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: darkness
Cast Your Burden Upon the Lord
Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you… (Psalm 55:22) About a year after starting to serve at the church, I was invited to participate in a golf tournament that was raising money for our outreach ministries. After praying to begin the day, someone said, “Please join me in my cart. I …
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 …
In the Manger with Jesus
And she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them at the inn. (Lk. 2:7) I’d received a phone call from a distraught mother. Her 30-something daughter had disappeared. The mother feared that her daughter—let me call her Abby—could have committed suicide. A …
Our Own Path to Faith
They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.’ (Jn. 4:42) The Samaritans had first believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony. What exactly they believed about …
Saved, Delivered, Freed, or Healed
Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. (Ex. 14:30) The Hebrews were running away from the tyranny of Pharaoh. At some point along the escape route, they looked back and saw the Egyptian army in murderous pursuit. They thought they were doomed to …
Jesus at Our Side
But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.' Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased.(Mark …
God’s Purpose for Us
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28) Why are we here? What gives meaning to our life? What gets us out of bed in the morning? What helps us to sleep at night? Simply put: What is our purpose? …
Alive in Christ Jesus
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us… (Heb. 12:1) I spent a lot of time in a graveyard as a boy. On Thursday …
God’s Grace Can Heal Your Heart
Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice... (Eph. 4:31) Let me call her Eleanor. She was in her seventies. I visited her every month. We would read scripture, pray, share communion together, and then she would launch into bitterly complaining about her mother. During …