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: strength
Seek First the Kingdom of God
Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.’ (Luke 12:22) I don’t consistently live by today’s scripture. Whenever I read Jesus’ admonition to not worry, I cringe when I remember the nights I’ve been awake at …
Jesus is Our Peace
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups one…. (Eph. 2:13-14) The man was dragging his wife to church. It was clear she didn’t want to be there. I didn’t …
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 …
Battling for God’s Kingdom
“In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him… But David remained at Jerusalem.” (2 Sam. 11:1) We don’t know why David didn’t go into battle. Maybe he was tired. Maybe he forgot how important he was to his …
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 …
More Often Simply Laugh
Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt!’ (Num. 14:1-2) This past year I attended a Christmas Eve service at the church I …
Our Time in Midian
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (Ex. 3:1) For the first 40 years of his life Moses had been trained to be a commander of armies. For his next 40 years Moses …
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 …
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 …