A Place of RefugeEven the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Psalm 84:3-4...
This week, we will complete our study on the Miracles of Jesus, looking at the story Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, were dear friends of Jesus, and his response to their call for help and his interactions with them as...
If you think about it, we make a lot of choices and decisions based on assumptions. We assume we know what someone meant; that we have all the information; that we know the outcome. The problem is that our assumptions often turn out to be completely wrong and this can...
This week we will continue our study on the miracles of Jesus, looking at a story where Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy. This takes place right after he has come down from the Mountain where He was transfigured and His glory was revealed to three of His disciples....
Some problems in life are so big they are overwhelming. At the beginning of the book of Nehemiah, the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins. The people living there had grown accustomed and indifferent to the ruin around them, but Nehemiah’s heart was broken by it. He was...
This week we’ll continue our study of the Miracles of Jesus by investigating a miracle Jesus performed demonstrating his ability to meet our deepest need, the forgiveness of our sin. Through the healing of a paralytic brought to Jesus by his friends, we see that while...
It’s not unusual to find people paralyzed by doubt. But with God’s help we can go beyond where we are to where we could be. And that means our doubt can get replaced with confidence and faith. Nehemiah led the people of Jerusalem in a rebuilding project that was met...
It’s usually a good sign when we’re reaching for things that require God’s help. If we could make progress without God, then maybe we should reconsider the goal. The story of Nehemiah and the Jewish people is one of remarkable accomplishment. It all began with an...
Invitation To A FeastIn Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven's Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. Isaiah 25:6 (NLT)Ilove breakfast food. Pancakes dripping with...
This week we’ll continue our study of the Miracles of Jesus by investigating a miracle Jesus performed demonstrating his power over nature. Jesus’ miracles over nature reveal our vulnerabilities and needs, and prove to us that he is able to overcome them. In our...
This week we’ll continue our study of the Miracles of Jesus by investigating a healing miracle in which Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath. In this week’s lesson we’ll be considering not only what Jesus did, a miracle of healing, but also when He did it, on the...
Life is busy and people are tired. Our days are filled with what seems like a never-ending list of activities and obligations. The hectic nature of life makes us long for rest. This is just what Jesus promises to those who will come to him. He offers rest to those who...
Time For A Vision CheckFor he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:9 (ESV)SNAP! I looked down in dismay as my almost two-year-old offered back to me my only pair of eyeglasses-in two...
This week we’ll begin our study by looking at Jesus very first miracle at the Wedding at Cana. We’ll look at what He did – a miracle of creation – and think about why He did it and what it meant to those he was serving. We’ll also discuss what that means for us as we...
Relationships can get strained and twisted and even broken. But a wrecked relationship is ripe for reconciliation. A reconciling community is one that creates an environment that anticipates reconnection and healing—the expectation that things can be put back right....
Relationships can get strained and twisted and even broken. But a wrecked relationship is ripe for reconciliation. A reconciling community is one that creates an environment that anticipates reconnection and healing—the expectation that things can be put back right....
Show Up and Give Love I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.John 16:33 ...and they all lived happily ever after. The End. We are all familiar with these words,...
Each morning, we wake up believing a story about the lives we lead. Hope is essential to our lives. Many people struggle through life trying to manufacture hope. For believers, hope is a gift that is received. The gospel is a story that brings hope to everyone and...
God loves us all. And He has made forgiveness and eternal life available to anyone who believes in Jesus! No one is excluded from this opportunity. But many people in the world don’t know this. And God has given His Church the privilege of taking part in sharing this...
Praying the Lord's WillThis is the confidence we have before Him, that,if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14 (NLT)We have a beloved four-legged family member named Avalanche. During a thunderstorm, he will either stick by my side or jump...
It has always been the mission of the church to grow. Jesus told His disciples that they were to go the ends of the earth making disciples and inviting people to become part of the community of faith. This is an incredible calling, but it is also challenging. Growing...