"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (Jas 1:2-4, NKJV) I sprained my big toe last...
I can tell you from firsthand experience that cleaning up after animals isn’t the most pleasant job in the world. When my boys were young, we all wanted to learn to ride. Horseback riding is expensive, however, so when we began taking riding lessons, we also began...
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26) "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us." (Psalm 67:1) What a...
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15) I am sitting in my favorite chair, looking across the family room at the gifts that are already under the Christmas tree. It is true that my cat has already tried to unwrap them, and many are now...
In the third part of our series on the subject of suffering of Christ and Christians, let's reflect on two more themes ... Refining Since the ultimate purpose of our call is to be moulded into a Christ-like image (2 Cor 3:18), suffering plays the role of a refiner...
Last week, in The Grass is Always Greener, Part 2, we saw that we need to search our lives for any areas where we've subscribed to the "Greener Grass" mentality and renounce these in the name of Jesus. We must then spend time looking for the many blessings God has put...
"And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said." Luke 24:36 This past spring when our lone gardenia bush was in glorious full bloom I was so enjoyed seeing it each day. Mornings I would cut a...
The following Scriptural Nugget is the first in a mini-series based on John 11. "Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he...
The following devotional is the first in a short series focusing on Daniel 2: Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the great statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay. "So the decree was issue d to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his...
The following Scriptural Nugget is the second in a mini-series based on John 11. "When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.'" (John 11:4-5) Jesus, in Galilee, has...