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You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers onto the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. Exodus 20:5 (ESV)

God loves each of His children. As a parent, he wants what is best for them. We have written evidence of how great God’s love is. The Apostle John tells us God loves us so much he willingly gave His son to die for our sins. He warns us no to have any other gods before Him. He tells us not to make carved images or likeness of any heavenly body.

The Lord keeps…  ( 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…  ( Click for more )

He who has an ear, let him listen. Revelation 2:6,11 (ESV)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches Revelation 2:17,29, 3:6,13, 22 (ESV)

Do you remember your parents saying, “You are not listening?” I do. It was when I was in trouble and they were trying to talk to me about my misbehaving. Did you ever have to say that to your children? I probably did, also.

I have noticed that in our world today, we have certain people who seem to think they have a say-so in what we believe in our lives. I have felt they were not listening…  ( Click for more )

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Psalm 33:12 ESV

This week we celebrated America’s Birthday. She is 242 years old. People sometimes take it for granted that our nation even exists. We also have those, down through the years, who fought so we could remain a great nation. I wonder what Paul Revere and the Minute Men would think of America today.

We enjoy certain freedoms in our land that are unheard of in other parts of the world.

*We have peace: we don’t wake up or go to sleep to the…  ( 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 in heart, and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

Have you ever worked hard and hoped for a good end to a circumstance? Did that project not end like you thought? Did it wear you down to where you could not function?

Jesus invites us all to come to him when we feel overburdened from work or anxiety. He promises to give us rest. Some weeks, I am so busy that I…  ( Click for more )

Neighborly Compassion

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. Luke 10:33-34 (ESV)

A lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers caught him off-guard and beat him, leaving him for dead. Two ‘respected’ members of society came by where the traveler lay. Each of them had their own schedules…  ( Click for more )

They remembered that God was their rock,

the Most High God their redeemer.

But they flattered him with their mouths;

they lied to him with their tongues.

Their heart was not steadfast toward him;

they were not faithful to his covenant.

Yet he, being compassionate,

atoned for their iniquity

and did not destroy them;

he restrained his anger often

and did not stir up all his wrath.

Psalm 78-35-38 (ESV)

Our focus passage was written by Asaph. It paints a picture of the way God reacted to His people in spite…  ( Click for more )

“And surely I am with you always,

to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20 (NIV)

Do we sense God in our lives? When do we feel His presence? How do we feel it?

Sometimes we call the times we feel God in our lives ‘God moments’. I have a friend who calls them ‘God sightings.’ Whatever we call them, they are special to us.

I had three God moments a few days before Christmas. The first one happened when I helped deliver Christmas packages to those children who were unable to attend a “Happy…  ( 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 )

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your

shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep

you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this

time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121(ESV)

What does…  ( Click for more )

He who has an ear, let him listen. Revelation 2:6,11 (ESV)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches Revelation 2:17,29, 3:6,13, 22 (ESV)

Do you remember your parents saying, “You are not listening!” I do. It was when I was in trouble and they were trying to talk to me about my misbehaving.

I have noticed that in our world today, we have certain people who seem to think they have a say-so in what we believe in our lives. I have felt they were not listening to wise counsel from God.

One recent evening, I read God’s…  ( Click for more )

God Revives the Lowly

“For this is what the high and lofty One says he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, But also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)

We are blessed. God, who lives above also reaches down to bring us out of our feelings of depression. When we have heart-breaking news take our emotions and make us feel low, He goes out of His way to comfort us and bring…  ( Click for more )

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

Who makes up that cloud of witnesses? The writer of Hebrews has listed the persons in the “Faith…  ( Click for more )

During this Eastertide season, the time between Easter and Pentecost, I am re-using a Lenten study book titled 40 Days to Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole. This marks the third year I have read and studied it. The following entry is the result of thoughts I experienced last year.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, Matthew 14:22-23 (ESV)

Jesus heard of John’s…  ( Click for more )

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 (ESV)

The Apostle Peter had healed a beggar. The healed man was ecstatic over what had happened. Those who saw him were amazed.

Peter began to speak to the people about how they had denied God’s son and turned Him over to be crucified and had asked that a murderer be released to them.

Peter, then tells the crowd that all they had to do in order to be forgiven and refreshed is to repent, turn away from their bad…  ( Click for more )

for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.1 Corinthians 16:18 (ESV)

Paul, toward the end of his first letter to the believers at Corinth, writes thanking them for sending Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus to him. He tells them that these three refreshed his spirit.

What does it mean when someone or something refreshes our spirit? Do we feel better about things? Are we able to view our surroundings with joy and gladness? Does the work go easier?

As God’s child, I sometimes get frustrated when I watch the news…  ( Click for more )

I picked a book out of a basket in my writing room. The title of the book, “If my people. . .” , a 40 day prayer guide. I leafed through it and decided to use it in the 40 days of Lent. Later in the day, I realized how I could utilize the passage 2 Chronicles 7:14, as a beginning point of my Lenten observance.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

God speaks to…  ( Click for more )

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

We all have dreamed of doing something only to have it not happen. Looking back on my life I believe if I hadn’t been so self-assured of myself, I might have had better results for my efforts. Actually, I might not have tried to do some of the crazy things I did. Can we learn from our mistakes? Yes, we can and we should. If we have questions, it’s all right to ask them to seek guidance on an issue that arises out of our efforts to advance in…  ( Click for more )

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 )

Pray

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “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 as 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. As…  ( Click for more )

Choose this day who you will follow. . . . As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord. Joshua 24:15

Choose life that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him. Deuteronomy 29:19-20 (ESV)

Choose Who We Follow

These two passages remind me that we have choices we make every day. We choose when we arise and how we spend our days. We choose where we worship God or how we worship Him.

The passage from Joshua was one I heard at a church service, probably, a revival service. Joshua speaks to all…  ( Click for more )

“To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the

LORD comes the reply of the tongue.” Proverbs 16:1 (NIV)

In my Life Application Bible I read that all outcomes of the plans we make are in God’s hands. He wants us to use our minds, seek the advice of others, and plan. In order for God to look favorably on our plans, we have to pray about our goal and the path we choose to reach it.

When my husband talked about retirement, he usually talked as if it was going to affect him and only him. One day he started that conversation but, this time he asked…  ( Click for more )

"But seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. . . ."

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

I had an issue bothering me. I tried to pray about it. As I went out to get some supper, I realized I could go to the golden arches, drive through, and then travel down the east artery of our city and go pray at church.

One section of the church parking lot faces a large expanse of grass. In one area of the verdant yard is a playground and an open shelter house- a beautiful peaceful scene. As I ascended the hill, I noticed geese-yes, geese- all over the…  ( 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)

Two days ago we observed 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 )