John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.I believe that sacrificing your child for the sake of others is an act of immense love, the grandest of all time. However, this is not the way God expects us to express our love. The most profound way to demonstrate love is to love God wholeheartedly, with a...

2 Corinthians 12:8-10Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians, 8) Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10) That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecution’s and troubles that I...

Matthew 7:22-2322) Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?23) Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!” (NIV)I came across a different translation of this passage (The Passion Translation) in a book I’m currently reading. It put it into words that are more relevant to today’s times. ...

1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.With the increasing time we spend in airports lately, we’ve had numerous opportunities to observe people. It’s a way to pass the time while waiting for our flights. Have yo...

Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage each other and build each other up; just as you are already doing.January, the longest and usually the coldest and darkest month of the year, marks the end of winter as the days gradually lengthen. We’re weary of the cold, runny noses, and lingering coughs. Looking out the window at the brown grass and bare trees, I can’t help but feel deflated and depressed.D...

Isaiah 41:10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.A new year, a new beginning, a chance to be better, do better, maybe make amends for things we didn’t settle this past year. Everything that lays ahead of us in the new year will be a challenge of some sort. Simply getting thr...

Colossians 3:13-1413) Make allowances for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which fosters a perfect harmony among us.Well, we’ve reached the end of another year. I’m certain some of us may have felt like we wouldn’t make it to the end, but as they say, “God wasn’t finished with...

Matthew 2:9-119) And the star they had seen in the East guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.10) When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!11) They entered the house and saw a child with his Mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh....

John 13:34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.Back in October, when I discussed the treasures of the heart, I mentioned the Fruits of the Spirit. These are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the qualities that come from the wo...

Proverbs 21:23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.I’m thinking I should write this on a Post-it notes and strategically place them around the house, such as on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, or beside my chair. This could potentially alleviate a significant amount of grief and anguish at times. However, I recognize the importance of self-control in addr...

Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.We are approaching a very stressful time of year for many people, the holidays. To add to our stress, the government decided to take a few weeks of, but thankfully, I believe that situation is finally resolved, at least for now. We all experience stress at some point...

Ephesians 4:2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love.Jesus is the ultimate role model of gentleness, he was humble and caring with people yet he would opt to suffer willingly rather than to retaliate against anger and fury.Being gentle demands a significant amount of self-control. It involves patience, concentration, and...

PSALM 130:5I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put hope in his word.Well, it’s been a challenging few months. In July, we discovered that my husband, Steve, had a malignant melanoma. He was referred to a local oncologist, and as anyone who has dealt with the medical world knows, these appointments don’t happen overnight. In the meantime, he underwent a pet scan and a brain...

Hebrews 11:6And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.The life of faith, it is said, comprises at least three essential components. Firstly, it demands a sincere approach to God, a fervent seeking of His presence. Secondly, it necessitates a firm belief in the existence of God. Las...

James 1:2-32) Dear brother and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.3) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.It’s safe to say that we’ve all faced our fair share of challenges in life, some more daunting than others. However, we’ve all persevered through those difficult times when our faith was tested ...

Matthew 6:19-20Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.We had a second home on the lake, a place where we could escape for a few days to relax and unwind, a gathering spot for the family during the summer holid...

Romans 12:21Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.It’s always God’s plan for us to release the hurt, resentment, and bitterness that stem from others’ actions. However, it can be challenging to let it go sometimes. It’s difficult to “turn the other cheek,” overlook one’s own foolishness, and be the bigger person by walking away. Some of us are naturally inclined to fight, whil...

Psalms 143:6I stretch out my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirst for rain.Last week, I discussed the questions that permeate our daily lives. They are everywhere we turn, and I suspect that many of us ask ourselves these questions every day. I certainly do. We are constantly seeking answers, seeking affirmation that we are doing things right, and trying to satisfy our i...

Matthew 7:7-87) Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you.8) For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.Ask, seek, and receive—that seems simple enough, but is it? Do you recall when you were growing up and being told that if you d...

Habakkuk 1:2-42) How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry. But you do not come to save.3) Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.4) The law has become paralyzed and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked f...