"And he who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new... these words are trustworthy and true...'" (Revelation 21:5, RSV) Many years ago, an acquaintance of mine was struggling with some difficult situations in her life. She decided to go on a solitary weekend retreat, spending the time reading Scripture and praying. …
God So Loved That He Gave…
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son... that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16a, 17b) Generosity. We give gifts to one another at Christmas to imitate our God, who was so unimaginably generous that he gave us - his very self! Kids wake up Christmas morning to …
Wake Up!
"...pray...on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests...be alert and always keep on praying..." (Ephesians 6:18 NIV) There's a fierce spiritual battle raging around us in our deteriorating culture, a battle that isn't evident to the natural eye (see Galatians 6:12). There's a willingness to deny that there are actions which are always …
Rooted and Grounded in Love…
"... that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have power...to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-19, RSV) How do we "know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge"? By experiencing …
Integrity…
"... These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me..." (Isaiah 29:13 NIV) This verse is quoted by Jesus in Mark 7:6 when he is rebuking the Pharisees, those who fashioned themselves as the true guardians of God's Law, and therefore God's …
Learning to be Content…
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) Recently, I read something which has stuck with me. It was apparently the motto of one of the newest saints, Saint Mariam of Bethlehem: "Always be content!", she always said. It's …
Recollection…
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is, and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8 Our God is present to all times; unlike us, He does not live in time as we do. Time is one of his creatures, his creations, and so of course …
Asleep on the Job?…
"And leaving the crowd, they took him with them...in the boat. And a great storm of wind arose...But he was in the stern, asleep on a cushion; and they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care if we perish?'...he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be …
A Guarded Mouth…
"Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth; keep watch, O Lord, at the door of my lips! Do not turn my heart to things that are wrong, to evil deeds with those who are sinners. Never allow me to share in their feasting...let the oil of the wicked not anoint my head. Let my …
Learning to Float…
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life..." Matthew 6:25a I was married in 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States of America. After our wedding, we flew for a week's honeymoon from the barely-Spring midwest to the gloriously sunny Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean. A chief attraction of the …
Lessons From Love School 