I can do all things through [Jesus] who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13) Paul wrote today’s scripture while in prison. Every time he was behind bars, he was facing death. Being chained to a Roman guard, he would’ve been deprived of any privacy. Under such conditions you might think Paul would’ve been daunted or depressed—but read …
Tag: compassion
Seeing, Finding and Serving Jesus
Jesus said, “… I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) Having gone through Hurricane Harvey I was reminded of another storm—Katrina. In 2005, we watched whole neighborhoods being flooded, people looting, and some even dying, and horrendous conditions throughout New Orleans. In response to the horrendous conditions in New Orleans, …
God’s Peace and Strength
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” (Psalm 46:1-3) Soon after entering one of the shelters for …
“Jamie, who are His People?”
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham…. (Mt. 1:1f) If Jesus had lived in the neighborhood where I grew up, my grandmother would have been worried about me playing with Him. She would have wanted me to shy away from Jesus because He came from …
What Jesus Knew
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. (Jn. 8:6) The woman caught in adultery stands in the midst of the crowd ashamed of her actions and afraid for her life. The Pharisees are feverishly using that woman to set up Jesus. Many of the townspeople are gathered around with great curiosity, some …
Let the Little Children Come to Me
People were bringing little children to [Jesus] in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me…' (Mk. 10:13-14) David, a seminary classmate, and I were at a folk mass. As we …
…and a Little Child Shall Lead Them
“The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” (Is. 11:6) Let me call him Fred. He didn’t like the changes I was making at church. He made an appointment to express his …
Room For All
He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.’ (Lk. 4:17-18) One of church’s receptionists buzzed to tell me that she had a woman on the phone that demanded to talk with …
Jesus’ Love Makes All Things New
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) One of my least favorite expressions is “same-old, same-old.” When I ask someone how they’re doing, and they say “same-old, same-old,” I’m tempted to do an “encouragement-intervention” on them. The expression sounds so dreary, sullen, and bored. One of the ways I sometimes …
Standing Firm in Your Faith
If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all. (Isaiah 7:9) Hurricane Harvey dumped 50” of rain on Houston. Once I could get out of my neighborhood, I spent a few days at the shelters. I then spent a few days helping some friends demo their homes. Imagine losing everything …