I want Christmas to be about Jesus' birthday, O' Holy Night, the second chapter of Luke, and the humble human beginnings of our Messiah and Savior. He is the gift that matters, the gift that changes everything, our gift of HOPE. Given our profit-driven shopping season, however, it can be quite a challenge to focus [...]
The first time I read Exodus, I was appalled at the complaining Israelites. God delivered them miracle by miracle, but their focus was so negative, all they could do was complain or panic. The next time I read it, I was convicted . . . I am like them. Repeatedly, God has provided for my [...]
OUR KING: You are our Creator God, the true ruler of this universe, the King of Kings. Father, please call us, your people, to humility before You. Give us ears to hear You that we may humble ourselves under your mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6). We thank you for the gift of choice you have [...]
GET RID OF FALSE BELIEFS: Have you ever been startled to realize you held a false belief? When the pediatrician told me my precious daughter had Scarlet Fever , I erupted into a rapid fire accounting of all the prescribed parenting practices I followed that would preclude such a terrifying diagnosis. Terrifying? Scarlet Fever was [...]
OLD or YOUNG? The 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes tells us that King Solomon was well acquainted with physical decline. Jesus was still a young man when he gave his Upper Room Discourse, but he too was facing [...]
Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. Then God’s SHALOM, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Messiah Yeshua. In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or [...]
Following a disaster or critical incident, medical and mental health professionals typically do triage by making observations and asking questions referred to as a MENTAL STATUS EXAM. The usual questions are: (1) What is your name? (2) What is the date or time? Or Who is the president? (3) Where are you? (4) What just [...]
Have you noticed how often we Christians adopt our culture’s despair over aging? To verify the reality of ageism, go shopping for a birthday card! God’s viewpoint is strangely different. Scripture refers to LONG LIFE as a reward, a gift, and a blessing. To prompt our thankfulness as the birthdays accumulate, I’ve identified 26 blessings [...]
