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Again, Jesus spoke, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NRSV)

In our lives, due to our humanity, we, as well as others, have times of experiencing darkness. Uncertain times can bring times of fear. Financial difficulties, health crises, unemployment and marital problems all have caused people to begin to doubt themselves.

Some of these issues can cause people to sink into depression. However, there are remedies to looking at things cheerily while others might have…  ( Click for more )

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25 (ESV)

Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison because they had an evil spirit leave a young servant girl. Her master depended on the income she brought to his coffers.

Other prisoners may have been trying to sleep. Paul and Silas were in stocks and, still, they decided to pray and sing hymns to God. His word tells us the other prisoners listened to them.

As I read this passage recently, I wondered what I would do if I were in their place.…  ( Click for more )

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” Hannah was speaking in her heart” “I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:10-11,13, 15 (ESV)

This is one of the passages included in my prayer folder for Lent 2018. As I read…  ( Click for more )

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make his paths straight.” Matthew 3:1-3 (ESV)

This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a time of preparation to celebrate our LORD’s resurrection. During the 40 days of this season, we focus on our relationship with Jesus and how we can improve it. Basically,…  ( Click for more )

Have mercy on me, O God

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin!”

Psalm 51:1-2 (ESV)

David wrote the prophet after Nathan confronted David with his sin with Bathsheba. He broke at least three of God’s Commandments. Let’s look at this passage and try to understand it better.

Have mercy on me, O God,

David asks for God’s love, although he realizes he doesn’t deserve it. He asked for mercy.…  ( Click for more )

What would Jesus Do?

In 1896, Charles Monroe Sheldon, authored a book entitled, “In His Steps, What Would Jesus Do?” In his novel, Sheldon wrote of a church that had become ‘comfortable’ in their Christianity. The church had a visitor on a Sunday. The man was, by today’s terminology, homeless. The pastor was appalled by the was the congregants received him. The pastor mobilized his congregation and some of the townspeople to deal with the issues of their day as Jesus would.

The subtitle became a watchword for people in the 1990s. Everyone of…  ( Click for more )

You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And a second one is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39(ESV)

Jesus responds to a lawyer’s question with our focus verse. I wonder why the why the man posed the question. Was he seriously seeking an answer to something that bothered him? Did the group of Sadducees put that lawyer up to asking a question to trick or embarrass Jesus?

His answer may have surprised those in the crowd. The question,…  ( Click for more )

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3b (ESV)

Our Father God gives us three very important messages in these 16 words. Let’s explore what these messages mean.

The first thing He tells us is that He loves us. Do we realize what all that entails? God looks at us with eyes of love. No matter what we may have done, He always looks at us and sees us in the light of love. He may be disappointed by our behavior but He still loves us.

The second thing He communicates to us is that His love…  ( Click for more )

His delight is not in the strength of a horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:10-11(ESV)

These words of the psalmist tell us that God does not rely on the things we might trust. He looks with favor upon those who respect Him and who truly believe in His undying love. As humans we see others placing their trust in things that will eventually wear out. The house my parents bought when I was a toddler has been torn down for several years. All but…  ( Click for more )

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-13

Paul writes these words to Titus, whom Paul describes as my true child in a common faith.

Paul gives Titus and us a picture here of God’s working in our lives and the reason for each of those steps He takes on our behalf.

Through God’s…  ( Click for more )

Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nothing, they are in turmoil;

man heaps up wealth and does not

know who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in you

Psalm 39:7 (ESV)

At first, David paints a dismal word picture. Then he speaks that he relies on God. Why does he say this? Earlier in the chapter he tells the Lord that he was silent but it was no use. (v.2)

At times believers have experiences when God has directed them to remain silent in light of surrounding circumstances that were not pleasing. When…  ( Click for more )

Anticipating Hope

Not only that but we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that sufferings produce endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

Paul gives the Roman Christians sage wisdom in this passage.

“we rejoice in our sufferings,”

Wait a minute! None of us like to rejoice when we are ill. I, personally, didn’t rejoice when I severely broke my ankle…  ( Click for more )

Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14 (NRSV)

Do we understand the significance of the angel’s message? This message refers to a prophecy of Isaiah some 4oo years earlier. God is with us!

