Have you noticed? Christmas is coming, as it always does, in good times and bad times. Satan’s efforts to snuff out its light have proven to be futile. At dusk, Christmas tree lights pop on, glowing in my neighbor’s window across the street. They remind me of a verse in John chapter 1: “In Him … Read more
How do you picture the new year as it stretches out before you? Do you see an unknown path, twisting and turning in obscurity, old troubles and new worries jumping out at you from the darkness? Well, that is partly true. No one, scripture tells us, can know what tomorrow will bring. We just don’t … Read more
Are you thinking, “Diddle diddle dumpling my son John?” If so, change gears and replace the name “John” with “Joshua”. That will take us to Joshua 5 for one of the treasures from our pastor’s sermon last Sunday. As Joshua moved into leadership of Israel, he moved into a contract with God, assuring victory. Off … Read more
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”. (Eph. 1:3). The Apostle Paul is tireless in reminding us of our riches in Christ. But sometimes we gloss over these verses, either shoving them into our future life with Him in … Read more
“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering. “(Hebrews 13:3) Church, let’s pray without ceasing in this time. We know that for many believers martyrdom is a reality in our world today. We here in the west … Read more
Well, here we are in 2022, chaos swirling all around us, darkness and evil seeming to close in on us. Yet, as believers, we are so privileged to be alive in this time. I personally am so grateful to live in the here and now. There has never been a day like this day, a … Read more
The work of the Cross is endlessly faceted. “It is finished,” Jesus proclaimed as He released His spirit to the Father. The work was done. He bore our sins in His own body on that Cross, but he bore something else…our griefs and sorrows. Isn’t that astounding? Isaiah tells us this through the Holy Spirit, … Read more
Have you ever been called upon to do several different things at once? As a Special Education teacher, I was frequently confronted with a roomful of up to 16 students, all needing assistance with a different task, and only one other person to help. Just try slogging through the tortures of “Hamlet” with one, while … Read more
Easter morning. Tucked in between my mother and father on the church pew, shivering a bit from the walk through the spring rain, I’m drawn into the swell of the organ music, the joyous fervor of the singers around me. A feeling I can’t quite explain transcends my childish delight in my new plush bunny, … Read more
Joseph of Arimathea summoned up the courage to seek an audience with Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus. He behaved prudently, so that his request would be granted. He didn’t use arrogant language that would only have enfuriated Pilate, who would then have denied his petition. Joseph didn’t say to him: “Give me … Read more