“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52 NIV84). For many years I have made it a habit to spend the last week of the year in prayer, meditation and Scripture study. I call it my annual study break. It’s also a time to evaluate how I
Year: 2012
Love Came Down At Christmas
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9 ESV). My wife, the mother of my children and grandmother of my children’s children, has begun her annual ritual of converting our kitchen into a
Christian hope and the Mayan calendar
“’The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’” (Lamentations 3:24 ESV). “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man”
Whatever happened to peace on earth?
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14 KJV). “’Peace, peace’ they say, when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 8:11 NIV). Some 20 centuries ago the angel announced to the shepherds the birth of the Christ child in the city of Bethlehem and the inauguration of peace
What’s so “Merry” about Christmas?
“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:10-11 ESV). Do you ever wonder why we say “Merry Christmas?”
No more empty seats at the table
“’O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the
You can’t say “Thanks” without “Giving!”
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4 ESV). You can’t say “thanks” without “giving.” The two go together. Yet many Americans have forgotten this secret to a thriving life of giving and gratitude. The result is a grumbling and greedy society that is growing
Are you like the chicken or the pig?
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV84). Have you heard the story about the trip that the chicken and pig took together? No? Well… …Once upon a time, a chicken and a pig took a trip together. And
Will we leave them as orphans?
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” (John 14:18-20 ESV). This Sunday we will
Seeking the peace and prosperity of our city
“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘… Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you