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July 11, 2019
Hards can come upon us like waves, one after another. We see clouds building on the horizon, unsure if they will dissipate or move away from us. As we watch over our shoulder, the storm draws closer, the winds picking up causing the waves to increase in intensity. Before we move to escape, we are caught in the clutches of a violent storm. The waves come in high and fast, knocking us off our feet. We no sooner pick ourselves...
May 2, 2019
The question is: “Who is God?” Perhaps the foundation of all questions. A basic, yet critical inquiry that echos through the hearts of generations. Has this question lurked in your mind or passed your lips? A solid answer exists. A disclosure not coming from man’s understanding, perspective or experience. But straight from God. His self-proclamation. You want to know who God is? He proclaims in Exodus 34:5-7, “This is who I am.” “Then the Lord came down in the cloud...
March 21, 2019
Times arise when we just have nothing left. No answers. No energy. No certainty. No direction. Tasks loom insurmountable.Turmoil stretches endless behind and before us. There is too much on our plate, draining our scant reserves. We ache with longing as desires stack up unmet. Our demeanor labels us with hashtags: #troubled #stressed #confused #spent When those times roll in wave upon wave, what can we do? Even prayer comes hard. Where can we turn? We open the scripture and let...
March 7, 2019
Doubt. To be uncertain. To distrust and be apprehensive. Doubt makes us hesitant and reluctant, freezing us in our tracks or sending us crawling back under the covers. Doubts threaten to keep us undecided and stagnant in belief. Faith and trust stand firm as the antitheses to doubt. Aiming this double-barrel shotgun at our doubts sends them scurrying. But sometimes, our weapons are misplaced and we stand unarmed, feeling confused, prone to uncertainty, skepticism and anxiety. We traipse through difficult...
February 21, 2019
Disappointments plague our life paths. We experience varying degrees from different causes, but we all carry them. Walking along unaware, they creep up as silent shadows, until we are overtaken. Other times, we receive warnings of impending trouble, but before we react and redirect, we find ourselves caught in their grip. Or they come as split-second calamities flashing across our path, and we stare in horror at the destruction left behind....
February 14, 2019
Abide: to remain, continue, stay, dwell, reside. When we abide with someone, we are more than aware of them. We fellowship with them. Settle down in overstuffed chairs sharing thoughts and feelings, finding comfort with each other. Jesus desires this intimacy with us. (John 15:4-5, John 15:9) The Message says “remaining intimately at home in”. Did that sink in? Jesus, the Creator, Lord of Heaven and Earth, desires an intimate, abiding relationship with you. He wants to make His home in you,...
January 31, 2019
We choose many things in our lives. What we wear to our chosen place to dine. Where we hang out. How we earn a living. But there are many things we do not choose. The weather each day. The family into which we are born. What crises and troubles befall us. Our tribe gathered this past week-end for a celebration. Posted pictures depict faces full of love and laughter. But each smile represents individuals with very different stories, living through...
December 20, 2018
For our last time together this year, let’s mull over one more of Jesus’ emphatic “I am” proclamations. Today’s links us to the season as we enjoy our creches, each one depicting shepherds. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me – Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – And I lay...
December 13, 2018
As we edge closer to the day set aside to celebrate the coming of Christ, we peek into the manger and wonder, “Who are you, Jesus?” And He answers us. All through the Scripture we are told who He is, but most powerful are the words of Jesus Himself. Today we are pondering a second emphatic statement He made: “I am the bread of life.He who comes to me will never go hungry,And he who believes in me will never...
December 6, 2018
During advent, let’s ponder four emphatic “I am” statements from Jesus. Four things that establish this babe in a manger was set apart from all others born before and after Him. Understanding and embracing these proclamations help us walk through hard things in life. The first “I am” to consider is Jesus declaring, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, But will have the light of life.” John 8:12 What an astounding...