There is a powerful lesson for us in the story of how Mary of Nazareth learned she would conceive and give birth to the Savior of the world. That lesson is the connection between faith in God and favor with God. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent …
I sit on the deck with tea watching dawn arrive. The coastal breeze is soft and slightly salty. I’ve talked with you, worshiped to some music, prayed for my beloveds, asked for wisdom and new strength for the day. When the tea is done, I get up to begin my …
There are stories in the Bible that make you uncomfortable at the least, and at the most, are almost terrifying. Stories that, if you weren’t already convinced about the loving-kindness of the Lord, could make you wonder who God really is. We usually don’t focus on such stories at Christmas …
Ponder with me today the words of Isaiah the Prophet, Chapter 35: 1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will …
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 (NASB) Consider this: Jesus first spoke these words to His disciples on the verge of …
The very first Scripture I ever read was John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. I had just poured out my heart, confessing …
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. (Psalm 107:9 NASB) This is just one of many Scriptures that tantalize us with the idea that knowing God is meant to be supremely satisfying to the soul. I don’t meet enough …
I noticed it the first time I read through the Gospels. Jesus repeatedly acknowledged man’s hunger and thirst, promising they would be satisfied. I understand now what I didn’t then: that He spoke out of the depths of His human experience. A man who lived in a body with appetites, …
One morning as I sat with the Lord, I wrote in my journal, “One of the things I love about you, Lord, is you’re so — human!” Is it blasphemy to say such things? Am I trying to bring God down to my level? No, because He already did that …
Lord, I know you are with me. I have your promise…in how many ways? “Emmanuel, God with us…” “I am with you always….” In faith I cannot doubt you are with me, but in fact it is too easy to ignore your gentle and quiet presence! You are with me …
The Apostle Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 5:17 to “be filled with the Spirit.” What exactly does that mean? The tense of the Greek translated here as “filled” is one that means being continually filled with the Spirit — as an ongoing state of being. You may think this is …
One of my favorite teachers and authors on the Old Testament is Malcolm Smith, a pastor who shares my passion to understand and teach on the new covenant relationship God offers us in Christ. In his book, “The Lost Secret of the New Covenant,” Pastor Smith devotes a chapter to …
