Bible Reading

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 […]

We were walking to the bus at the end of the school day, and I was holding first-grader Bryan’s hand. His hand was in mine because that is the only way that I could be assured that he was in line and with the rest of the class. Our day had been troublesome at best. […]

The excitement was over. The disciples had lived through the horror of the arrest and trial, witnessed the agony of the cross, and experienced the resurrection at the tomb and through their own interactions with the resurrected Christ. Now what? They didn’t see Him everyday like before. They probably felt like they were living in limbo […]

Encouragement from Hebrews 12:1-4 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). We need to let go of […]

Psalm 102 I have burdens on my heart – we all do – so the first verse of Psalm 102 caught my attention this morning. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto You. I am thankful for the God Who hears – the God Who listens. As I continued to read […]

“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” Robert Robinson, Hymn “Come Thou Fount of Many Blessings” We are a people of wandering hearts, flitting from one obsession to another, always looking for greener grass. There is a reason that God calls us sheep. Even when we determine to […]

Psalm 116 We make Christianity – knowing and loving God – so difficult! Early in my Christian walk, I was plagued by doubt and fear. These feelings overwhelmed me and paralyzed my joy and my service. During that time, I remember reading Psalm 116 (check it out) over and over again, but I focused on […]

We look at our world, and we say, “NO HOPE. The problems are beyond repair. This downward spiral is going right into a black hole.” That is what human logic tells us, and I confess that sometimes I bow my head and say, “Enough already, God.” But what does God say? Behold, the Lord’s hand […]