“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 ESV I’d love to see Christ’s church prevail against the gates of hell. Wouldn’t you? In days when we see evil advancing—where atrocities set before us in […]
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1 ESV My heart stirred when I read that verse the other day over my […]
I am a friend of God. You’ve probably heard songs making that bold claim. You may have even sung them in worship on Sunday morning. It’s a wonderful concept, and I love the reminder that God is approachable and seeking relationship. But I wonder if God’s definition of friendship matches ours. Are you really living […]
In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly . . . and the Lord remembered her. 1 Samuel 1:10, 19 It’s 6:30am on Wednesday morning. Blog day. I should have something ready to post, but I don’t. I started writing a teaching for you last week—a message on friendship with Jesus—but I […]
Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” Genesis 15:4 NIV I imagine you’ve probably experienced the dull ache of a longing unfulfilled. Life disappoints all of us at some point or another. […]
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 Death scares most of us. We spend the majority of our lives trying to avoid it. And no wonder. Death represents an end, ceasing to exist […]
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 Jesus called you and me the light of the world. It […]
“ . . . no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV “I opened this door.” God whispered the words into my heart one morning in […]
Not again. Clutching my Bible and prayer journal, I retreated to my favorite chair, eager to spend some time with the Lord. Well, that’s what I told myself anyway. I really just wanted to feel better. Here I am, Lord. I scratched the words on the page, searching for where to begin. Worship filtered through […]
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 On Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection. A throng of people filled our sanctuary, many dressed in pristine Easter finery. Ushers scurried to find seats, busily lining folding chairs along the walls and aisles […]
