“…dead to sin but alive to God…” Aren’t those beautiful words? My mom graduated to heaven on November 2, 2018. I inherited her Bible. I was kind of disappointed that she hadn’t underlined verses or written notes in the margin. I guess she thought she’d be defacing God’s Word if…
“…we will also live with Him…” Oh my goodness, what a glorious gift! To reside IN HIS PRESENCE forever! In a place where no sin, no sorrow, no pain, no grief exists. Being dead to self means being alive in Christ, and that aliveness (is that a word?) extends beyond…
A 1970’s comedian used to lament, “The devil made me do it.” I used to think, “If Adam and Eve hadn’t sinned, I wouldn’t be tempted.” It’s easy to cast the blame for our behavior on other people or situations. But the truth lies in this scripture: when we receive…
“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 a wonderful,…
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…
The law was necessary. It provided a moral compass, so to speak. How else would people know they needed saving from themselves? But the law fell short in providing people with assurance. Assurance came when God sent Jesus. Jesus’s death on the cross paved the way to full assurance of…
When I became a fifth grade teacher, I inherited everything left in the classroom by the previous, retiring teacher. In a desk drawer, I found her list of classroom rules…over 60 in all. I remember gaping at that list in amazement and wondering how in the world any child could…
HYMN DAY! “Jesus Paid it All” by Elvina M. Hall was published in 1878. These words resonate as beautifully today as they did then. His sacrifice changes lives! I owe Him my all. 1 I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small, Child of weakness, watch and pray,…
We hear about people leaping into lakes or rivers to rescue a drowning stranger or others donating organs to someone they’ve never met in order to save their lives. I think most of us would say we’d be willing to do the same if the situation arose. But what if…
