“What can I do for Jesus?” This question must have been going through Mary’s mind in Mark 14.  Jesus was soon to die and be buried.  Could she stop it?  No.  Could she take His place?  No.  Could she provide a new tomb for His burial?  No.  If she couldn’t do anything big for Jesus, at this crucial time in His life,…

These passages below do indicate a miraculous act of God, but consider the acknowledgement of God’s presence and power.  Several times in the Old Testament, “the hand of the Lord” is said to have been destructive: “the hand of the Lord was against them” (Deut. 2:15); “died by the hand of the Lord” (Ex. 16:3); “the hand of the Lord was heavy…

A Christian leaves worship one Sunday and remarks to someone in the parking lot, “Boy, I sure didn’t get anything out of that this morning!  What was up with that worship!  It was so boring!”  A deacon gets upset with the elders and boisterously vents his frustrations to his wife on the way home, while the kids are in the back seat. …

Ok, this thought is too massive and too wonderful to fully grasp and appreciate.  For God’s children, the hand of the Lord is said to be over us (1 Pet. 5:6) and we can also fall into His hand (2 Sam. 24:14).  But, there’s more.  “The eyes of the Lord are upon” us, and His ears are unto our prayers (1 Pet.…

Sitting at the red light, I watched the tall grass swaying, the palm trees waving, and I even felt my van rocking a bit.  Looking at the other drivers around me, they did not seem to notice or be concerned at all.  I contemplated (but did not actually do it) asking the lady in the car next to me, “Why are those…

Like Noah, he was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet. 2:5).  Like Abraham, he was a “friend of God” (James 2:23).  Like Moses, “he looked to the reward” (Heb. 11:26).  Like Caleb, he “wholly followed the Lord” (Josh. 14:14).  Like David, he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).  Like Isaiah, he said, “Here am I!  Send me” (Isa. 6:8). …

Read in your Bible the account found in Matthew 8:23-27.  Jesus’ disciples followed Him into a boat.  “And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.  But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us!  We are perishing!’” Do you ever feel like you are…

There is a phrase that is used fairly often to speak of compliments that are given from one person to another without being expected or solicited – called “unsolicited compliments.” The news reported recently about some women who were receiving unsolicited compliments and wanted them to stop.  Hearing the phrase made me think, “Where did we come up with that description?  If…