Lord, the weight of this week is heavy. The calendar itself feels bruised. September 11 still cries out from the dust—flames, falling towers, and faces never forgotten. A wound that does not heal, a scar that still aches with each anniversary. And now—new losses layered upon old ones. Loved ones are remembered with tears. Stories … Continue reading Weight
We have a place for weeping and mourning at Christmas because of the pain following Jesus’ birth. People experienced death, violence, injustice, abuse of power, and homelessness. Life, including the Christmas season, is marked by birth and celebration as well as death and loss. This is where the Bible offers a unique perspective through pain and sorrow: hope.
Lonely. Everyone gets lonely. There are inevitable moments when we feel unknown, forgotten, ignored, or even rejected. Regardless of how we may feel, God is always faithfully present. We may feel lonely but we are never alone.
Whenever we face political turmoil, personal trials, painful tragedies in our lives, we can simply endure them, we can try to escape them, or we can entrust our lives to God through them. The Book of Ruth encourages us to hope in God in hopeless times because our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend, JESUS, is the King of kings.
During days of financial turmoil, we turn to the LORD of Heaven and trust Him here on Earth.
Prayer is not good thoughts or positive vibes. Prayer means more than just saying prayers or praying through a list. Prayer is much more than believing in the power of prayer. Prayer is calling out to and depending completely upon the the personal, triune, sovereign God of Heaven who wants us to pray, hears us when we pray, and moves because we pray.
Neither of the two major political parties or platforms fully represents the values of the Kingdom of God. Instead, the church represents God’s Kingdom party. While I’m a citizen us the US by birth, I'm an eternal citizen of the Kingdom of God, I answer to one Lord, and I'm ultimately accountable to one King - JESUS.
God welcomes our laments. In fact, nothing is more freeing and healthy in our relationship with Him than voicing how we really feel and knowing He totally understands. Our questions and frustrations don’t frustrate Him. In fact He wrote the book on them. The bulk of what we call the wisdom books of Scripture, Job and Psalms, are laments. The wisdom of God, it seems, is lamenting to God.
Reading thru the Old Testament pentateuch book of Numbers is difficult but not just because of soooo many laws, regulations, and details of ceremonial and personal holiness. Numbers is a tough read because of the conflict and rebellion of good people, God's people, who experienced many miraculous experiences of God's faithfulness (Egyptian plagues, crossing the … Continue reading Numbers
Reading thru the Bible in 2019, the plan I’m using includes some Old Testament and New each day. Today’s reading included Zechariah 9 and Revelation 19 - a prophecy regarding the promised Messiah entering Jerusalem as a king riding a donkey of peace and, then, the anticipation of Jesus’ second coming riding a white horse … Continue reading King Jesus
