Have you ever really thought about God being your stronghold? So, what is a stronghold? Oxford Dictionary indicates that it is a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack. Similarly, it is a fortress, fort, castle, citadel, garrison or bunker. The Dictionary goes on to say it is a place where a […]
This past Monday, our nation was shaken by the insane killing of three 9-year-old children and three adults at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. For me and my family, it was/is especially devastating. One of the children is the daughter of the senior pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church. We know him well and are […]
Seventy-two of the disciples had just come back from a Christ-ordained, Spirit-led mission trip. They were overwhelmed with what they saw being done through them. Maybe you have been on one, or several, even many mission trips around the world, or even in our country, and experienced the same kind of joy and amazement as […]
I invite you to read this Psalm in total. Why is God laughing? Let’s look together. Today, it is abundantly clear what he is seeing. Nations raging Peoples plotting in vain Kings and rulers coming together against Jesus Saying, “let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us” What we are observing is nation upon […]
These were the words of a 12-year-old in Jerusalem at an annual Feast. Of course, it wasn’t just any 12-year-old, it was Jesus. He was answering his parents because he had stayed behind in the temple with the teachers of the day. After three days of travel, they were very nervous that they couldn’t find […]
Scriptures Paul began this with a reminder. He said “brothers and sisters, of the gospel that I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” You will notice in verses 3 and 4 […]
Delight Psalm 1 is so appropriate for all of the Psalms. It sets everything in the proper order, beginning with, “Blessed is the man who…” and then lists three negatives in verse 1 alone. But then he comes to verse 2 where the key word is delight. I would ask, do you delight in God’s […]
God’s covenant promise In the midst of God bringing judgment on Israel for its horrible disobedience, he always gives them the hope of his future covenant blessing. If you simply read these verses based on nature alone, you would miss God’s covenant promise. Everywhere in scripture you can find God’s prophecy and promises which are […]
Fishers of men I never was much of a fisherman, in fact, I would consider myself a poor fisherman. When you don’t ever catch anything, you soon reach this conclusion. Jesus, most likely would not have chosen me to be one of his 12 disciples as I would not have been out there in the […]
It’s all about a name As we approach the end of the Advent season and Christmas nearing, it is interesting that it is all about a name. In Matthew 1.21, the Spirit writes—and she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS. Why? For he shall save his people from their […]