Trust Me—I’ve Got This ~ God Fear. It’s real. It’s consuming.It can push us into action we never imagined—or leave us curled in a fetal position, immobilized by uncertainty. Fear can sneak in slowly or come crashing down without warning. It can live in our thoughts long before it shows up in our actions. And yet, fear is not foreign …
I know we are now a month out from Christmas, but I recently heard a Pastor give a message on the birth of Christ asking us as a congregation if we had “Lost our Marvels?” It gained some snickers, nervous laughter, and shifting uncomfortably in the church seats. He let it hang in the air before clarifying what he was …
We enter the time of Advent. The time of the arrival has come. Have you ever been in a place of great expectation? Anticipating the arrival of someone or something? Last week, I was fluctuating between anticipation and excitement as I waited for my daughters and sons-in-law to arrive for a long Thanksgiving weekend. Because of our crazy schedules, we …
“The sun comes up. It’s a new day dawning…10,000 reasons for my heart to find” It’s the beginning of sunrise in my part of the world. It’s that moment when light begins to emerge from the darkness of night. Contemplating how Jesus was sent into a world full of darkness to be the light, my heart suddenly felt overwhelmed with …
The sunsets here in SE Arizona have become spectacular since we entered the autumn season. Although, by the temperatures which still are at about 100°, you wouldn’t know it. Sometimes, seasons are like that. Summer blends into autumn, and winter blends into spring. Happiness blends into grief, and frustration blends into joy. Emotions get muddy, and life is confusing. Things …
I love water. It is my happy place. I’ve spent many years of my life along Lake Michigan and, later, near an ocean and other lakes. Recently, I was on a sunset cruise on a sailboat, soaking in every moment. I didn’t want to forget the smell of the water or the sound of stillness when we were adrift. One …
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:14 HCSB We were sitting in a Bible study with five other couples. Part of our study that day led us to a time of confession and repentance of sinful behavior we were holding onto that might be keeping us at arm’s length …
“I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the Lord.” Jonah 2:9 HCSB Have you ever been told to do something and chose not to do it? We are all guilty of willful disobedience. I learned this very well when I taught 4-year-old children in a preschool. When …
“Lord, God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this.” Ezra 9:15 HSCB A remnant of Israelites had been allowed to return to Jerusalem after long captivity in Babylon. God had called Ezra to minister to the …
In Numbers 21:4-9, the children of Israel rebelled against God and were punished for their sins by being bitten by fiery serpents. Many people died. Moses interceded on behalf of the people, and God provided a remedy, salvation, for them. He told Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it up for everyone to see. If they looked up …
