“Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” Matthew 1:18 NIV Joseph was a righteous man. He obviously was a man possessing a great amount of self-control. First, when hearing of Mary’s pregnancy he knew he couldn’t…
Category: Fear
Faithfully Facing Uncertainty, Part III
“There is no one holy like the Lord, there is no one beside you, there is no rock like our God.” I Samuel 2:2 (NIV) She felt deeply ashamed for something that wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, she’d done most everything right. But, her righteousness wasn’t witnessed or rewarded. Yet….
Faithfully Facing Uncertainty, Part I
“He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11 NIV, emphasis mine. Read Daniel 1 and 6. He was the guy who did everything right. You know, that guy. The one hated by seemingly everyone else for being so perfect. The one everyone else was jealous of but…
Setting It Straight, Part II
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV, emphasis mine) Maybe he had just risen for the day. Maybe he was enjoying a little quiet time with the Lord. Maybe he…
Lessons From Tipper, Part V
“Teach me your way Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.” Psalm 86:11 NIV When we first brought Tipper home, she was a small, twenty-three pound, twelve-week-old puppy. As we all do, she came with some interesting quirks. One was a fear of concrete….
Servant Leadership, Part V
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:38 Jesus knew his God-given agenda: Be born miraculously of a virgin girl, experience humanity while living a sinless life, teach people about God, heal human bodies, human hearts, human lives. Then…
Garden of ‘Even,’ Part II
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 Sin had officially entered the world. With all its pomp and circumstance came changes, lots of changes. But God was ready with a plan. Psalm…
Spiritual Promises of Romans: We Don’t Need to be Afraid
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba,’ Father.” Romans 8:15 Romans 8:15 declares we do not need to be afraid. That’s easy to read, difficult to practice. A few weeks after our first daughter was…
Clinging to the Unnecessary, Part III
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” II Timothy 1:7 On Saturday, April 5, I was shaken. Paralyzed past the point of tears. Crying out to God, He met right there. And, He highlighted to me how silly to think for a second…
Clinging to the Unnecessary, Part II
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Mark 1:17 Jesus directed Simon and Andrew to drop those nets, drop their lives as they knew them that very moment, drop everything, and follow Him. When have you been called to leave a comfortable situation and follow the Lord into…