Devotionals
Observations on the first Christmas
The Wise Men The wise men saw the light. The scripture records that the wise men saw the star and they followed it. As long as they kept their focus on the star, they would reach their destination. The same is true with us: As long as we keep our focus on the Light, we…
Read MoreI was hungry . . .
“I was spiritually hungry, and you gave me the Word. I was thirty, and you led me to the wellsprings of salvation. I was a stranger living outside of His mercy, and you brought me into the family of God …”
Read MoreMemorable Quotes
Some quotes from my personal journal: “Don’t park when God is calling you forward … People who are married to the past cannot embrace the future.” “Copying spiritual trends is just a form of carnality.” “Forgiveness liberates the soul and removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.” . . .
Read MoreAsleep in the Light
Though written in the 70’s, this song by Keith Green speaks boldly and truthfully to the church today. My prayer today is that the Spirit of God awakens His church from its slumber, that we begin to seek Him diligently and urgently and walk in the power He has provided through His Holy Spirit to turn this world upside down for Jesus Christ, for His glory alone!
Read MoreThe valley of the shadow
A dear friend of mine understands loss. When I met her years ago, her teenage son had been killed by a drunk driver. A month after his death, her husband informed her that he was leaving. This humble servant of the Lord was crushed by these tragedies but held on to her faith. I just spoke to my friend. She said these words to me …
Read MoreDo you know the origins of Valentine’s Day?
Do you know the origins of Valentine’s Day? Valentine was a priest in Rome in the third century. During his time, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families. The emperor outlawed marriage for young men to preserve his potential crop of soldiers. Realizing the injustice of the decree, Valentine defied Emperor Claudius and continued to perform marriages of young lovers in secret …
Read MoreToo Good for This World
I have just watched two videos of a house church in Vietnam, taken a few moments after hired government “thugs” broke into the church and attacked the pastor, leaders and church members simply because they worship Jesus. The video is shocking, emotional and heart-breaking. Blood drips from head wounds. Others cannot walk because of their beatings. One is unconscious. Some lie bleeding with their heads resting on Bibles. I wept as I watched it…
Read MoreThe Father’s Heart
God cares about the lost. It is estimated that 80,000 people die every day without Christ. That’s 55 people every 60 seconds! How much time to we invest in non-eternal things while so many in the world still do not know about Christ’s saving love? Do you pray for them? Jesus does! Do we seek them? Jesus does!
Read MoreThe Loving Father and His Two Sons
The Father of the Prodigal in Luke 15 said that the oldest son with with him every day. That leads me to this question: How can you be in the Father’s presence and not have the Father’s heart?
Read MoreThe Prudent Woman and the Lost Coin
What we have is not enough! To grow content and satisfied with what we have in Christ and not hunger and thirst for more is defeat! The prudent woman was not content to say, “Well, I still have nine!” No! She had to search for the one that was lost! Look how the woman searched for the lost coin! She lit and lamp and searched through the entire house, moving every piece of furniture, looking in every closet and every corner, behind the bookcases and under the beds until she found the coin that was lost. That’s how Jesus searched for us, diligently, lovingly, purposefully, mercifully searching and searching until He found us. That’s how we should search for others!
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