“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” Luke 11:52 Got Questions says that woe means “grief, anguish, affliction, wretchedness, calamity, or trouble.” …
“And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people…And they all ate and were satisfied.” Mark…
My Heart, Christ’s Home by Robert Munger (1954) (C) Copyright 1954 Inter-Varsity C.F. In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, we find these words: “That [God] would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might…
Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. Proverbs 9:7-8 NLT Jesus received numerous mockings from those who hated…
“Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” Psalm 34:5 NLT Merriam-Webster defines “glow-up” as “an informal term for a (perceived) dramatic positive change in someone or something’s…
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Matthew 14:27 NLT The disciples had every reason to be scared as they were on a boat experiencing the powerful strong winds and…
“Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself….I will kill my brother Jacob.” Genesis 27:41 It is understandable that Esau would be angry at his brother for stealing…
“In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for…
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 The grass is not greener on the other side…The grass is greener where you water it. When my kids were younger, I would often complain that I…
Have you ever experienced situations when it is as if your feelings are screaming for you to follow them? It even feels wrong during these tough circumstances not to listen and obey what they are shouting out. It’s so loud. …
Think of your heart like a fruit garden. In a literal garden, one cultivates and nurtures their garden by planting seeds in good soil where the sun can infiltrate. The gardener tends to their garden by giving it water and…
The roles we play are extremely important. The Lord has commanded us to live within the boundaries of our God-ordained roles. When we choose to go outside of our role instructions, we grieve God, others and ourselves – making a…
We are “fickled” people. Some of us are more indecisive than others. But what motivates our fickleness determines the center of our heart. Like tetherball, if the rope isn’t securely anchored to the pole, the ball and rope are aimlessly…
To make bread, three key ingredients are necessary: Flour, yeast and water. Anything less would not be bread. You could argue that without yeast it will be flatbread, but I’m speaking about hot risen mouthwatering bread – the kind of…
Impatience can bread complaining and questioning God’s motives. In your time of impatience do you ever ask God why this or that is happening instead of thanking Him? Even though the Lord provides your every need, are you still wanting…
“Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his…
I only know life with asthma and allergies. I have (or have not) followed doctor’s orders in regards to which treatments to try over the many years. Needless to say, quite literally it has been a long journey to breathe…
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Exodus 20:4 “Do not turn…
What can we possibly give God since He created us? It seems absurd to try to give God something. So what can we give God when He doesn’t need anything yet is everything and has everything? (Psalm 50:10, 89:11). Simply,…
What you or I believe about God, determines what we believe about ourselves. God defines who I am. God defines who you are. Nobody else does. (Genesis 1:27) Not only does God define me and you, but He also defines…
We all make foolish decisions – especially when motivated by our own desires. Have you ever gone to a grocery store when you’re hungry? Most likely you ended up buying things you would not typically buy! Take Esau – he…
When I counsel women, I put on my clear safety glasses that have the words “gospel lens” written on them – it always gets them to smile. Think about it: The gospel keeps us safe. How? The gospel is all about…
God’s announcement of creation is recorded in Genesis Chapter 1 and 2. God says, “let there be…light, separation between the sky and waters, land, vegetation, sun, moon, stars, fish, birds, land animals, and humans.” Let there be – God said…
Recently one of my daughters basically said I’m functioning as a legalist. I took this as the most painful punch to my heart and gut. Calling me a legalist is about the worst thing possible to hear – and it’s…
As soon as I could drive a car or was able to ride my bike 20 miles roundtrip, I would be at the beach. Most days when I was experiencing intense emotions, not knowing how to work through them, I…
Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 118:5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. My family knows…
I just found out that someone very close to me at one time passed away earlier this year. Even though it has been over two decades since we had contact, I grieve, yet I am thankful. God has been so…
Do you ever get confused between discipline and punishment? Does God discipline or punish Christians? I pray this settles the dust. Discipline is “a biblical concept that involves God’s guidance, training, and correction of His people”.[1] Punishment is “any pain, suffering,…
I understand that as a disciple of Christ I am either walking in my calling or falling in my calling. God calls me positionally holy. When God looks at me – because I am “in Christ” – He sees me…
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
I haven’t been consistent in running since October. After today’s run I realized it has been the enemy keeping me from running because I remembered how much the Lord speaks to me nearly every time I run. I believe the…
Today, God answered a prayer I have prayed often. I am extremely sensitive to the death of animals. I ask God in these moments when I see a dead animal, “Why did you allow me to see this? I believe…