But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. — Genesis 8:1 The chapter and verse numbers in the Scriptures are not inspired, of course, but there is something about Genesis 8:1…
Getting Past My Past
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:13-14 NIV, emphasis added We…
No Failure Is Fatal
Joshua 8:1-29 I have a distinct memory from the 1991 Super Bowl. I’m not a football junkie. Nor do I have extraordinary recall. Truth is, I don’t remember anything about the ’91 football season except this one detail. A headline. An observation prompted by Scott Norwood’s kick. He played for the Buffalo Bills. The city…
Weak Places: I Can Be Strong in Christ
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. — Psalm 18:2a Thought for the Day: Even the smallest drop of God’s strength is more than enough to cover our frailties, our shortcomings, the places where we deem ourselves weak. We all have them.…
The Shame Monster
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. —Romans 8:1 The reason it is so hard for us to admit to the secrets hidden in our hearts is that we’re ashamed of them. We think that if we keep denying our ugly stuff, then maybe we’ll look better than we…
We Can Have Resurrection Power
The word power occurs fifty-seven times in the New Testament. It is used to describe the most powerful event that ever happened, an event that separated AD from BC — the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And that resurrection power is available to change your life! The most important thing in life is…
Blessings at God’s Table
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. — Psalm 23:5 Pause and envision the scene in God’s royal dining room… Driven not by our beauty but by His promise, He calls us to Himself and invites us to take a permanent place at His…
Getting Out of CrazyTown: The Scandal of Forgiveness
I am the God of Love and Peace. Let the splendor of this glorious truth sink into the depths of your heart, mind, and spirit. The One who is always with you is the God of Love and Peace! When you feel a need for more Love, come to Me and let Me lavish it upon you. Whenever you are…
Jesus, Equal With God
John 5:19-47 JN – Then Jesus answered and said to them, “ Most assuredly, This is an emphatic way of saying, “I’m telling you the truth.” in response to Jewish hostility at the implications of His assertions of equality with God, Jesus became even more fearless, forceful, and emphatic. Jesus essentially tied His activities of healing on…
Refining Grace
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I…