“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him” (Lamentations 3:22-24 KJV). Probably no preacher or prophet has been given such a heart-rending job as
Author: Gary Combs
Ever heard of “cardio-sclerosis?”
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). The Greek word for “harden” is skleros. This word is found in the name used for a condition commonly called “hardening of the arteries,” or arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is a condition where arteries become thick, blocked and inelastic as a result of a
Amazing Grace
“That in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7 NIV). It is said that the most recognized song in the English speaking world is John Newton’s “Amazing Grace.” First published in 1779, it has been a standard for not
Just As I Am
“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37 NIV). I love singing the new contemporary worship songs at our church, but whenever I get alone with God those aren’t the songs that fill my mind. In my times of private devotion it’s those old hymns that begin to ring in my head. On
Fishing, Doc Watson and an Olds 442
“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken… Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.’ So they
What belongs to you?
“He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat” (Luke 5:3 NIV). I starting loving boats and motorcycles at a very early age. To me, they represented more than transportation. They were shortcuts
The problem with outfield
“Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” (Luke 5:5 NIV) I have always loved baseball, but I never really enjoyed playing outfield. The action in outfield was just too intermittent and I have always been a kinetic personality. My mother used to
From house to house
“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 5:42 NIV). The first house my wife and I lived in was on wheels. Convinced that we should be owners and not renters, we bought a 12×55 mobile
Staying focused when the heat is on
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the
Freedom isn’t free
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1 NIV). The older I get the more I love history. I guess you have to have a little history of your own before you learn to appreciate