Bible Reading

I have read stories of priceless antiques being used as doorstops and expensive treasures lying dormant while the owners lived in poverty. Impoverished owners of riches who did not realize the worth of their belongings. Treasure, unrecognized, unclaimed, and unused. Sad. I think about those stories as I read through the book of Ephesians. In […]

The word “therefore” signals a change, often a consequence or outcome of what has gone before. In Paul’s letters to the churches, the word “therefore” often precedes instruction on how to live out the truth he has just shared. This is true in Philippians, chapter four, which he begins with the word “therefore”. Chapter three […]

Psalm 9:1 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. God is all about wholeness. When Jesus walked on Earth, He made people whole. Think about the woman with an issue of blood (Matthew 9:22) or the man with the withered hand (Matthew 12:13). In Mark […]

When I think of Kingdom living, I think of the Beatitudes. Found in their entirety in the fifth chapter of Matthew, they describe a way of life that goes far beyond the self-righteousness of man’s religion. There are entire books written on the Beatitudes, and there is much to study in Jesus’ Sermon on the […]

When I was a teenager, my mom always had last minute instructions for me when she was leaving the house or when I was going out. She would remind me of tasks to complete, behaviors to maintain, and she would tell me she loved me. Standard operating procedure. Leaving the ones we love can be […]

What if we went to church on Sunday and the preacher did not preach? What if he stood and said, “I have no need to speak anything, because the word of the Lord has sounded throughout our community and world in the words and lives of believers? (I Thessalonians 1:8) What if we lived our […]

Two weeks out from Resurrection Sunday, and life goes on. We celebrated Hope. We celebrated Life. We celebrated Forgiveness and Victory and Grace! Then we walked away from the tomb and into the darkness of this world. Is Hope still alive? Is the Light of Grace still shining? Or has Joy fizzled in the face […]

Tonight, as I perused a ministry magazine and read story after story of the sacrifices of Christians around the globe, my heart stirred. Believers in other countries are sacrificing and suffering, just to have access to a Bible. While we in America struggle to get through a five-minute devotion, grumble if the church service goes […]

What if Paul, having been blinded by God’s bright light and healed, had gone quietly back into his life to live as a Pharisee? What if Peter, having vehemently declared his love for Jesus, had simply gone back to being a fisherman? What if Timothy, having been reared by a Christian mother, had declared his […]

Settle down. I heard those words so many times during my childhood. As bedtime approached, mom and dad would call us in and quiet us down. It did not matter what was going on outside or in the world at large. It was time to settle. One of my favorite verses talks about settling. It […]

After declaring that God holds no condemnation for those who come to Him through faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), Paul spends most Romans, chapter 8 on the consequences of God’s grace in the believer’s life. We usually think of consequence as a negative, something to be avoided, but the consequences of grace lift the […]

People talk a lot about acceptance and tolerance these days. They don’t believe in condemnation (of themselves, at least) or judgment. The Apostle Paul spoke about freedom from condemnation, and he showed the only way to be guilt free. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not […]

I was about eight years old when I last heard my grandfather, Papa, preach. I remember him standing behind the pulpit, his voice filled with the authority of the scripture. And I remember the text, Luke 6:46. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? I remember that […]

Psalm 138 When I call, He answers and strengthens me. (verse 3) Though I walk in trouble, He will preserve me. (verse 7) The Lord will fulfill His purpose in me. (verse 8) God’s mercy and steadfast love endure forever. (verse 8) Father, Thank You for answering the cry of my heart so many times. […]

Genesis 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand […]

If you miss your bath for a few days, people will notice. I find the same principle applies to my spiritual life. When I go days without reading and meditating on God’s Word, it is noticeable – in my words, in my thoughts, in my attitude, in my relationships – and it is not a […]

Sandwiched between the two mountains described in Psalms 22 and 24 lies the familiar Psalm of the Shepherd, Psalm 23. Many people recognize this psalm, but it is important to note the psalms that precede and follow it. Psalm 22 gives us the experience of Mount Calvary. Here we read Jesus’ cry from the cross, […]

There is a verse in Psalm 119 that has often brought a smile to my face. My husband and I use it to remind each other not to be easily offended. Great peace have they which love Thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Psalm 119:165 In context, the word offend means cause to stop […]

Falling leaves and somewhat cooler breezes (I live in Florida) remind me that seasons change, and time passes. Flowers that I rejoiced over in Spring now look a little worse for wear. We put away the hummingbird feeder today knowing that they are moving on to other locales for the winter. Mornings are dawning later, […]

Psalm 51:4 – Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight:” When we sweep away all of the world’s debris that clutters our hearts and emotions, we come to the realization that our sin is direct rebellion to God’s ownership of our lives. We like to lessen the blackness […]