So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” – Luke 18: 38-39 When Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, knowing that His time had come to suffer and die for the sins of the world, He purposely traveled through Jericho. Sitting along side the road was a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. When he heard that Jesus was nearby he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many people told him to be quiet, but he only shouted louder and Jesus…

We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. – Titus 2:13 One of the biggest joys of travel has always been anticipation for the trip to begin. Over the years anticipation has created excitement and joy and encouraged many travelers during the weeks and months of waiting. During the last two years anticipation has been replaced with worry and stress over the pandemic and new requirements to travel. Many travelers cancel because anxiety has stolen their joy and excitement. But in the last few months I’ve noticed that hopeful anticipation is returning. Even in my own travels I…

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 I recently saw a short video of a warrior who was engaged in a battle on a beach. Several other soldiers were under cover of their shields as fiery arrows flew through the sky. The man looked up to the heavens, raised his arms and closed his eyes. Hundreds of arrows landed all around him, but none struck him. The video was intended to be a joke, but the more I…

How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! – Psalm 32:1 Last weekend my husband continued the renovation work on our home by recovering the floors. The old floors were made up of multiple types of materials that had been pieced together over the years and did not match each other. There were different colors of laminate flooring as well as mismatched broken tiles. It was functional, but a constant reminder that things were not done the way they should have been and of the abuse that had taken place by the previous tenants. With each new piece of flooring that was installed I began…

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well.My frame was not hidden from you    when I was made in the secret place,    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;    all the days ordained for me were written in your book    before one of them came to be. – Psalm 139:14-16 The bible tells us that the Lord God took dust from the ground and formed a man from it. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nose, and the man became a living person. – Genesis 2:7 I have often passed over this passage without giving it much thought. But…

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.: – John 14:6 I am reading a book called What if it’s true? which is challenging me dive deeper into God’s word and into my own understanding of who Jesus is. That’s right in the direction of where I believe God is asking me to go with Him this season of my life – deeper, beyond my safe and known surface belief to a more intimate, treasured and passionate life with Him. The author commented that if Jesus is the way, then He’s taking us somewhere. But where? That destination is revealed in the…

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. – Luke 19:41-42 Our lives are riddled with evidence we live in a broken world – loss, hurt, death, betrayal, heartbreak and relationship breakdowns. It can feel at times like nobody understands the way we feel or the struggles we endure. But in the midst of our pain and suffering we need to remember that Jesus also felt everyone of those same emotions. When we cry what seems like rivers of tears, we need to remember…

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7 Our world is fascinated with titles and appearances. I remember years ago when I worked for a large corporation that they would give title promotions. The recipient did not receive more pay, but rather a more impressive title and more work responsibility. It was surprising how many people would strive to receive them. They were consumed by the outward appearance of their lives and perceived prosperity. But deep down they resented…

The love of the Lord is never exhausted,    nor do his deeds of mercy ever come to an end. They are renewed every morning;    his faithfulness never ceases. – Lamentations: 3: 22-23 Today’s verse not only encourages me but challenges me. It is a message of relief and peace to know that no matter what I did yesterday, the ways I fell short or the sins that I committed, I am blessed to be able to start today with a clean slate and renewed possibilities. It reminds me that God still loves me in spite of my failures and that He never gives up on me. His mercies, forgiveness and grace are new every morning.…