A friend of mine gave me a beautiful lily potted plant during a Bible study. Afterwards I put it in the car and proceeded to go out to lunch and to two other meetings.
Sea of Red Lights
I hit the road early one morning before the sun had risen. Many other people must have had the same idea for as I looked in front of me on the busy road three lanes wide, I noticed a sea of red tail lights. They continued ahead of me as far as I could see.
Keeping the Banana in the Peeling
My one-year-old grandson recently displayed an interesting attitude while eating a banana. He likes for me to peel it a bit and hold it in the peeling. Then every time he passes by, he takes a big bite.
Magical God
A five-year old’s aunt visited for the week end and attended church with the family. When the pastor came up to the podium to give his sermon, the little boy leaned over to his aunt and exclaimed, “Pastor Duane always reminds me that God is magical.”
Throw-Away Lines: Day 5
You probably recognize these passages as snippets of genealogical material. For many people, genealogies are Scripture’s ultimate throw-away lines and responsible for wrecking countless thru-the-Bible reading programs just as they are getting started. I get that. But it might be helpful to look at them another way.
No Throw-Away Lines: Day 4
I have marked many Holy Week observances and celebrated many Easter mornings. I was sure I had all the pertinent information and insights about this most sacred time. But recently I saw something that I had never noticed. (Perhaps you, too, have experienced that “when did they put that there” feeling?)
No Throw-Away Lines: Day 3
“Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumblin’ down.” Negro spiritual
When her story begins in Joshua 2, Rahab is just your typical big-city pagan harlot, living in one of the most depraved and idolatrous cultures in recorded history. The city was Jericho of the Canaanites and these were not their best days. Jericho’s nervous residents knew that the upstart Israelites were headed their way with conquest on their minds. That partly explains why Rahab was not surprised to see the two Hebrew spies doing reconnaissance, then agreed to hide them from the king’s men.
No Throw-Away Lines: Day 2
Take one godly man and His devout family, a humongous boat, all kinds of animals and tons and tons (literally) of rain. What do you have? The story or Noah, of course. People who have never darkened the door of a church or cracked open a Bible could probably tell us that. It might be the most familiar story in Scripture.
No Throw-away Lines: Day 1
God doesn’t have throwaway lines. Jennifer Kennedy Dean
Throw-away lines are remarks delivered casually or as an aside that seem to have little to do with advancing the storyline. They can often seem unimportant to or disconnected from the narrative.
40 Days of Living Proof: Come and Have Breakfast
Who has time for breakfast in our rushed society? Not many, unless it is eaten on the run. Breakfast is my favorite meal to eat at a restaurant with loved ones. I have a few favorite places; not often, but on a quiet Saturday or during vacation.
40 Days of Living Proof: Wait for the Promise
Jesus’ appearance strengthened those he spent time with during the short time before his homegoing to heaven. His encounters offered proof to the skeptics and opportunity to reconnect with his loved ones powerfully and compassionately. He resolved unfinished business. There was confusion about the meaning of the kingdom of God. Previous notions left the people looking for an earthly political or military kingdom. Not so. God’s kingdom is his spiritual reign for the transformation of lives through the empowering of the Holy Spirit. This awaited them in Jerusalem. Would they ignore his charge and miss out? No! They listened and complied.
40 Days of Living Proof: Jesus Came Amid Fear and Doubt
The Christ-followers scattered and left Jesus alone when he was arrested (Matthew 26:31 ESV). After his death, they were fearful and confused, unsure of what or who to trust about all the recent events. However, that evening, the day of Jesus’ resurrection, some of the disciples hid in the familiar upper room behind locked doors. They feared the Jewish leaders might persecute them like they had Jesus and bring charges against them.
40 Days of Living Proof: Jesus Met Them
After the Sabbath, the first day of the week dawned. An angel of the Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James by the tomb where Jesus had been buried. The angel told the women to let Jesus’ disciples know that he was alive, and that Jesus would see them in Galilee.
40 Days of Living Proof: Jesus is Alive!
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead… (1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV).
Growing in Prayer
The first church spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching. And they continued to share, to break bread, and to pray together (Acts 2:42 ICB).
Heaven on Earth
Do you ever wonder if your prayers make a difference? It can be tempting to leave the task to the heavy hitters—those prayer warriors with a gift for praying.
A Quiet Retreat
How important is prayer in your life? As your schedule gets busier, do you find less time to pray and sit alone with God? I am guilty of that at times.
Luke records a busy time in Jesus’ ministry. More and more people started to hear the news about Jesus. Crowds were coming to hear him teach. Sick people also wanted him to make them well (Luke 5:15 EASY).
For the Good of Many
I wrote before about my small dog, Buddy, that was attacked by another dog. This happened on a Sunday morning shortly before we were to leave for church. My husband, John, was walking our dog down the street. A big, muscular dog grabbed our dog in his mouth, shook him fiercely from side to side and finally dropped him. In all of this, the stray dog’s teeth sank into John’s hand, leaving behind several puncture wounds.
That Does Not Look Good
My little dog, Buddy, was recently attacked by a much bigger and stronger dog. The veterinarian performed surgery to save Buddy's life. He had a wickedly long incision on his underside. The veterinarian told me to let him know if the incision became infected.
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!