“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” (Luke 1:13) “I don’t believe you.” “This can’t possibly be...
Courage
Giving Out
“And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty according to the Word of the LORD that he spoke...
Gladness
“But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!” (Psalm 68:3) Possibly this might not be the time for gladness. Fear has sunk its fangs deep; malaise has...
Peace Treaty
“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 Christ arrived on planet earth with...
Tiptoe
“But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.” (Psalm 69:13) I pause at the ocean’s edge of...
Apart
“She has done a beautiful thing to me.” (Mark 14:6) The woman has no name. The man’s name is infamous for all the worst reasons. Their...
Out of Darkness
“Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” (Mark 10:49) How long did you know, Bartimaeus, of darkness your closest ally?Dressed as you were in mean poverty, limitations restricting all...
Faultless
“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!” (I Samuel 25:32) How would you respond if an army was charging toward your home to destroy everyone you held dear? What would...
Ends of the Earth
“A devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.” (Acts 10:2) Prayer is a mystery, deep and wide and way beyond us all. We attempt...
Hope Surge
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) We hear reports from...
Right By Our Side
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:38 Do Something Quick We sound just like that boatload of wet, weary disciples whenever self-pity takes up residence, and fear moves in as our...
Distinctive Sound Heard
“For what thanksgiving can we return to God, for all the joy we feel for your sake before our God.” (I Thessalonians 3:9) “For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you…” (I...