HYMN DAY! “Heaven Came Down” by John W. Peterson is one of my favorites. My folks sang it with another couple in a quartet when I was a girl. So much promise here! “Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling He made all the darkness depart!” Amen! (1) O what…
I love the symbolism of baptism. Being “buried” in the water, which represents sin’s death, then emerging drenched in the newness of Christ. There’s a joke about a church overrun by squirrels. One of the deacons says he knows how to get rid of them—“Let’s baptize them. After that, we’ll…
Has someone ever apologized to you for a wrongdoing, then turned around and did the same thing again? Their apology suddenly doesn’t seem so sincere, does it? Saying we’re sorry when we’ve done wrong is the first step; being repentant—turning from that behavior to wiser choices—is the second. God forgives…
Paul had a calling directly from the Lord to tell others about God’s grace. He was determined to fulfill that call because he had experienced its power for himself. The job Paul mentions isn’t limited to him. Are you saved? Have you basked in the incredibly extravagant generosity of grace?…
There have been many times in my life when I’ve felt compelled to pray for someone. Sometimes it’s for their salvation, other times for their strength, peace, or comfort. When you are compelled by the Spirit, it’s best to answer that call, no matter the cost. Paul’s determination to go…
HYMN DAY! This is a more recent hymn, written by a contemporary composer, John W. Peterson, but I’ve always loved it. “New Life in Christ” speaks truth! Gone is the guilt of my sin, Peace is now reigning within; Since I believed, pardon received, Happy, so happy I’ve been! Chorus…
I love this for two reasons. The people listening to Paul GOT IT. Their hearts heard and responded. They understood the message of salvation, they believed the message, and they lived the truth of its power. I also love that Paul, who had religiously (no pun intended) adhered to the…
I have a collection of Bibles. I like reading from different translations to get a full grasp of the Holy Scripture. I wouldn’t like a steady diet of The Message, but every now and then it’s a refreshing change. Particularly in the books that hold a story-like quality. Such is…
Remember the scripture about removing the plank from one’s own eye before trying to help a brother with the speck in his eye? Nehemiah’s prayer reminds me of this. He was begging God for help in restoring this city. Before asking God to do him a favor, he first wanted…
As we’ve noted on previous days, Nehemiah became aware of the broken down state of Jerusalem and the despair of its inhabitants, and his heart was moved—he cared. His grief over the city and the Jewish people drove him to his knees. He pleaded with the great and terrible (awe-inspiring)…
