“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30, ESV) Powerful words, but what do they mean? The religious leaders and angry crowd were probably thinking, “Good riddance; it’s finished!” Satan was probably thinking, “I win. He’s finished.” The disciples...
This coming week is the most important week in human history. It marks the end of Jesus’s earthly ministry and the ushering in of God’s redemptive grace through the cross. As Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, he was greeted by great crowds of people waving their palm branches and shouting out, “Hosanna! Blessed is...
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJ) When we accept Jesus and His sacrifice, ALL our sins are forgiven. This was a sticking point for me for a long time. Contemplating the mountain of...
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 In 1 Timothy 4:12 it seems to imply that there were some fellow believers that disqualified Timothy because of his youth. Qualified means to be entitled to a particular...
Bedtime routines in any home with children can feel like an adventure—or a battlefield. Parents know all too well the delicate negotiations, the last-minute thirst emergencies, and, of course, the bedtime privileges that turn into debates. In our house, one of the biggest nighttime debates is over who gets to pick the short movie before...
A certain man was sitting on the shoreline looking out over the ocean and he noticed a fleet of fishing boats drifting by and casting out their nets. As he was watching he noticed that at a given time the men began to pull in the nets and bringing on board fish of all kind....
As Christians, we are seen as sinless before God. Pure. Okay, we have a hard time seeing us like that (though we often come across as thinking we’re perfect) but if we really think about it we know we are sinners. If only we could see ourselves as well as others as God sees us....
Thus says the Lord: “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself…” (2 Samuel 24:12) Decision making is not my forte. Even simple selections, like complimentary colors or enticing desserts, leave me unsettled. So, I get both! Who’s with me? But life isn’t all shopping and dining, is it? We find out just...
Every year, our church has the privilege and opportunity to be one of the hosts of a truly special event called Night to Shine. Night to Shine is a worldwide movement, led by churches, that shares the love of Jesus and celebrates the worth and value of people with special needs. It is a prom held...
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, [18] yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful...
