I was reminded this week, about a story that John Wesley told in one of his sermons… John Wesley tells a scientifically implausible story about a frog who lived its life trapped inside a tree. Evidently, there was just enough moisture and sustenance in the tree to sustain this unfortunate frog’s life. Upon being released […]
Scripture & Thought Matthew 16:24-25 – “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” What comes to mind when you see a cross? […]
Scripture & Thought 1 Corinthians 15:53 – “For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” Someone once asked Billy Graham what the greatest surprise of his life had been. He responded, “The brevity of it.” As you get older, it seems […]
I read an interesting devotional in “Coffee Break” by Sally Noe, which really grabbed my attention. I always appreciate articles that do that. Here’s what she said: “I was thinking today (I am sure the Lord put the thoughts there) of a car that my mother and I had given to someone. When they first […]
1 Corinthians 16:13 — “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” A few years ago, Hawaiians were preparing for a huge storm that supposedly would devastate their state. It was coming directly toward them. But then it took a hard turn. In the end, there still was some bad weather, but […]
While I’m giving praise to God…it reminds me of some of my reading lately, especially from Anne Graham Lotz, from her book, The Joy of My Heart, in which she writes about getting your praise on. She states that “Praise defeats the enemy! Psalm 22:22 (NKJV) – “I will declare Your name to my brethren; in […]
I remembered something I read from author Max Lucado about how much we really do need each other, and especially during this time of pandemic and taking precautions for other’s benefits. From Max Lucado’s writing, “Your Place in God’s Band,” he writes this: Two of my teenage years were spent carrying a tuba in my […]
Scripture & Thought Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” I don’t know when things have been any darker in our culture spiritually. Our culture is awash with depictions of violence. People flaunt immoral lifestyles. They wink at things the […]
I was reading from Jessica Smartt, in her book, Let Them Be Kids, which is about leading a Christian family and training our kids to be Christians. Something she said really made me think about all of us as a Christian family, or The Church family. I remembered being really ministered to by a certain […]
Scripture & Thought Jude 1:21 – “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” I don’t keep myself saved, but I keep myself safe. God saves me. That’s established. But I keep myself safe, which means that I keep myself in the love […]
It started when Micca’s sister refused to allow their brother to pay for her dinner. While her sister loves to give to others, she’s not so good at receiving. Micca, on the other hand, understood that it gave their brother great pleasure to pick up the check. And, she says, “Lord knows I didn’t want […]
Scripture & Thought Psalm 19:8 – “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” What is the purpose of our existence? Some might say, “Well, it’s to be happy, of course.” In fact, even the Declaration of Independence lists […]
This last couple of weeks, I was reading from Carlos Whittaker, from his little book Kill the Spider and he made some comments that have a way of really sticking with me. In Kill the Spider, Whittaker empowers us to destroy the roots of our deep-seated habits so we can embrace true freedom in Christ. […]
Scripture & Thought Exodus 2:24-25 “God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.” Talk about a guy who messed up his life. Moses blew it big time. Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him as an […]
This week, I’ve been thinking about what God might be doing in and through us. I mean, how has God been working in your heart and mind while we’ve been having all this “extra” time on our hands, etc? In other words. . .What’s your story of faith? What has God been trying to teach […]
Scripture & Thought Luke 11:3 – “Give us day by day our daily bread.” It seems sort of funny now, but back in the ‘60s the word bread was a term for money. So if someone said, “You got any bread, man?” that’s what they were talking about. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give […]
I’ve been reading from Lysa Terkeurst, in her book, Embraced, and I have felt God tugging at my heart for a deeper walk with Him. I want to share just a piece of what she says . . . I long to be a woman who follows hard after Jesus. And I’m not talking about a […]
Scripture & Thought 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Never stop praying.” Have you ever been in what appeared to be an impossible situation with no way out? Or have you ever thought there was no future for you, and that it was just too late? Maybe you’re facing troubles today you never thought you’d see. […]
With all that has been going on in our world these past few weeks, my mind has been on overload. Has yours? I have found myself doing a lot of thinking and praying for God’s direction for myself, and for our church. I was drawn to a book by Dallas Willard, Life Without Lack, that really gave […]
Scripture & Thought 1 Corinthians 10:12 – “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” Simon Peter is known for his legendary faux pas. He said things he shouldn’t have said. And he openly denied the Lord not once, not twice, but three times. But Peter took steps that led […]