Posts from 2018 (Page 3)

“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) We don’t think about heaven nearly enough, at least I don’t.  And I mean unashamed absent minded daydreams of heaven.  I sometimes see myself entering heaven and being greeted by Teddy Roosevelt on his horse…

“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) Recently I found myself doing something odd, actually something quite normal. I seem to enjoy searching Instagram looking for posts that make me mad. I know I am not alone…

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.” ‭‭(I Corinthians‬ ‭4:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) “Only God can judge me”, no doubt each of us has heard someone (ourselves?) make said statement. No doubt…

“because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”” (‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) I just love reconnecting with a beloved book.  I have recently reread Brennan Manning’s A Glimpse of Jesus, and once again I am moved.  I tend to lose sight of just how much Brennan’s work has influenced how I think, live, and teach.  Perhaps there is a lesson in this, all that we take into our…

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to…

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) I both believe and I intellectually hold that God is self-evident. Meaning His creative and omnipresent Power is around us and in us at all times, and He is obvious about it. What is more, I both believe and I intellectually hold that He loves us.…

“How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ” HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!“” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:15‬ ‭NASB‬‬) I could probably start every devotion with the statement “we had a tragedy recently”.  In this I do not think I am alone when I suggest that a school shooting crosses a mental barrier and we…

I had something else entirely in mind for this devotion, then I realized that it is Valentines’ Day.  I cannot say that the Bible does not affirm romantic love between a man and a woman.  Song of Solomon, in my mind, is the greatest poem ever penned.  But, I can and will say that the Bible certainly does not place romantic love on the altar which we modern folks do (and…

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” ‭(‭I Corinthians‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) Christian Liberty is an amazing thing.  Think about it for a few moments.  We do not need to seek out a high priest to make intercession on our behalf, we are in full relationship with Christ, the High Priest.  We do…

I am quite confident that each of you has at least one, most likely a few, hot button issue.  An issue that simply get one’s blood boiling.  I use the term issue in a very broad sense, we can include political/social concern, the actions or words of others, or common occurrences.  I have more than my fair share, I am not much for either moderation or a stoical approach.…