Archive - March 2016

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 I’ll never forget the first time I heard this incredible story that I would like to share with you written by Pastor David Foster in his book entitled A Renegade’s Guide to God. It illustrates perfectly the riches that we have received through Christ. WHOEVER TAKES THE SON GETS IT ALL There once was a fabulously wealthy man who loved his son above all things. To stay close to his son,[…]

Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Luke 18:42 In Luke 18 and Mark 10, we see the account of a man called, “blind Bartimaeus.” From just his name alone we see that he was known to everyone by the condition of his life. He was known as “blind” and the word “Bar” in Bartimaeus means “the son of Timaeus,” so he was actually referred to as the “Blind son of Tamaeus.” He had probably been blind from birth and would sit at the entrance of the city begging for money as multitudes[…]

So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12 There’s something about the beginning of a new year, or a birthday that can cause you to self evaluate. Having just celebrated a birthday, I found myself thinking about my life thus far. Because I’ve been learning not to be too hard on myself or others, but instead seeing things through the eyes of His grace, the thought came to me, “How does He see my life thus far?” I can remember for so many years not feeling like I quite measured up[…]

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12 In Acts chapter three we find the remarkable account of the first recorded miracle after the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Day of Pentecost. Peter and John passed a man on their way to the temple to pray. This man, being a lame beggar, asked them for money. Notice how Peter responded in Acts 3:6, Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I[…]

But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NLT) Some time ago, while reading Acts chapter three and the account of Peter and John bringing healing to the man at the Temple Gate, something jumped out at me that I had never noticed before. Look at this account with me in Acts 3:1-7 says, “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame[…]

Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34 When the angels announced the birth of the Christ (the anointed One) they did not go to the palaces of kings, nor the homes of the social elite, but they went first to a hillside where a group of shepherds were “tending their flocks by night.” And, as we know, there where also three very wise and wealthy men from a far off country that “saw the star” and proceeded to find the Christ Child to worship Him. But,[…]

“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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 In Genesis Chapter 22, Abraham is asked to do something that is beyond imagination. Genesis 22:2 says, “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I[…]

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 As we see in Genesis Chapter 22, after God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son in order to “prove” him, Abraham responds by rising early the next morning and heading out in the direction of Moriah. After a three day journey Abraham sees the mountain God wants this sacrifice to take place. What happens next is remarkable to me. In verse five of Genesis twenty-two, Abraham says, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder[…]

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 17:8 My wife, Karen, and I have been blessed with four children. I was enter-acting with our nine year old daughter yesterday morning when the thought came to me, “I love her so much, can I have more than one favorite?” I love all four of them so much and yet the love for each one is so specific and special, they all feel like my favorite. Just a few minutes later, while I was doing something else, I sensed Him say to[…]

“Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 As Abraham and Isaac were headed “yonder” to worship, there were three things they brought with them on their journey. As we see in Genesis 22:6 they brought the wood, the knife and the fire. What’s interesting to me about these three components is that while Abraham certainly felt it necessary to bring a knife and fire, why would he bring his own wood? Having been to Israel I know that there are trees in[…]