The following is adapted from a talk given at a ladies luncheon, May 2022. A couple of months ago I was invited to speak at this luncheon on the topic, “When Life Gives You Lemons, ….” As I began to think about what I might share with you today, the first question that came to mind was this: What do people think of when they hear the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make [...]
What do you think of when you hear the word, “holiness”? Do you picture angels with harps? Do you have a vague image of Old Testament priests in the Temple? Do you think, “Holiness is for Super Saints like Mother Theresa and Billy Graham…” Do you groan inwardly and think, “Holiness Again? Time to tune out…” Does hearing the word “holiness” make you feel a little guilty? Maybe you find yourself thinking, “I’ve tried but [...]
Two weeks ago, I shared with you about Living in the Freedom of Christ. Last week we focused on Living in the Grace of Christ. This week, I want to share with you about Living in the Forgiveness of Christ. These three truths are closely intertwined, but, in my experience, forgiveness is the key to experiencing what it really means to live in the freedom and the grace of Christ. If you recall, I promised [...]
One of my favorite passages in the Bible appears in the book of Exodus. I imagine you have heard the story. Moses had spent many days upon the top of Mount Sinai in the presence of God, receiving from Him various instructions, including the ten commandments. But the people waiting below, became restless and impatient. They compelled Aaron to make for them a golden calf to worship, such as they had once had in [...]
Early one morning, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to test Jesus, hoping to find grounds to accuse Him. Jesus responded to them, saying, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” And one by one, her accusers walked away. A little while later, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in [...]
I have a friend who loves puns and word plays (you know who you are!) Sometimes his humor makes you groan, but sometimes he hits it right on the mark. And sometimes, his remarks are as insightful as they are humorous. One of his favorite phrases is “a Gumby God.” Do you remember Gumby? I may be showing my age, but Gumby was popular when I was young. Gumby is a simple cartoon-like character that [...]
The Biblical book of Psalms is a collection of poetry, prose, and prayers. Many of the Psalms were written by David, the greatest of Israel’s kings. Several others are attributed to Asaph, a Levite who was appointed as chief minister of worship and song by King David. Still others are attributed to Solomon, David’s son and successor, or to the sons of Korah, Levites who were gatekeepers, songwriters and singers in the Temple. For several [...]
For many of us who have been raised in the cities and suburbs of North America, autumn is about warm soup, brisk walks, colorful foliage, and hoping the winter snow will be manageable. But for those who have been raised in farm country, fall is the season of the harvest. In much of the world, and for most of human history, a good harvest means being able to provide for the family for another year. [...]
One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament takes place in Exodus when Moses has been leading God’s people through the wilderness. While Moses is away on Mount Sinai, the people rebel against God and compel Aaron to create for them an idol to worship – like they had when they were slaves in Egypt. After Moses comes down from the mountain and deals with the rebellion, Moses and God have a conversation. God [...]
If you have heard the story of the prophet, Jonah, you will probably immediately think of how he was swallowed by a whale. The story goes that God sent Jonah to the great city of Nineveh to warn the people that He would send destruction upon them because of their wickedness. But instead of doing what God had commanded, Jonah ran away. He boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction. God sent a great [...]
