"Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." Jonah 1:17
Think back to your wedding day for a moment. If you’re not married, dream ahead with me. Picture what it was like or what it would be like to have your sister or maid of honor fixing your hair and giggling with you in the dressing room. Picture yourself walking down the aisle,..."Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills." Habakkuk 3:17-19 njkv
“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart… down in my heart to stay!” Remember how much fun it was to sing this song as a kid? Or, to hear your own children sing it? Whenever I hear it, I just can’t help but smiling and forgetting about my present situation. Today, I am reminded that..."Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3
The verse for today is part of a prayer that Jesus prayed to God the Father after His last supper with His disciples. Moments prior to His arrest, we see Jesus in the garden, praying for us…praying for you! His primary concern was that we would know that He is the way to eternal life! Oh, what..."Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Do you ever come home to a house that is in total chaos and wonder whether intruders came into your home? Have you wondered if your family has completely forgotten any civilized way of living that you may have taught them? Maybe you’ve asked yourself, “Does anyone around this house get it? Does..."For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver." Psalms 66:10
The Refiner’s fire is necessary to remove the impurities and produce a renewed strength and elegance in us (Psalms 66:10). But fire equals pain. And pain hurts. Sometimes it hurts so badly we miss what’s waiting for us on the other side of the sorrow, heartache, and unhappiness. Instead, we walk..."... be prepared in season and out of season" 2 Timothy 4:2
Seasons change. Sometimes, our skies are blue, the birds sing, the sun warms our spirits, and we are filled with such joy that we nearly bust from the sheer blessing of being alive. Those times can quickly fade though, and we are often left with chilling pain and questions about today or..."Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And [the Lord] said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here." - Exodus 33:13- 15
I love this dialogue! Moses says to the Lord, “show me Your way,” not “look at my way, this is the way I want to go.” In fact, he continues by telling the Lord, “if You do not go with us, I want no part of it. I only want to be where you are.” So many times, prayers are offered asking God to bless..."A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp." 1 Samuel 17:4
What discourages you? What keeps you from being all that you can be? Think about that for a moment. Now ask yourself, “Have I made agreements with my discouragements?” “Have I given up, listened to their lies, and allowed them to ruin my joy and defeat me?” Most describe Goliath as a man of..."Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:13
I love the holidays – especially Christmas – spending time with family and friends. It’s so much fun to get together with those you love. Laughing…Sharing…The warmth of the fire place. But the real blessing comes when you are able to give to someone who’s in need. When you do, you are the..."... Acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you..." 1 Chronicles 28:9
I know I’m getting older now but most of you can probably hum with me a few lines from the hit song in Grease called Hopelessly Devoted: “Hold on to the end, that’s what I intend to do…I’m hopelessly devoted to you.” Ah, love songs. One love-stricken person pouring out his or her heart to another...."Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." Psalm 23:4
Loss is a part of life. In a way, we must learn how to become “winners” at the fine art of “losing” to make it through. We must find a way to face losses, grieve, and continue living. Sounds like a really sad formula doesn’t it? But it’s the reality of life. That’s why I believe God carefully...“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Male, Female, Young, Old, Tall, Short, Famous, Common…just to name a few. For some, their hero may be a family member or friend. For others, their hero is a celebrity or a famous athlete. In the military, the Purple Heart is given when a soldier completes an...
