Bible Reading

When life is confusing and hard, when troubles seem to stack up like blocks in a child’s play set, the foundation of one’s faith is critical. Paul the Apostle was familiar with difficulties and trials. He described a few of his challenges in II Corinthians 11: 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes […]

When the Holy Spirit is at work in my heart, He makes things happen. The Bible calls this bearing fruit. Fruit is visible, and it is pleasant. What can I expect to seeing growing in me when God is having His way in my heart? Love, even in the face of hate Joy, even in […]

Psalm 79: 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. When the psalmist cried out for God’s help in verse nine of Psalm 79, he had no bargaining chip. Israel had sinned. They had left the path of […]

What do we do when we have messed up everything, allowed sin to overtake us, and ignored God’s loving ownership of our lives? How do we remedy the regret and stifle the stigma? How can we open ourselves to restored fellowship with the Father? David understood these questions. His sin was laid bare when Nathan […]

Peter failed. When faced with the opportunity to stand with his Lord, he bailed, denying the One Who had called Him, the One to Whom he had declared his undying allegiance (John 18:25 – 27). After the crucifixion, though, Peter could still be found with the disciples. He showed up at the tomb. He was […]

Sometimes I hear people quote me, but the words they say don’t match what I said. Due to misunderstanding or to foster false impressions, words are taken out of context and incorrect directives are repeated. When this happens, I jokingly say that my name has been taken in vain. Names are important. They represent who […]

God has a great benefit plan! In Psalm 103, David sings his praise to the Lord, and he challenges us to not forget all that God does for us. Here are a few of the benefits David lists for us to remember: God forgives. He heals. He redeems. He crowns with lovingkindness. He loves. He […]

BIG MISTAKE!! I opened Facebook to check on something before I opened my Bible this morning. What did I find? Arguments – some civil, some not – over our president, over the virus, over data, over masks, over current protests and riots. People I know and people I don’t know weighing in with a comment […]

In the heat of the summer, in confusing and troublesome times, in difficult circumstances, our hearts sometimes faint. We begin to wonder if anything makes a difference, and we are tempted to give up. When our eyes and our thoughts focus on this life, things can seem hopeless. Paul talked about fainting in II Corinthians […]

Read Mark 6:31-46 Jesus had been teaching, and the people followed and listened. It seemed that they couldn’t get enough of Him. Now, they were out in a desert place, far from home, and their physical hunger became evident. The disciples saw the need of the people – over 5000 people. They understood hunger, but […]

The psalmist recites the history of Israel in Psalm 78. (It is a great read!) Their up and down, back and forth relationship with God is plainly told. Why? For the children! Look at verse four. Don’t hide the message from the children. Show them the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His […]

What we do continually strongly impacts who we are. We recognize this in the descriptions assigned to people. We can even change an action into a title. One who farms – farmer. One who teaches – teacher. One who complains – complainer. One who gossips – gossiper. One who attacks – attacker. One who worships […]

Last night, my husband and I watched a video of a large boat maneuvering through icy waters. Small and large icebergs surrounded the vessel as it moved slowly, but steadily, forward. All I could think of was the Titanic. This boat, though, cruised safely through the dangerous waters and emerged safely on the other side. […]

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” –The Lord of the […]

I love to receive notes! “Just thinking of you” notes. “How are you doing” notes. Handwritten and stamped, they delight me. Emails and texts are good, but there is something special about finding a surprise card in the mailbox. God sent me a ‘thinking of you’ note in Psalm 40. Twice in this chapter, He […]

The hawk watched as I completed my morning walk. He was silent, but I noticed him when he flew from the ground to the limb. I stopped in wonder as we observed each other – my morning blessing and reminder that God is near. So often, I am lost in thought and oblivious to things […]

The substance of joy does not rest in this world. Joy lives in the hope born of the resurrection. It inhabits the incorruptible inheritance prepared for and kept for me. It is sustained by the power of God. Trial and temptation may come against me, and circumstances may flip me like a burger on a […]

Acts 1 We like to know what is going to happen. We want to know what tomorrow, or next week, or next month will bring. We want the blueprints drawn up, laid out, and specific. “Inquiring minds want to know.” Jesus’ disciples in the first chapter of Acts were no different. Jesus had been seen […]

Psalm 68 David was a warrior with a poet’s heart. He knew the majesty of God, and his greatest moments were spent declaring His praise. He had no patience for those who would defy the most high God, and his cry echoed his desire for God to be exalted. “Let God arise, let His enemies […]

Psalm 35 Deceit isn’t new. Mocking and ranting and lies aren’t new. Persecution of those who follow Christ isn’t new. Hypocrisy isn’t new. Adversity isn’t new, and the reality that people exist who make it their business to spread untruth and practice deception isn’t new either. We can read about all of these attitudes and […]