do you ever find yourself hiding from God? I’ve noticed this in myself. It’s like a reflex....
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him (II Corinthians 2:14). The drooping cream-colored rose with the magenta edges that sat on my windowsill astonished me. How could it still smell so good when it looked so bad? This got me thinking...
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). Reflect: I’ll never forget the time an acquaintance of mine approached after church bearing a small present for me. The gift was “just because,” she said, as I was not having a birthday nor was there any other occasion....
For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go (Psalm 91:11) A well-known painting that hung in my childhood nursery belongs to one of my earliest memories. An angel guides two children across a ramshackle bridge spanning a turbulent river. As a child, I feared for the boy and girl who did not seem to notice the danger....
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Reflect: I can never read Isaiah 9:6 without hearing Handel’s Messiah,” movement 12, in my head. “For Unto us a Child is Born”...
. . . but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. `(Hebrews 12:26b-27) Do you live with a sense that things are falling apart, unraveling? I tend to...
Have you ever searched for something valuable only to find it later in the most surprising place? Something like that happened to archeologist Howard Carter and his team as they hunted for King Tut, the only pharaoh whose tomb had never been discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Carter was quite certain where to look and worked diligently for...
I am still recovering from our youngest son’s wedding celebration last month. What a tangle of emotions in the midst of stress, smiles, tears, and joy! Upon reflection, I can’t help but also think about the greatest wedding yet to come—when we, the bride of Christ, finally celebrate our union with Jesus. So here are some wedding vignettes and spiritual...
Listen: To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:33). Reflect: How do we put God first in all our affections, thoughts, and energy? Without the Holy Spirit, it’s impossible! God is the one who...
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And what it means to be a Christian today.
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