Too often our focus is on doing something for God. If we don't let the Holy Spirit guide us, however, we may be knocking on the wrong door. Remember Israel? "Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn't succeed."...
Luke 7:48,50b "Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven. … Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (NIV) One Sunday when I was driving to church, I was stopped by the police … so I thought. I saw those familiar flashing lights and pulled over. Another car...
Romans 8: 35 -37 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'No, in all...
"Crowds of sick people-blind, lame, or paralyzed-lay on the porches." John 5:3 NLT Once through the line wasn't enough.We called her Aunt T. She was my maternal grandfather's sister-and a strange one. All I remember about her is her repeated trips through food...
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Gal 5:1 NIV) What does this text mean? It means that only Jesus can give us freedom. It is only through His death that He gives us victory. No one else can give that freedom. Only Jesus. The church cannot give freedom;...
"And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever." (Psalm 23:6b NJKV)Even when camping in the open country, I need it.Security is a God-created basic human need. From the moment of birth, I felt it when my mom and dad cradled me in their arms. They continued to make...
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Heb. 4:16 NIV)As I grabbed my ringing telephone, I heard my daughter saying that Frank was in the greenhouse. Dropping the...