July 31

“For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The stresses of everyday life pull us […]

July 30

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Last fall, I saw this verse on a sign, along with “God has plans for you.” I thought, “Boy, is that appropriate. Sure wish I knew what they […]

July 29

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Last night I was awakened at 2:00 a.m. to the sounds of my son crying. This is not an unusual occurrence these days, with new molars cutting into young gums. When my son wakes up in the middle of the night, he is usually frightened, and, […]

July 28

“If one falls down, his friend can help him up.” One of my favorite things about college is the late night chat sessions with my friends. We talk about whatever comes to mind – from the silly things to the serious things. It’s in these conversations that I realize I always have my friends to […]

July 27

“But I tell you. Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” A healthier person than I might not ever struggle with a verse like this, but for years this verse represented the crux of my understanding of Christianity. I looked forward to […]

July 26

“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required. And from the one trusted with much, much more will be expected.” Each of us has a gift that we are called to share. God has blessed us with His love and with each other; and we are expected to share that love […]

July 25

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” How many times do we ask for our own selfish desires from God? Make deals with […]

July 24

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and they will call Him ‘Emmanuel’ – which means, God is with us.” It is often good to retrace the events of Jesus’ life and that of the Holy […]

July 22

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful; however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” One of my early church memories was with my Grandmother. She took us to a rural  Methodist church in North Florida. There wasn’t any air conditioning, just a large […]

July 20

“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” Egypt, which had been Israel’s nest for 450 years, was destroyed. Then, God’s people needed to learn how to relate to him as the eagle’s chicks needed to learn how to fly after […]