The “hope of the gospel” is my purpose—my one thing. God is faithful to remind me of this when I question my life and forget who and whose I am. What about you?
All in Holy Spirit
Called to Love
This is not the first time Jesus filled the nets of the fishermen. On the first occasion Simon Peter was so astounded he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). It had dawned on him who Jesus really was. Then he, Andrew, James, and John promptly left their nets to fish for men.
Experience the Unseen
Who can see the wind? No one. We only see the effects of wind.
Chinook winds are common every winter around Boulder, Colorado. Chinook winds are warm, dry, and blow from the west down mountain ranges.
The Rest of the Story
Over fifty years ago as I hopped downstairs to the kitchen, I heard a distinctive yet familiar voice on the radio that Mom listened to every morning.
Grace and Glory
Certainly, the glory of Zerubbabel’s temple did not compare to that of Solomon’s. But it wasn’t really the ornate gold and silver that gave that first temple the glory, was it ladies?
Be Strong. Press On.
So the people climbed the hill and got the wood (1:8), and the work on the house of the LORD began in earnest. A month into the rebuild, Haggai spoke again: “‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem like nothing?’” (2:3).
Truth in Darkness
A comment from Oswald Chambers created a fresh perspective for me on the darkness of night:
“We are only what we are in the dark, all the rest is reputation. What God looks at is what we are in the dark—the imaginations of our mind; the thoughts of our hearts; the habits of our bodies; these are the things that mark us in God’s sight.” *
The Great Shepherd
Micah carries on the shepherd theme. By implication Israel will no longer be abandoned (5:3). In the meantime, the Good Shepherd not only lay down His life for us, for the sheep (John 10:11). The God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, (wishes to) equip you with everything good for doing his will, and…work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 13:20).
Rejoice
Do you have any enemies?
No one wants to think there are enemies… but they are real, and YOU do have them.
The Bible is clear… God’s children have spiritual enemies and those enemies hate God!
Prized and Dearly Loved
Do you want some encouragement today?
Hang in there… through any testing or temptation happening.
Look at this promise…
Wholeheartedly
Your heart, my heart… the heart can be a mess. Torn apart… pulled so many directions.
Yet… God says…
Sense of Urgency
My husband travels for work. He usually leaves on Mondays and returns early Friday afternoons. He keeps me informed of his itinerary regularly.
Some weeks I do really well with time management. I complete certain tasks on certain days. Then there are those weeks I piddle around not really accomplishing anything. With his return day in mind, I feel like I have plenty of time and put things off until the last minute.
Listen for God’s Quiet Whisper
In 1990, cell phones were uncommon. I booked a flight from Dallas, Texas to Denver, Colorado to visit my parents. I was a single mom with two small children. What was I thinking to make a trip like this without another adult? We discussed the flight information through home phones.
How Then Can We Live…fix your thoughts on Jesus
Holy brothers—oh my goodness! Yet that is what we are. We, you and I and those Judean believers, are holy—sacred, pure, blameless by Christ’s atonement (2:17). We are set apart to live as holy, separated from sin, since we confess Jesus as our apostle and high priest. And we share in the heavenly calling: to confess Jesus as apostle and high priest to all who will listen, so they too may be holy.
The Sounds of Silence…revealed by His Spirit
Ladies, put yourselves in the shoes of Jesus’ closest followers in the forty days between resurrection Sunday and His ascension. Think how absolutely amazed on one hand and bewildered on the other you would have felt. He was alive! He was the Messiah as the prophets of old said! There would indeed be a kingdom of God on earth! But He would be leaving—it would be up to you to testify to the world about this kingdom. Oh yes, and I have promised you a gift from the Father; only you must wait for that gift (Acts 1:1-10).
Running a Good Race: in step with the Spirit
As I sat on a bench at the end of the trail that beautiful summer morning, a distant hot air balloon floated into view over the Wasatch. The rays of sunrise capturing its brilliant colors penetrated my solitude. My spirit soared, just a little, above the mundane.
Running a Good Race: by obeying truth
In my high school days I participated in as many sports as a girl could in the late 50s. Basketball turned out to be my game of choice due to my height. The basketball-cum-track coach figured she could capitalize on my long legs in the high jump, so she added me to the track team. And when she needed a fourth for the girls’ relay at the last minute, I was up for the challenge. Much to my horror I did not make the transfer. I dropped the baton!
Called to BE Free: on the vine
By the end of May the Covid threat was lessening, so when aunt ‘Chelle called to recruit blueberry pickers, grandson #3 and I jumped at the chance. It was a gorgeous day. Didn’t matter that we had to drive twenty minutes. Didn’t matter that they had to take our temperature. We were free, our masks were off, and the blueberries were plentiful. Armed with the secret to efficiency—attach your pail to your belt so you can use both hands—we found a row to ourselves.
Called to BE Free: through the Spirit
Paul was on a roll: Mark my words! (5:2), you foolish Galatians! (3:1). They were in Christ by faith; so are we. They were set free by Christ for freedom (5:1); so are we. They were called to be free (5:13), as are we. High time we, along with those Galatians, put our own personal exclamation marks on Paul’s words.
In My Way
I looked down at my text and laughed, “About to be in my way.” What I meant to say was, “About to be ON my way.” I had intended to let a friend know of my plan, but had inadvertently led myself to ponder my mistake.
In my way – how many times have I done just that – gotten in my own way of doing things God’s way?