Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.  He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.   This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.   Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. Acts 9:40-43 As you can imagine the raising of Dorcas (Tabitha) back to life must have been heard all over town. Dorcas had shown…

To “Die with your boots on” is an idiom referring to dying while fighting or to die while actively occupied/employed/working or in the middle of some action. A person who dies with their boots on keeps working to the end, as in “He’ll never quit—he’ll die with his boots on.” I recently saw this reference in the life of my friend’s husband. He had been diagnosed with cancer in January and given only 5-8 weeks to live. By the grace of God he lived a little over 8 months. During those God gifted months he never ceased praying for others and posting words of encouragement. He used every precious minute…

At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. – Acts 9:36 How significant are those last three words! Too many well-meaning people sit around and talk about charitable deeds that they never do. Sometimes they propose those works and leave it up to others to carry them out. Dorcas not only thought up ways to help the needy, but she also carried out her plans. She knew what she could do and she did it. We may think that we are not equipped or talented to carry out works of service for…

As a nation, we just celebrated Labor Day. A day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. Each day we rise either to the sound of an alarm clock, children, pets or by habit to begin a new day of service. That service may include our duties for our families, our homes, our jobs, the church we attend or the communities were we live. With so many options and so many different reasons to serve, it’s helpful to remember what should inspire our service. Yes it’s great to receive a paycheck and recognition especially if you are doing something you enjoy. But even deeper than those momentary…

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. (Acts 9:36) The very first description of Dorcas, even before her names were mentioned, was that she was a disciple. Through the Spirit-empowered ministry of Philip the eveangelist, a Christian Church was established in Joppa and from an early date the church was not only a center of fervent evangelism, but also of a well organized social service. Dorcas came to know Christ as her Savior in this church and caught the vision of how she could serve Christ with her money and her needle, but behind her sewing…

The last few weeks have given us quite a visual about what practical ministry is all about. It’s using the gifts you’ve been given to help others. With the earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Ida hitting Louisiana, fires across the country, covid and all the local needs of friends and family, there is no lack of opportunities to serve. I was listening to KLOVE the other day and they were talking about Convoy of Hope, a ministry that serves people in disaster stricken areas. The announcer commented that while you might not be able to fill an entire semi truck with needed supplies, you might be able to donate $20 which…

Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world. In the bible when a person was given a name it carried huge significance. A biblical name could record some aspects of a person’s birth. Biblical names sometimes expressed the parents’ reaction to the birth of their child. Biblical names were sometimes used to secure the solidarity of family ties. Biblical names could be used to communicate God’s message. Biblical names were also used to establish an affiliation with God.…

Dorcas, also know by the name Tabitha, was a biblical character in the New Testament. Her story is a beautiful example of heart felt service and devotion. She was blessed to be one of five people, not counting the Lord Jesus, who was raised from the dead in the New Testament. Her life was lived behind the scenes in practical ways for those in need. She made robes and other clothing for widows. The fact that she was known by both her Greek and Aramaic name suggests that she lived in a mixed culture and was willing to reach out to everyone around her. She touched lives not only in…

For the month of September we will discover some the many lessons that can be learned from studying the life of Dorcas. Overview – A Life of Service Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, was a woman who lived out her faith behind the scenes in practical ways that deeply touched the lives of other believers.  She practiced showing mercy  to anyone in need.  She became sick and died.  Upon her death the disciples sent for Peter who was in a nearby town and urged him to come at once.  When he arrived all the widows stood around him crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had…