THE GENEROUS AND REFRESHING LIFE OF THE OPEN HAND God’s Word promises that the one who is generous will be made rich. The promise is further illustrated by the phrase, “he who waters will also be watered himself.” Perhaps Solomon was sitting near the Jordan River when he wrote this proverb. As the snow melted
HE TOUCHED ME A man with leprosy fell on his face before Jesus saying, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.” And the Lord, who could’ve healed him from a distance, came near and touched the leper and said, “I am willing; be healed.” Jesus was not only willing to heal the
GOING DEEPER WITH JESUS After Peter had fished all night, catching nothing, Jesus came to him, asking to use his boat. He needed it as a speaking platform to teach the crowds gathered there to hear Him. When He finished speaking, He told Peter to put the boat out into deep water and let down
FAMILIARITY IS NOT FAITH In the town of Nazareth, where Jesus had grown up, he returned from his forty days in the wilderness to begin his public ministry. He attended the local synagogue and chose the passage from the Isaiah scroll that spoke of the anointed one or Messiah who would come. Having read this
LEARNING TO WAIT QUIETLY BEFORE GOD David learned to wait quietly before God. He understood that his victory, his success, would not come from human wisdom nor strength, but from the Lord. Therefore, he trusted God for his reward. Much of our worry and anxiety comes from our inability to control results and outcomes.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF LOVE AND JOY Consider the boundless love and unconquerable joy of God the Father for His Son, Jesus. Notice how the curtains of heaven were parted as the Father’s voice declared His divine approval at Christ’s baptism. Such love and joy is the eternal state of the Godhead. It was this love
HOW LONG BEFORE MISSING JESUS? Twelve year old Jesus traveled with his family to Jerusalem for the Passover festival as they did every year. They traveled with a large entourage of friends and family from Nazareth. It was a wonderfully joyous annual holiday. Yet, after traveling a day’s journey on the way back home, they
WISE LEADERSHIP SEEKS AND FOLLOWS WISE COUNSEL Just as it’s important for a nation to have “wise leadership,” so it is important for the individual and the family. This proverb gives a key principle in leadership, namely, seek wisdom from many counselors before making a decision. It has been said that those who don’t
A FATHER BLESSES HIS SON When it came time for John the Baptist to be born, his mute father opened his mouth and prophesied over him. Zechariah had been mute since the angel Gabriel had told him that his barren wife would soon have a son in her old age. He made him mute both
THE SYMBOL OF OUR SIN AND SUFFERING This is one of the more bizarre stories in the Bible. The Israelites were once again grumbling against God and Moses because of the lack of water and variety of food in the wilderness, so God sent poisonous snakes among them. God hates grumbling. Grumbling is the