“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) Ah to be alive. I wonder how it felt for the ladies saw two angels at the empty tomb of Jesus. “He is not here, he is risen!” Those famous phrases said at Easter time throughout the church ring in [...]

“So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. Finally, he said to his disciples, ‘Let’s go back to Judea.’” (John 11:5-7). I wonder what Jesus did those two days waiting for Lazarus to die. I wonder if He cared or knew the impact it would [...]

“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care” (Isaiah 53:3). I wonder how many times in the Old Testament it said Israel did not listen. The words “stubborn” or “hard hearted” people [...]

“He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’” (Matthew 26:38). Whether it’s a best friend I know I won’t see for a week or so, a family member I no longer live with, or a significant other, I hate saying goodbye. Jesus [...]

“But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:62). One of the best motivators to get up and move is found in Luke 9:62. Jesus said the reason why no one who serves two masters is because you [...]

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord’” (Jeremiah 17:5). No one wants to read “cursed” verses. They’re scattered throughout the Old Testament and…if we’re honest…we only remember the “blessed” ones. For instance, just [...]

“Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting?” (Isaiah 28:24). Did you know that it takes three years to harvest a crop? Seed time and harvest take time. Much time. No wonder we have the famous verses, “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts [...]

“But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites” (Joshua 7:1a). Sometimes, God opens doors and moves us out because there’s sin in the camp. Believe it or not, the choices [...]

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19). It’s funny how God prepares the mind and heart for change. Sometimes we expect it, and others it’s impossible [...]

“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” (Proverbs 29:18). I love that we serve a God who gives wonderful and even perfect gifts (James 1:17). He enables us to serve others in different ways through teaching, creating, and encouraging (1 Corinthians 12:12-28). No matter what [...]