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Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirt descended on him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased” Luke 3:21-22 (ESV)

Jesus chose to be baptized along with other people by John the Baptist. There are several thoughts on why Jesus chose to be baptized. One is that “this was the first public declaration of His ministry.” (1) He chose to be identified with “those who were repenting…  ( Click for more )

In those days he went out to the mountains to pray,

and all night he continued to pray to God

Luke 6:12 (ESV)

Jesus had a communication line with his Father. He made use of it regularly. In this passage, Luke speaks of one crucial time, the night before Jesus chose the twelve Apostles. He needed to choose some of his followers as special members of his ministry team.

Jesus must have felt the need to make this a matter of prayer. This was no small need. These men would form the nucleus of his earthly ministry. He continued in prayer. His praying was not a…  ( Click for more )

And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of then fish. And those who at the loaves were five thousand men.

Mark 6:41-44 (ESV)

In this story, Jesus asked for God to bless the food that a small boy willingly gave to Him in order to attempt to feed 5,000.

I wonder; did Jesus say an extended prayer over this food,…  ( Click for more )

And going a little farther he fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.” . . . Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed,” My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. . .. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for a third time, saying the same words again.

Matthew 26:39,42, 44 (ESV)

The time Jesus spent in Gethsemane seems to be a turning point for Him. A close look at the times He spent in prayer that…  ( Click for more )

One In The Spirit?

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Holy Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete

by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:1 (NIV)

Paul writes to the Philippians, he encourages them to look into their hearts and consider their stance with Christ. He points out that they should receive a building up, an empowerment, from being in His presence. The apostle then spells out…  ( Click for more )

May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing,

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13 (ESV)

Paul writes these words to the believers in Rome. He encourages all who read them. Let’s look at what he tells them and us.

He characterizes our heavenly Father as a God of hope. Without hope, we would not be able to progress in our Christian walk. We would be stuck at the point of realizing we are sinners.Paul then expresses his desire that those reading this letter be filled with joy and peace through believing…  ( Click for more )

Recently, I heard more of a person’s story that has caused me to think about how we live for Jesus. In hearing this addition to the story, I realized this individual is truly living for herself and not Jesus. This caused me to ponder what living for Jesus means. When we live for Him, we believe:

He is the Lord of our lives.

He sees all that we do.

…  ( Click for more )

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you; I will help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

Fear not,

Bible scholars tell us that this phrase appears in God’s Word 365 times. God is telling us something; we should trust Him for all things. We should not fear anything that life places in our path.

for I am with you;

God constantly assures us of His presence in our day-to-day life. He brings us sunshine that perks us up. He gives us guidance through…  ( Click for more )

The LORD is my light and my

salvation; whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light

David speaks with gratitude here and, yet, makes a profound statement. A light shows us the way through darkness. God shows us the right way to navigate through this fallen world.

and my salvation

God saves us from our sins. He saves us from the guilt of those sins we unintentionally commit.

whom shall I fear?

When we trust God and have Him by our side, we have His strength…  ( Click for more )

So Jesus said to the Jews who believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you know the truth and the truth will set you free . . .Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not stay in the house forever, the son remains forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. “John 8:31-32,34-36 (ESV)

If you abide in my word, this is a conditional phrase. When we follow God’s word in our daily life, we live God’s Word.

you are truly my disciples. When we live God’s…  ( Click for more )

I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out our precepts.

I will speak of your statutes before kings

and will not be put to shame,

for I delight in your commands

because I love them.

The Psalmist bares his soul to God in this passage. He tells the LORD that he will walk freely (ESV says “in a wide space). What does he mean?

In context, the writer tells God, “I will keep your law continually forever and ever.” He pledges to ALWAYS honor the LORD and his laws.

Why would the writer vow to do…  ( Click for more )

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ…  ( Click for more )

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prisoners to those who are bound. Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)

The prophet Isaiah spoke these words. Isaiah was commissioned by God to prophesy to the people of Judah. They did not care for what he told them.

