Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 Did you have a…

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21 One of my most treasured memories of grade school was participating in the Christmas Pageant. One year, I got to sing We Three Kings with my two best friends. Oh, how fun it was to sing in front of the whole congregation on Christmas Eve! I remember feeling excitement and joy as I burst into song, making melody with my friends. After consulting the…

Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him. Mark 1:12-13 (CSB) I have struggled to find ways to quiet my mind and find solitude with Christ. I am not just talking about a regular quiet time with the Lord, but that also can be a struggle. What I am talking about is those moments throughout the day when my mind has wandered off into a frenzy of disillusion. The other day, I had taken a particularly rough call at work. Emotions were high on both of our…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9 Self-doubt, defined as a lack of…

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Have you recently had a change of seasons in your life? Perhaps, like me, an empty nest is on the horizon. Death or divorce has recently thrown some of you into a new season of life. Maybe you just finished a season of education and have now been tossed into the workforce for the first time. Or perhaps you have made a significant career change. Some of you may find yourself relocated to a new state or type of home life. The one thing I know remains constant in life is that change…

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who were God’s possession – to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13b-14 I remember watching a movie once, where the beneficiaries of somebody’s estate were all called into a room together for the reading of the will. Some of the people were mourning and crying, and some were fidgeting, unsure of what was to come. All were curious as to what their inheritance would be. In Ephesians, we read the letter from Paul to the church at Ephesus, and the opening part…

“Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will pass over it and will rescue it.” Isaiah 31:5 Have you ever gotten yourself into a pickle and needed rescuing? Has God’s protection over you ever surprised you? Maybe a time where you were ready to take what you deserved, but God’s grace rescued you instead? Jonah is rescued with grace. In the story of Jonah and the whale, we hear about a prophet who gets himself into a situation he cannot get out of without God’s help. Jonah’s disobedience is what landed him in the belly of a giant fish…

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17 How do we share in the sufferings of Christ? Perhaps it is in our pain that we can fully know the miracle of God’s love. It is in our longing for relief, where we become united to God in an intimate posture, making us most known to ourselves. To know oneself, to truly see the humanness the One who makes all things whole created in us, is to begin to share in the glory of Christ. I…

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 How many of you are choosing a Word of the Year? I have been choosing a word of the year for over a decade!  Although my year runs August-May, as a school year, the concept is the same. Choosing a word of the year helps set your intention and provides a direction for how you want your year to flow. Your word of the year can become…