Prayer is - first - about the most profound level of intimacy with the most profound and profoundly wonderful Person. The level of intimacy we are able to achieve with God is far beyond that of any other relationship, because all human relationships are flawed by sin and subject to natural limitations. I want to continue delving into the many facets of prayer - from praise, to praying for others, praying for health and healing, praying combined with fasting, etc. But today

God’s Heart Toward Those Who Are Searching Before we delve into praying as believers - those of us who have already placed our faith in Jesus Christ - his death and coming back to life - for our salvation, I wanted to talk first about how we related to God before that time. Where was God in our "prayers" before we bowed our heads in acceptance of His saving mercy and grace? What about all those times we simply cried out in desperation, "Help me, God!!!! If you're OUT THERE

If we truly understood the advantage prayer gives us, wouldn’t we pray more—and with greater faith? Cynthia, one of my clients-turned-friends and sisters in Christ popped into the shop Friday morning. She is a regular reader of these posts, and we got to talking about prayer. She has a prayer ministry - primarily intercessory prayer for others with a focus on physical needs and healing. During our conversation, I said, "That's it! I want to do my next writing on the topic

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He included a curious and deeply intentional request: “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) Not weekly  bread. Not bread for the upcoming month. Not a guarantee of plenty for the next year. Daily bread. This echoes the great wilderness lesson God taught Israel through manna: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day

A Return to Scripture, Reality, and Reverent Unknowing As I put together these blog pieces, you all know I love including lots of images.  It's one of my really fun things about doing this; images not only convey information, but they break up the monotony of print, and they can also be soothing. What I have found really perplexing, however, is some of the many images I see where people try to depict what God looks like.  Take this one, for example: "I wish I was twenty year

“He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 Overture – From Stage to Symphony Throughout this Advent season, I’ve been thinking about Christmas in terms of a great unfolding drama—many characters stepping onto the stage at just the right moment, each with an important role to play.     I started out with Characters of the Nativity :  Zechariah and Elizabeth Simeon and Anna Mary and Joseph   Th

I was supposed to do this yesterday , and I moved right into Shepherds & Angels instead! That was probably good timing in hindsight, though. I thought I might skip over it, but, NO! - I absolutely do have to come back to this, because what King Herod represents is vitally important when it comes to understanding God and what we are celebrating as believers - not only at Christmas - but every day. So, today’s Dig  centers on Herod the Great , but not merely as a villain

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.   And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,  unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;  because he was of the house and lineage of David:  to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being

Contrary to what is commonly portrayed, the Wise Men did not visit Jesus until some time after His birth, when He and His parents were living in a house in Bethlehem. I don't picture Him as being quite that old, but we know He was somewhere between birth and two years old. Anyway! Yesterday we took a good look at the Star of Bethlehem itself; an inanimate "Christmas Player."  Today, I’d like to turn our attention to these three Christmas characters -   the wise men , or Mag

This Advent season I am curiously drawn into fascination with various aspects of the Christmas Story as told in Scripture.   The wonders of our LORD just never end, and – like so much in learning – the more you know the more you know you don’t know!    Earlier in this Advent series I took a deeper look into Zechariah & Elizabeth, Joseph & Mary, Anna & Simeon.  Now I would like to look into some of the other “Christmas Players,” starting today with THE STAR that led the wisem

Today I'd like to start with a reading of this amazing portion of scripture so we have it clearly in our minds before examining it more deeply. Well! What portion of scripture isn't amazing, given that all scripture is the very Word of God, coming directly from His mouth? However, in these short 14 verses - when you think about it - we really have the entire story of God in a nutshell. This is a stirring read - so much truth here - so please take your time and savor, allo

Today I want to delve into this very deep and, ultimately, the most compelling mystery there is. God - Who always has been and always will be - picture this! - God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, merely speaking the world into existence. This is the startling way the apostle John introduces Jesus Christ as he picks up his pen, now, after Jesus has died, risen, and gone back to heaven: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John

Before we dig in here, I just have to wonder. What must have it been like to be Isaiah? Really, any of the prophets, for that matter. NOT an upbeat occupation, for sure. God's prophets always swam against the tide. They were hated for telling the truth, because lies were so much more palatable and convenient to the people and because people are by nature rebellious, weak, and easily deceived. Isaiah, for example, as one of his prophetic assignments, was instructed by th

I don’t think I’m very likely alone in my “wondrous” perplexity of how to think of God in relationship to myself.   I tend to think of Him more as my Father when speaking with Him and thinking of Him than I do as my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Now, don’t get me wrong!  Theologically I completely “get” that my heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are One and the same; NO difference in the very essence of His being!  But… when I am talking with Him and thinking of Him,  I have

This week I am excited to take us through one of the most famous Biblical passages we associate with the celebration of the Birth of Christ:   “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish

This week I am excited to take us through one of the most famous Biblical passages we associate with the celebration of the Birth of Christ:   “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish

This week I am excited to take us through one of the most famous Biblical passages we associate with the celebration of the Birth of Christ:   “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish

This week I am excited to take us through one of the most famous Biblical passages we associate with the celebration of the Birth of Christ:   “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establis

Meeting Mary at the Threshold of God’s Plan Nazareth was an unremarkable village—small, dusty, easily overlooked. Yet in one modest home lived a teenage girl named Mary , engaged to Joseph, preparing for the simple rhythms of life: drawing water, grinding grain, weaving cloth, dreaming of a future in her new household. Nothing suggested destiny. Nothing predicted world-shaking significance. Then, without warning, heaven broke into her ordinary world. The angel Gabriel app

This Advent season, we are setting our hearts on a quiet but rich journey: exploring the lives of the men and women God chose to weave into the nativity story. These were real people—ordinary, imperfect, faithful—whose lives intersected with the greatest miracle the world has ever known: the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. By reflecting on their stories, we see anew how God works in human hearts, how He keeps His promises, and how He shapes His people to be part of His redeeming