Scripture: John 4:36 “The haversters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!” Observation: Sometimes it’s easy to think of the church as a big people processing machine … we all do our jobs and people move from [...]
Scripture: Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Observation: Sometimes I stray from God in my search for joy and peace. He is the source for these. Allowing GOD [...]
Scripture: Psalm 70:4 “May all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, ‘God is great!’” Observation: Filled with joy and gladness. Not happiness, wealth, health, or so many of life’s other blessings and gifts, but joy and gladness. These other things are transitory – [...]
Scripture: Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Observation: This verse follows half a dozen which describe struggle and hardship – still the author ends with thanks and praise. Application: I am a complainer. It’s something I struggle with. A situation isn’t fair, a [...]
Scripture: John 19:17-18 “Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill. There they crucified him.” Observation: I can’t imagine how John must’ve felt as he wrote these words. On one hand, his description of the scourging and death of Christ is cold and dispassionate. There is nothing that describes Christ’s [...]
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-6 “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, [...]
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:9 “Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.” Observation: I really enjoy Ecclesiastes. It illustrates the complexity of God and life. Wealth and poverty do not accompany wisdom and foolishness. Wisdom and skill do not [...]