Read: Isaiah 40:3-5 Every year about this time, the mailbox is filled with envelopes telling us: “You may already be a winner”, and even though we doubt it, our dreams of finding that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow forces us to open the envelope to see! The gullible truly believe their…….Read More
Read: Isaiah 40:1-2 When Jesus told his disciples they should not shun the little children, for “such was the Kingdom of God”, no doubt he knew the joy of holding out his arms and having a little child jump up into them. No matter what is going on in our lives, a child’s hug is…….Read More
Read: Mark 1:1-8 In the midst of life’s struggles, when we feel lost, broken or alone, Jesus comes to bring us hope and to give us second chances. To the truly repentant, this “good news” is almost more than we can believe: Is it true? Is it true for me? The Gospel of Mark doesn’t…….Read More
Read: Psalm 85:8-13 Anytime problems arise it’s easy to question the nature of a relationship. Is the pain worth it? Can we really work things out? What if I get hurt again? And yet, when your heart is invested and the love you feel is real and deep, all you can do is to make…….Read More
Read: Psalm 85:1-7 The anguish of a broken relationship is not only heart-breaking, it is also gut-wrenching. Whether it’s the disappointment of unmet expectations, the hurt of betrayal or an unexpected breakup, our hearts take a beating. Even though the normal response is “anger”, amidst the pain, there is underlying desire for forgiveness and reconciliation!…….Read More
Read: Micah 6:6-8 In premarital counseling, I ask the couple to write out the “expectations” they have of each other. It is very interesting to see their lack of absolute honesty and transparency in this exercise, for either they haven’t thought out it, or they have assumed their partner will know, or they are afraid…….Read More
Read: Micah 4:1-5 Where are you from? How you answer that question gives people an insight into your past. It might explain your accent or your cultural heritage or point to your favorite foods. It could also evoke some preconceived notions about you—notions that can only be overcome through a personal relationship. When we hear…….Read More
Read: Micah 4:1-5 Micah was a truth-teller – he loved his people enough to tell them the truth. Israel was facing certain defeat at the hands of the mighty Assyrian army, and Micah knew their only chance for survival was to put their trust in God. Yet their worship had become hollow and void of…….Read More
Read: Hosea 11:1-4 Commitment is not a word in our vocabulary today, simply because we have been taught to hold out until we have exhausted all other options. That might be fine if we were considering a date for a casual event, but not if we are choosing a Savior for eternity. God chose the…….Read More
Read: Exodus 19:1-6 Whether it is a couple pledging their love and loyalty “in sickness and in health”, or rejoicing in tears together as they hold their precious child for the first time, relationships imply commitment, and intimate relationships require it! If that “first trust” is ever broken, it is almost humanly impossible to restore…….Read More