On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of his hotel in Memphis, TN. On the 50th anniversary of his passing, we honor the legacy of this powerful speaker, writer and leader of the civil rights movement — a man for whom the love of Jesus Christ was a…
Through All The Seasons. . . God Is Loving and Powerful
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 — Why has this passage endured the ages as one of the oldest philosophical poems in our literary canon? It’s certainly among the most pensive passages of God’s Word, a beautiful meditation that casts a near-hypnotic spell over readers of any generation. The author was the wisest and wealthiest man who ever lived, and…
Taste and See: Why the Lamb Is One Year Old
All the time talking about meat and antiquity makes me curious to know Matt’s perspective on one particular animal: the lamb. At Local Yocal, the largest demand for lamb is always around the Passover. I am not surprised. In scouring the Bible for mentions of lamb and sheep, one word kept emerging as synonymous with…
The Way of Grace: Inviting to the Unrighteous and Threatening to the Self-righteous
When Jesus began His ministry, He found the nation of Israel divided over the issue of personal righteousness; that is, how a person gains and maintains good standing with God. One camp argued that a person could earn a right standing with God by keeping the law. To do this, however, they had to perfect…
Recognizing the Holy Spirit
Simeon took [the baby Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You may now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your…
Desperate for Immanuel
Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. — Psalm 142:6 Years ago, when my second daughter, Morgan, was about two years old, I arrived home from my church office early one afternoon I was eager to spend a…
10 Famous Sayings Surrounding Jesus’ Birth
Hear the Words of the Angels, Magi, Shepherds, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Simeon, and Herod Come to Life in a Whole New Way! The birth of Jesus is depicted in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew and is traditionally represented in nativities with the characters central to the story: Jesus, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, the magi,…
Journal, Pray, Reflect, and Connect with God
Editor’s note: Have you heard about The Weekly Prayer Project? It’s part book, part journal with a challenge to spend 52 weeks in prayer and daily Bible meditation. It’s a fantastic way to connect with God, pray, reflect, and journal our prayer journeys. The topics in The Weekly Prayer Project are centered around 7 different…
New Devotionals Roundup
December is here and it’s the perfect time to start a new devotional! We have a few favorites we want to share with you. We have something for everyone – and they make excellent Christmas gifts at up to 40% off! 1. 365 Devotions to Love God and Love Others Well In our culture, where social…
Serving and Sharing
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. — 1 Peter 4:10 Serving others is not always easy. Since my earliest years, my father has lead a humanitarian organization called Samaritan’s Purse. One of the many great things that this group does…