Romans 5:5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. [NLT] Christmas has a way of heightening our expectations, doesn’t it? The week before Thanksgiving I parked Continue Reading…
Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us. God is rich in mercy to we who are not. Author Dane Ortland writes in Gentle and Lowly that nowhere else in scripture is God deemed rich in anything. Only mercy. I’m Continue Reading…
Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. I thought of the scripture about how the birth of a new believer triggers widespread joy in heaven. Of course, I was holding my Continue Reading…
Song of Solomon 2:4 “…and his banner over me was love.” I have read and studied the Song of Solomon many times over the years. In fact, at one point, my Bible would automatically fall open to its pages because I referenced it so much. Recently, I’ve been rereading it Continue Reading…
John 8:10-11 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” I can’t imagine how this adulterous woman must have felt. Dragged from her literal bed Continue Reading…
Psalm 19:9-11 “The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Every responsible parent sets boundaries. No running in the Continue Reading…
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” At times it’s hard to wrap our minds around the kind of sacrifice Jesus made to save us. Some people spend their whole lives trying to figure it out, refusing to believe Continue Reading…
Psalm 84:10 “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” I think one of the biggest blights the corona virus has spawned is the pandemic of fear. Continue Reading…
Psalm 8:4 “what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” [ESV] As I left the house for my daily two-mile walk, I knew it could start raining any minute. The forecast predicted a 60% chance and the looming clouds Continue Reading…
Psalm 17:7 “Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand” We sing about it, read about it. It’s so familiar we almost trivialize it. Yet, I can’t think of a better time of year to ponder and proclaim the wonders of God’s love. This Continue Reading…