God is good. We don’t always get things right, but God does. Even when I’m sure I’ve messed everything up, said the wrong thing, done the wrong thing, God is able to work it out for my good (Romans 8:28). He’s able to work it out for His glory. He’s able to work it out…
Reflections
Ministering to the Lord
Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers…. And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Acts 13:1-2 I read these verses recently and one phrase jumped…
Nothing Wasted
Paul had it all figured out in his early years. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees who had studied under the renowned Gamaliel (Philippians 3:5). His future was clear. He knew he was going where God wanted. Right? Enter Jesus, blinding Paul on the road to Damascus, blinding Paul when Paul was on what he…
God Gives Us What We Need
God gives us what we need for the time when we need it. Paul was a Roman citizen. When Paul was about to be scourged, his citizenship stopped it. The Lord knows my future. He knows what I need today to prepare me for tomorrow. He knew Paul would need his Roman citizenship at a…
Seek Jesus
Jesus is my only hope. He is the way of life. He is the way of love. Where else can I go? If I seek the ways of the world — fame, money, education, admiration — I may for a season be satisfied. I may enjoy the fruits of my labors, the accolades of man,…
Merry Christmas
The people who walk in darknessWill see a great light;Those who live in a dark land,The light will shine on them.You will multiply the nation,You will increase their joy;They will rejoice in Your presenceAs with the joy of harvest,As people rejoice when they divide the spoils.For You will break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,The rod of…
Obedience
I’m reading Acts 10 and there’s so much in there. I could study and talk about Jews and Gentiles in the early church, baptism and the Holy Spirit, unclean and clean things, following and worshiping God. There’s so much. And there are so many theological hotbeds in the chapter, debates and discussions. But how does…
I Shall Again Praise
…I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence (Psalm 42:5). I so desperately need God’s presence. When He hides His face from me, or when the waves are so rough that I can’t see past the whites of them to see His presence, or I can’t hear through the roar of them…
Sin, Confrontation, and Truth
In John 8, the religious leaders are again ready to kill Jesus. It wasn’t just that they wanted to kill Jesus because of blasphemy. They wanted to kill Him because He told them the truth — that they were sinning. They also weren’t following the Law. No one wants to be told they’re sinning, or…
God Is Sovereign
“Did you forget that I’m sovereign?” That’s what the Lord asked me this morning. I was inclined to say, “Of course not.” It was my knee-jerk response. But then I stopped short. Why was the Lord asking me this? If I hadn’t forgotten, then why was He putting His finger there? The truth is, as…