Sometimes in life, we need to stop what we are doing and walk away. This is not because we are doing something wrong. Nor is it because we are bored with what we are doing. It is for rest—a time to lay down in green pastures and allow God to refresh your soul. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:1-3 I have heard the gentle whisper of God inviting me to a place and a time of rest. As I reflect upon the past four years of writing this blog, I see…

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. Mark 5:25-29 After several days in the hospital and weeks in recovery, we are glad my husband had survived the Covid-19 virus. However,…

But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:4 (NIV) We left off in chapter 3 as God relented and pulled back His judgment against Nineveh. Let’s now look at the last chapter of Jonah. Jonah is about to go pout. God’s grace did not sit well with Jonah. His opening words to the Lord are an exasperated cry, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?” I would think for a preacher, having the people listen, take the Word of the Lord to heart, and change would provide job security. Why was Jonah so angry? Jonah knows God, and he is…

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:  “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Jonah 3:1-3a (NIV) The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time and Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh. Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown God’s message to the people is bleak. Time is coming down to the wire; they only have 40 days until they will be overthrown. By overthrown, I don’t mean they might lose a coin toss or be defeated in a short battle. No, they face extinction. The…

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. Jonah 1:17-2:1 In the second chapter of Jonah, which you can read HERE, we find Jonah drowning in a sea of shame. Here are three things I note in the first few verses for today: The Lord provides for us. Jonah was not saved from death by some random fish. No, “the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah.” God’s timing is perfect. Why three days? My guess is that is how long it took for Jonah to get…

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Jonah 1:3 (NIV) Today we start a 4 week devotional series on Jonah by looking at Jonah Chapter One, which you can read HERE. (Did you know that there are only 48 verses in the whole book of Jonah?) The year was 1977, I was 14, and the Movie was Star Wars. I did not see very much of the movie that night. My friend Carol and I had…

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. Matthew 5:1-2 Authenticity is vital to your spiritual life. As a Christian writer and blogger, it has been one of my chief virtues to keep in mind as I write. I pray I would never write a word of advice, direction, or encouragement to you I have not applied to my own walk with the Lord. To me, authenticity as a Christian means consistently becoming more like Jesus. It does not mean pretending to be perfect. Instead, I strive to be the real deal…

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12 Have you ever felt like the enemy was breathing down the back of your neck? Heard the warning signal indicating danger is ahead? Perhaps you have become fearful in these moments. Or maybe you became prideful and tried to take on the enemy by yourself. I have reacted in both manners, fearfully and pridefully. But God has shown me faithfulness, repeatedly, when I have put my faith in Him alone. In our verse today the Israelites are about to face one of…