Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20 NIV Jesus’ final day as a free man. His last chance to instruct His disciples on what they needed to know, to do, and how to make life work. Jesus knew His time with His disciples was…
Category: Obedience
He Is With HIM, Part II
“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:15 NIV Six days until His reunion with His Father. It’s time to enter Jerusalem, a place where Jesus is a marked man. Religious rulers didn’t like how this man riled the people and called the…
Mary’s Treasures, Part V
“On coming to the house, they saw the child and his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 (NIV) Maybe Mary was having a bad day. If you’ve ever been home with a busy toddler, you…
Mary’s Treasures, Part II
“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” Luke 1:45, NIV Mary knew her life path had veered into unchartered territory. I knew Gabriel had visited me and I clearly recalled his pronouncement. It was just so hard to believe God was doing this, and…
Mary’s Treasures, Part I
“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you,’” Luke 1:28 NIV The young Mary was startled and scared at the sudden appearance of an angel. She hadn’t received a written notice of Gabriel’s impending arrival. Her mother probably never instructed her on how to…
Wise Men, Part II
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.” Matthew 2:11a, NIV After endless months of treacherous travel, we came to a humble home where the star had stopped. With great reverence, we also stopped. Dusting our clothes and wiping our hands we…
Wise Men
“Where is the One who has been born king of the Jews?” Matthew 2:2a, NIV Arising from my mat I glanced outdoors. Another day had already begun. The stillness of the morning greeted me peacefully. I wondered what the day had in store for me. As my thoughts meandered to the daily tasks at…
Lessons From Tipper, Part X
“Draw nearer to me and I will draw nearer to you.” James 4:8 NIV Before we brought Tipper home, My husband requested a piece of cloth from her crate at the breeder. Tipper would always snuggle down with that cloth; it became her habit. We would tuck her in at night, pressing that cloth…
Lessons From Tipper, Part VII
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put the ways of childhood behind me.” I Corinthians 13:11 NIV In a wild flash of black fur, seventy-five-pound Tipper raced through the living room and dove under…
False Voices
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8, NIV) Satan slithered up and spoke with a simple, soothing voice, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree…