When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 Over the last several weeks I have been experiencing a much needed time out with God. In this time He has graciously made me aware of the many issues that I need to address and with each one, He has also shown me what I need to do in order to make the necessary changes in my mind, heart, attitude and actions. There have been many tears, confessions, moments of repentance and forgiveness as well as joyful outbursts of…

Lord, I want to be Healed

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.  Psalm 23:1-3 He looks so peaceful laying there sound asleep as if he hasn’t a care in the world.  I watch his tiny chest rise and fall with each breath and smile with adoration at his angelic face.  My heart feels as though it’s about to burst with the love it contains for him, my precious little son.   Deep inside I know that this moment won’t last.  It’s a gift that will become a memory, one that I will cherish often in the years…

Lord, help me to Forgive as I’ve been Forgiven

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  2 Corinthians 12:9 Grace is an undeserved gift from God that you cannot earn through acts of service or works.  It’s not only what made your salvation possible, it’s what gives you the strength to offer that same unmerited favor to others.  Through grace you received something you didn’t deserve but desperately needed, freedom from the penalty of your sins.  It’s by that same grace that you can forgive someone when they…

Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,    look around and consider,    search through her squares.If you can find but one person    who deals honestly and seeks the truth,    I will forgive this city. Jeremiah 5:1 Today I read a few chapters in the book of Jeremiah. God called this young man to deliver a powerful message to His people who were living in a way that closely resembles our world today. People were seeking their own interests and had completely left God out of their daily lives. They only listened to messages that supported their lustful desires and they followed leaders who only looked for opportunities for their own financial and social gain. Jeremiah’s message started…

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 On Good Friday I watched the movie, The Passion. For years I have chosen to view this movie during Holy Week to be reminded of how much Jesus went through to save me. I loved the compassion He showed to…

Lord, give me the Words to Speak

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Matthew 12:34 A late-night phone call pierces through the silence and leaves you speechless.  Test results confirm a diagnosis you have suspected.  A loved one dies. Your marriage comes to an end or your finances have plummeted. Dire situations like these create an urgency and you cry out, “Lord, save me!” It’s the shortest prayer in the Bible, but one that received immediate results.  No doubt there have been times in your life that you have felt as though you were drowning in your circumstances. What you speak to those circumstances greatly affects the outcome. The words you speak…

He is not here; He has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where He lay. (Matthew 28:6) I would have liked to walk with Mary Magdalene and the other ladies as they made their way to the tomb that morning. Mostly because I know how their day was going to turn out and I would have loved to see the amazement on their faces when they heard the Good News and saw the Risen Lord. These women faced two overwhelming problems as they set out to honor Jesus’ body. The Roman guards and the huge rock in the tomb’s doorway. These were impossible obstacles, yet urged on…