Archive for August 2019

As you might expect millions of Floridians are in the final stages of preparing for Dorian, that is still undetermined as to where it’s going or when it will make landfall – if at all.  Lines everywhere waiting for gas, water, batteries, non-perishables, propane – you name it and there’s a line for it. It’s…

2 Peter 3: 11, 12a  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. Our mind set as the “day of the Lord” approaches and its sooner rather than later – hopefully; ought to…

2 Samuel 1: 19, 25, 27 “How the mighty have fallen!” The church is being overwhelmed in many circles over the alleged failings of those of high profile ministries.  The responses are varied, from the authentically grieved to anger and rage.  Reading David’s “Song of the Bow” in the later part of 2 Samuel 1,…

Matt. 6:10   Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. The model prayer Jesus gave to the disciples and listeners in the Sermon on the Mount includes petitioning the Father’s Kingdom to come and be expressed on earth as it is in heaven.  Jesus referred to the Kingdom in two…

Psalms 51:12  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. What is “restored joy”?  To restore something means to refurbish or renew something back to its original status, in this instance we’re speaking of joy!  To have restored joy would mean our joy is renewed to the original joy…

Christians are the number target of persecution at a global level, taking on different forms depending on the region of the world we live in.  For some it means their lives are threatened every day, losing their heads for the sake of Christ.  For others it takes on the form of political, economic or social…

1 Peter 2: 8   They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. Peter writes that Israel nationally tripped on the “stone” and “rock”, the “chief cornerstone” Jesus Christ. Many didn’t believe He was Messiah, even though they had the entire Torah, books of poetry, psalm, history and prophecy that pointed…

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Hopelessness is pandemic, few have hope that their circumstances or situations will ever change or be different.  Yet for…

James 2:13b Mercy triumphs over judgment. Many times I find myself confronted with two polar opposite opportunities in the context of relationships; either to be judgmental or to be merciful.  One alienates the other restores! Sometimes we are called to side with judgment, but for me too often the action is premature and prompted by…

Coming up short can be embarrassing and humiliating, especially in public.  Why does it seem so awkward in those settings?  The writer of Hebrews addresses a similar spiritual situation and admonished the believers to not “fall short of the grace of God”. Heb. 12:15  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God;…