Even today, we see evidence of God’s presence in our world.At the end of November 2017, I received a prayer request from a very dear friend. Her husband’s nephew had called and asked her to pray for his new-born granddaughter. The baby was born with…  ( Click for more )

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (ESV)

John says it very well. Jesus lived among His people. Do we truly realize what John says here? God came to earth and ate, worked, traveled, and experienced grief and happiness as we do. He chose to live among us.

God doesn’t sit on his throne, shaking his head and waits to see what kind of mischief we humans get into. When we do get into trouble and sin, He doesn’t say,” You’re on your…  ( Click for more )

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of the blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John1:11-13 (ESV)

John states something very basic to our belief here. When we receive Jesus we each become a child of God. Jesus’ earthly family did not believe in Him nor did a lot of those from the area where he grew up. When he spoke in Nazareth, they thought of whose earthly family he was a member…  ( Click for more )

Thoughts about Jesus

In the Beginning-The Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1-2 (ESV)

The Apostle John observed the ministry and teachings of Jesus as the Lord traveled and preached throughout Israel.

He attests to His belief of who Jesus is. He tells us the very basic facts about Jesus Christ.

• He was present in the beginning. He assisted God in making man “in our own image.”

• He was with God. God sent Jesus to earth to teach the people about our heavenly Father. …  ( Click for more )

Everlasting

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” Luke 1:31-33 (ESV)

God sent the angel Gabriel to give Mary the news of the impending birth of her baby, the Holy One.

Gabriel tells us that 1.) Her baby would be great. 2.) He would be called the Son of the Most High. 3.) He would reign…  ( Click for more )

In doing research for graphics for some blog posts last year, I came across words with a spectacular message.

As forms of giving praise we can:

P Pray continually.

R Read the Word every day.

A Acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

I Invest yourself in mentoring.

S Serve and share your faith.

E Encourage one another daily.

As I look at these, I find I have some work to do. Being one who is retired and…  ( Click for more )

This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

On most days, I repeat this verse while I am still in bed. Doing this helps me have a good outlook on my day. However, this does not guarantee me a perfect day or a day without trials.

I heard a friend of mine preach a sermon on living in the moment. In it she told us about taking each day as it comes and not to look ahead to the next one, especially if we may have fears about what lay ahead for us. I have found that I am a happier person because I have practiced living in the moment.…  ( Click for more )

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, and

let us make a joyful noise to him with him with songs of praise.

Psalm 95:2 (NIV)

The psalmist gives us a formula with which to approach the LORD. He encourages us to come before Him with thanksgiving.

Have we received an answer to a long-standing prayer request? When we do, we should give thanks and praise to the LORD.

Has God spoken to us about something that has been on our heart? When He does, our response we give should be one of gratitude.

Has someone reached out to us to bring us out…  ( Click for more )

1 Thessalonians 5:17

The Apostle Paul wrote these words of guidance to the believers at Thessalonica and to us. What does He mean?

He encourages us to be in an attitude of prayer. To listen to those who share their concerns and offer to pray with them at that time.

I recently read a novel, River to Redemption, (1) in which one of the main characters expressed this verse as “Pray believing.” This character loved the LORD and used it as his life’s verse, guiding him through many trials of his life, accepting each thing as God’s Will…  ( Click for more )

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil to no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle. And to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:1-2 (ESV)

Paul gives guidance to Titus that he is to remind those in his flock to:

•Submit to the rulers and authorities.

We are to cooperate with those who preside over us and those who enforce the laws that protect us.

● Be ready for every good work.

● Pray about your involvement…  ( Click for more )

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil."

Our Father

God created us all. He desires a special relationship with us. Jesus calls Him Father because that was He was Jesus’ Father. By addressing God as “Our Father”, the Lord includes each of us as God’s children.…  ( Click for more )

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8 (ESV)

Jesus suffered on the cross for you and for me. He endured agony the degree of which we will never have to undergo.

At any time prior to Gethsemane, he could have turned away and not have done as God had planned. However, in the garden, He prayed three times, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus chose to obey His Father, went through a trial that was based on false accusations. Because…  ( Click for more )