In our focus verse, two ideas come through. Isaiah speaks of his mission as a prophet and, yet, in another sense, this passage looks forward to the Messiah.…  ( Click for more )

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prisoners to those who are bound. Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)

The prophet Isaiah spoke these words. Isaiah was commissioned by God to prophesy to the people of Judah. They did not care for what he told them.

In our focus verse, two ideas come through. Isaiah speaks of his mission as a prophet and, yet, in another sense, this passage looks forward to the Messiah.…  ( Click for more )

At the end of May we observed Memorial Day. The purpose of this holiday is to give honor to those who have gone on before us, whether in service to our country or in helping us become the people we are, those of our families. Also, we are to give honor to our Savior, Jesus Christ and to God.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and 10 time ten thousand. The encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive…  ( Click for more )

At the end of May we observed Memorial Day. The purpose of this holiday is to give honor to those who have gone on before us, whether in service to our country or in helping us become the people we are, those of our families. Also, we are to give honor to our Savior, Jesus Christ and to God.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and 10 time ten thousand. The encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive…  ( Click for more )

As I sat in church one Sunday, Connie joined me in my pew. Laura, who sat in front of me, turned around and asked her, “Is it true, are you moving out of state?” Connie said she wasn’t sure. She needed funds in order to do it. Laura then asked, “How can I pray for you?” The three of us decided to ask for the Lord’s will.

I knew Connie wants to move out west to be near some of her family. She had spoken of it to me almost a month and a half earlier. During the previous week Laura asked me, “Have you heard the…  ( Click for more )

As believers in Christ, what do we learn about God?

We learn that He is our Creator.

● that all things are under His control.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (ESV)

● that He is not the author of confusion but of peace.

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)

● that He loves us enough to want to make us more like Him.

…  ( Click for more )

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-31

These are the words of Jesus.

Have you ever been completely worn out, even to the point of physical or mental exhaustion? Jesus has a remedy for those times. He invites us to join Him.

Have you ever seen an ox yoke? There are two parts to the apparatus; an ox yoke is made for a team of two oxen. The animals are…  ( Click for more )

Recently, I went through a time of being extremely low. Our church has been going through a transition. It had been a tough time. At every turn, there was more hard-to-deal- with news.

I felt as if our backs were figuratively against a wall. I came home from a prayer group and felt terribly down, more than I had felt in decades. Even after praying with my friends in that group, I couldn’t shake that low feeling.

I spent time in prayer. Then I texted two of my friends. One of them tested me a picture of the scripture, Isaiah 41:10.

fear not,…  ( Click for more )

Due to some concerns and anxieties that some of my friends and I have experienced, I found myself fretting over some issues I could not completely put out of my mind. I remembered this scripture and studied it again. Please bear with me as I explain what it means to me.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

Humble yourselves--when we look at our habits, our ways, and our activities, through God’s eyes and…  ( Click for more )

Due to some concerns and anxieties that some of my friends and I have experienced, I found myself fretting over some issues I could not completely put out of my mind. I remembered this scripture and studied it again. Please bear with me as I explain what it means to me.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

Humble yourselves--when we look at our habits, our ways, and our activities, through God’s eyes and…  ( Click for more )

Let me hear in the morning of your

steadfast love,

for in you, I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8 (ESV)

David, the shepherd king, penned these words. He asks the Father to speak to him in the mornings. David desires to hear of God’s steadfast love. He tells God that he trusts Him.

David also asks for the Father’s guidance. Again, he speaks of his trusting God with his very being.

I have learned it is important to spend time in prayer and devotional/Bible reading when I am most alert.…  ( Click for more )

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

The Apostle Paul advises the Colossian believers to “put on” or wear as clothes qualities that model Jesus Christ.

COMPASSIONATE HEARTS- merciful attitudes

KINDNESS- going the second mile, gently responding to something done or said

HUMILITY- knowing who God is and who we are in…  ( Click for more )