Hope of the Everlasting Kingdom I’ve recently been thinking about how being part of the body of Christ through the local church is one of the greatest gifts Jesus has given us. In the church, we find community, support, encouragement, sanctification, and strength. But while there is great rejoicing in
Excitement. Anticipation. Expectation. Oh, how I remember, as a child, the feelings in December, as I counted down the days waiting for Christmas to come! As an adult, I confess to having lost much of that child-like wonder and awe as I continue to wait in different seasons of life.
By God’s Great Mercy BUT GOD! Right before Ephesians 2:4, Paul tells us that we were dead in our transgressions. We were children of wrath. We had no hope. BUT GOD ”being rich in mercy.” BUT GOD by “his great love with which he loved us.” BUT GOD ”even though
“It’s not my fault.” This phrase has filled my mind on many occasions when I have felt unfairly accused or criticized. The injustice of the situation overwhelms me with grief, and I want to scream. Sometimes we do everything right, but life goes terribly wrong. Our motives are questioned. Our
Do you remember a time that you needed to be brave? Esther woke up one day and found herself in a lose/lose situation. The queen before her had been removed because of her disobedience of her husband. Queen Vashti had refused to come when her husband called her to display
I sat in the room as silently as possible. I dared not speak, because I could not trust my tongue to not lash out. I was sitting in the room with someone who needed my help, and I had shown up to serve with good intentions. But my generosity had
Praise the Lord that we have a Redeemer who lives and who will one day stand upon the Earth! Jesus, our Redeemer, is alive. I think about Luke 24:1-10 when Luke describes how the women went to the tomb at early dawn where they found the tomb empty. Verse two
I was recently combing through my closet and found a stack of jeans that I’ve been holding onto. Now, these particular jeans were ones I’d owned for maybe five to ten years, and I had been holding onto them assuming (and hoping) that one day, they would fit me as
Learn to do what is right. Promote justice. Give the oppressed reason to celebrate. Take up the cause of the orphan. Defend the rights of the widow. – Isaiah 1:17 When I read Isaiah 1:17 my first response is, “Yes! I want to do those things!” Then I often go
Last year I lost two dear friends within three months of each other. One passed away after a years-long battle with cancer, leaving behind his wife and four children. My other friend passed away suddenly in a tragic car accident, leaving behind his wife and two young children. Both were