Articles

Compassionate and Gracious
Pastor Cindy Grieb

Weathering the Storm

By |Categories: Articles, John, Mark, Psalms|Tags: |

In the Gospels, we read of the day when Jesus calmed a fierce storm (Matt. 8:23-27, Mark 4:36-41, Luke 8:22-25). On this occasion, Jesus and the disciples were sailing from Capernaum, situated on the northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee, toward the land of the Geresenes in the southeast – a distance of about 11 or 12 miles. As they sailed, Jesus laid down on a cushion in the stern of the boat and [...]

A Humble God

By |Categories: Articles, Isaiah, Matthew, Psalms, Series: Nature of God|Tags: , |

Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. (Psalm 138:6 NLT) Did you ever wonder why God favors those who are humble? Both James and Peter are referring to this verse in the Psalms when they write, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6, 1Peter 5:5) Does God get satisfaction from seeing people tremble in fear at His [...]

Favorite Carols: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

By |Categories: Articles, Series: Advent|Tags: |

One of the things I love about the Christmas season is the music, especially the old traditional Christmas carols. Many of them date back to the 19th century, but some date to the 17th and 18th centuries or are set to music that is much older. One of my favorites is O Come, O Come Emmanuel. According to C. Michael Hawn, its origins can be traced to an 8th or 9th century Latin antiphon. An [...]

Counting Down the Days

By |Categories: Articles, Series: Advent|Tags: |

When I was a child, we had an Advent Calendar that my Mom had made. It was made of red felt with white felt numbers to count the days and little ribbons under each number where she would tie Brach’s Christmas Nougat candies. My sisters and I looked forward each evening to taking one more candy off and seeing Christmas get one day closer. I don’t know about you, but for me, the Advent calendar [...]

The Grace of God

By |Categories: 2 Corinthians, Articles, Hebrews, Matthew, Series: Nature of God|Tags: , |

Have you ever felt like you didn’t deserve God’s grace? Well, that’s kind of the point. Grace is not something you deserve. In fact, the whole point of grace is that it blesses you with goodness and kindness that you do not deserve and have not earned. It is integral to the nature of God to be gracious. By His grace, God showers His people with mercy and compassion and lovingkindness. In fact, He bestows [...]

God is Good

By |Categories: 1 Chronicles, Articles, Hebrews, James, Psalms, Romans, Series: Nature of God|Tags: |

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. (1 Chronicles 16:34) Where does one begin to declare the goodness of the Lord God? Can you imagine pure goodness, untainted by selfishness or evil in even the slightest degree? Can you imagine a God who is wholly good in all that He does, in His every plan and purpose, in every motivation of His heart, in every gift that [...]

A Forgiving God

By |Categories: 1 John, Articles, Featured, Psalms, Series: Nature of God|Tags: , |

Oh, what a glorious thing to be forgiven! To no longer carry the guilt of your sins! God’s willingness to forgive all who come to Him in true humility and repentance is an amazing thing. But I have found that the forgiveness of God is often misunderstood. On the one hand, there is nothing you or I can do to earn forgiveness from God. We receive God’s forgiveness based on what Jesus did on our [...]

God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

By |Categories: Articles, Deuteronomy, Ephesians, Genesis, Series: Nature of God|Tags: |

The three-in-one or trinitarian nature of God is perhaps one of the most difficult concepts to grasp when we contemplate the nature of God. But when we begin to understand this very foundational facet of His nature, we also gain insights into our relationship with Him and with one other. I have found that the trinitarian nature of God explains the why of many things. What do we mean by the Trinity? Sometimes people seem [...]

Easter Series: The Rest of the Story

By |Categories: Acts, Articles, John, Series: Easter|Tags: , , |

I love the words of the angels to the disciples after Jesus ascended into heaven. After instructing them to remain together in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit, Jesus simply arose from the earth and disappeared into a cloud. From out of nowhere, two angels suddenly stood beside the disciples, saying, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, [...]

Easter Series: He is Risen!

By |Categories: 1 Corinthians, Articles, Luke, Matthew, Series: Easter|Tags: , , |

There’s a difference between knowing… and knowing. The disciples knew that Jesus was going to be raised up on the third day. He had told them so. He had explained it in so many words. But they just didn’t get it. Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. [...]

Easter Series: Jesus at the Cross

By |Categories: Articles, John, Luke, Matthew, Series: Easter|Tags: , , |

It began with the scourging. The Romans were experts at devising torture. A scourge was not just a whip; it was designed to dig into and tear up the flesh. The scourging Jesus received was so severe that He was unable to carry His own cross to His execution (Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26). And crucifixion was more than just a public execution. It wasn’t relatively quick like a hanging or beheading or lethal injection. Crucifixion [...]

Easter Series: On the Night He Was Betrayed

By |Categories: 1 Peter, Articles, Hebrews, John, Matthew, Series: Easter|Tags: , , |

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus knew full well what He was about to suffer. As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to [...]

Go to Top